Beck is bummed. Really bummed. And if song titles such as "Lost Cause,""Lonesome Tears,""Already Dead," and "Nothing I Haven't Seen" don't make the point, his achingly sad lyrics and Sea Change's unerringly downcast sound do. While 1998's Mutations--arguably the singer-songwriter's masterwork and Sea Change's spiritual cousin--was filled with unflinching self-examination, moments of levity were found in songs like "Tropicalia." Not so on Sea Change. Beck's woozy, almost narcoleptic delivery seems to amplify the set's sense of ennui. But sad isn't necessarily bad, and despite the somber tone, there's much to praise, not the least of which is the return of producer Nigel Goderich (Mutations, Radiohead), who wraps Beck's gloom in a dreamy, warm blanket of soft strings and floating bleeps and gurgles. Like Daniel Lanois, Goderich is all about vibe, and even Beck's most bare-bones songs benefit from billowy atmospherics. That's especially true of "Paper Tiger," a restless, slowly building epic improbably propelled by a languid orchestra and Beck's expressionless drone. The inky black feel of "Round the Bend"--a glacially slow dirge with muffled vocals--may be the darkest thing Beck's ever written, not counting the very grim "Already Dead." Whatever's going on in Beck's world, at least we know he's purging, which, all things considered, may be better for his soul than ours. --Kim Hughes

uuid:	F408BC3E-EFA2-49B9-A8BC-707F6A65ABAE
upc:	0606949339326
tracklisting:	The Golden Age Paper Tiger Guess I'm Doin' Fine Lonesome Tears Lost Cause End Of The Day It's All In Your Mind Round The Bend Already Dead Sunday Sun Little One
title:	Sea Change
rating:	5
purchase date:	09-05-2005
published:	24-09-2002
price:	$13.98
net Rating:	4.5
last lookup time:	137383408
fullTitle:	Sea Change
currentValue:	$7.99
created:	137383392
country:	us
aspect:	Audio CD Enhanced
asin:	B00006F7S4
artist:	Beck