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Modern Guilt [VINYL] | ![Modern Guilt [VINYL]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51F-g5IyvJL._SL500_.jpg)
| Artist: Beck
Label: Xl
Category: Music
List Price: £14.99
Buy New: £11.98
You Save: £3.01 (20%)
New (10) from £11.49
Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 67331
Media: Vinyl
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 12.1 x 9.8 x 0.2
UPC: 634904036911
EAN: 0634904036911
ASIN: B001AVXXXE
Release Date: September 8, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | Orphans | | • | Gamma Ray | | • | Chemtrails | | • | Modern Guilt | | • | Youthless | | • | Walls | | • | Replica | | • | Soul Of A Man | | • | Profanity Prayers | | • | Volcano |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
If there's one thing that's proved consistent about Beck Hansen, it's that every fresh record will be a curveball, and so it is with Modern Guilt. If 2006's The Information felt like a return to familiar Odelay territory, a gleaming beats-and-raps record with an eerie futuristic twist perhaps inspired by its maker's interest in Scientology, its follow-up feels like a step out again into uncharted territory. Recorded with the help of hip-hop beat-maker turned multi-talented producer Brian `Danger Mouse' Burton, Modern Guilt is a foggy, sometimes distant-sounding affair apparently inspired by canyon-dwelling psychedelic rock, conspiracy theories, and end-of-the-world angst. "You and me hit by a test of white evil/Watching the jet planes go by", he strains, urgently, on "Chemtrails", eyes fixed to the sky. "Orphans" and "Walls", two songs recorded with Cat Power's Chan Marshall feel like a bit of a missed opportunity, Chan's vocals pushed too far back in the mix. But Danger Mouse's beats are a delight, giving what could be quite morose numbers like "Gamma Ray" a skippy, vintage beat group feel. All in all, it's not Beck at his most engaging or playful, but there's a thoughtful, mature quality to Modern Guilt that you don't find when he's playing postmodern prankster, and it's got much to recommend it. --Louis Pattison
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
10 songs, 34 minutes, one of his best! December 5, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
One thing is for sure that when you buy a Beck album, you never really know what to expect, such is the multi-faceted nature of the artist, and you definitely have to approach most of his albums with an open mind. If 'Modern Guilt' could be compared with any of his previous albums, then many of the songs are closest to the melodic melancholy of 'Sea Change', but with added beats, giving this release a fresh, original sound but with all the characteristics of what makes Beck's music so aurally appealing. Danger Mouse's production matches musical influences often steeped in the late 60's and early 70's with up-front, contemporary percussion, giving much of the album a split-personality sense of laid-back, detached urgency - and it is certainly an interesting combination.
There are plenty of excellent tracks here. The album opener, 'Orphans', featuring Cat Power, is a dark and restrained, but undeniably catchy, composition which could have come straight from 'Odelay'. 'Gamma Ray' has all the hallmarks of a classic modern psychedelic dance track, 'Chemtrails' is a swirling, psychedelic piece of lyrical paranoia and misery, while the title track, 'Modern Guilt' matches a classy, strings-embellished song which could have easily been lifted straight from Elliott Smith's songbook, if it wasn't for the impossibly jaunty beat. The other track to really demand my attention and capture my imagination is the last song, 'Volcano', which is a beautiful piece of dark, alternative folk and, once more, leaves me feeling like Elliott Smith is, in fact, alive and well.
Not every single track on this album is pure brilliance, in fact, there is a bit of a mid-album lull where the music merely gets close to ordinary, but it is the album's punchy 34 minute length consisting of just ten songs which makes this album a real winner and makes it one of Beck's more instantly likeable releases, proving that less sometimes really is more. I've enjoyed all of Beck's albums since 'Odelay' - with the exception of 'Midnite Vultures' - but I'd have to say I have enjoyed this one more than most.
 Album of the year October 26, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Absolutely amazing album.
I originally bought it on download, but I've now bought the proper CD as compressed MP3 really doesn't do justice to all the layers and vibes going on.
Easily Beck's best album since the glorious Odelay. Definately his most accessible. Yes it is only half an hour long, but when you listen to it you don't feel short changed, it's half an hour beauty.
Innovative, wise and most of all you can dance to it.
Love it.
Pleasent surprise September 10, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Couldnt really be bothered with another beck album boring me to sleep none the less i was given this cd as a gift and well..............what a surprise! each song flows into the other like sweating cheese and before you know it your putting it on again and again and ag.... you get the drift if you like your chedder seriously sweaty then buy this it is MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
 Competent, but no classic August 21, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
'Modern Guilt' has the feeling of an 'in-between' album, although having said that, Beck's last truly great album was 'Sea Change' - 'The Information' and 'Guero' had moments of brilliance, but were incomparible to 'Midnite Vultures' or 'Odelay'.
I think the saddest thing about this album is that its hard to even pick one song that could have been a decent launch single. Its all just... samey, which is a shame.
I've not given up on Beck, because he clearly has talent... but this feels like an album cranked out in his sleep.
Unfairly labeled a return to form, as he was always deadly July 29, 2008
9 out of 13 found this review helpful
Like I said above, nearly all the reviews I've read for Modern Guilt have praised it as a return to form, "best since Sea Change", and that sort of garbage. Lazy, lazy journalism, particularly considering I read the exact same things about previous two albums (and bona fide clinkers) Guero and The Information. Where Modern Guilt outshines those albums is in its length, as both were at least twice as long as the half-hour Modern Guilt. That, and the music.
Which is fantastic. For reasons I don't understand, this Beck album took me the longest to get into. Well, of the ones I like. The less said about the boring Mellow Gold and the HIDEOUS Midnite Vultures the better. I was initially put off by how minimalist the album sounds. After about three listens, I was completely and utterly dependent on it. I couldn't do without it. Still can't. Strange that, isn't it? I think the reason for it is that I like the songs, or something.
Seriously though, the songs are fantastic. From the opener "Orphans" to closer "Volcano", there's not a duff moment on here. Plus, not one of the songs outstays its welcome. Once the verses, choruses and bridges have had their moment, its onto the next one. "Gamma Ray" is about the funnest song of the summer so far, "Chemtrails" has some incredible drumming and eerie vocals, "Modern Guilt" is relentlessly catchy, "Youthless" and "Replica" sound like Guero culls, "Walls" could pass for a Gnarls Barkley song (thanks Danger Mouse), "Soul of a Man" is sleazy as anything, "Profanity Prayers" is a super-happy bass fest and "Volcano" is perfect. The songs are as sparse as the artwork, but Beck doesn't need to layer his songs full of washboard solos and Schubert to be great. Modern Guilt's your proof.
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