Rating:   21 Ratings     12345  

Beck Guero Interscope Records

      Grabbing from every group he can, Beck has created a musical masterpiece that practically lives and breathes on its own. It comes to life all by itself. More experimentalization. More creativity. More innovation. Beck brings true meaning to being an artist and puts it literally-- he is a musician who creates audible art.

      Guero begins with the first single, "E-Pro"-- a heavy, highly reverbed track with Beck singing like he's cursing someone quickly, under his breath. It's hard to describe a record such as this, because, like it or not, Beck is on a pedestal above everyone. There is no competing with a man who can practically complete an entire album by himself.

      "Que Onda Quero" is thrown in your face immediately, and there is no time to recover until the entire album is over. It's got a backstreet vibe, like something heard blasting out of a car's window on a hot Southern night. With a "Where It's At" (Odelay) beat to it, there's almost a feel like Beck has not only come up with more original music, but improved excessively on his previous work. Continuing on where he left off with that project nine years ago. There's techno sampling, Latinos whooping, talking, laughing in the background. A knocking bass to bring you to your knees, and Beck is at it again with his faster-than-a-comeback vocals. The song is a across-the-border tornado that has swept up fiestas everywhere and brought the life of the party into its production.

      Each song is further proof that Beck can do it all. On "Girl," he brings up another catchy tune that's lyrically detailed, where the story unfolds as you listen to it. "Missing" goes orchestral, with a slow tango and samba beat that goes hand in hand with that old track "Girl From Ipanema." The Dust Brothers are featured on almost every track, and they add an immense amount of work to the album. Jack White (The White Stripes) also appears on the record, co-writing "Go It Alone," as well as providing bass and backing vocals.

      As is par for the course with the man, there is a lot going on in each song; it'll take many thorough listens to catch it all, and even then something might be surpassed. Sharp-tongued and wily with his words, there is no doubt that Beck is a musical genius; a one-man Radiohead. And with that, there's Guero, which turns out to be an absolute gem. The whole album doesn't miss a beat. Revitalizing, and master of its craft, Beck's Guero pushes him up yet another step higher.

-Arie Musil 03/25/05