Beck: Morning Phase

One of my last purchases from my local record store before closing its doors was Beck’s Morning Phase. The conversation went something like this:

Me:        How is this new Beck album?
Him:       It’s cool, it’s not like his older albums.
Me:        Should I get it?
Him:       Beck isn’t very good at reissuing albums, don’t worry it’s a solid album.
Me:        OK

I tell this story for two reasons. First, as an example why it’s important to have a local record store, the shop keepers help us find music we probably wouldn’t otherwise buy. And second, it really is an amazing album.

I will never forget the first time I listened to this Beck album, I had to work very hard to keep an open mind. I had to work so hard because this album sounded nothing like Mellow Gold or Odelay, and if we know anything it’s that Beck fans love Mellow Gold and Odelay. I couldn’t figure out what happened to Beck, so I actually looked on the internet to see if there are two Beck’s. Well I found out there weren’t, I also found out that he had a few albums  before this one, specifically one called Sea Change, people loved it, and it was of similar style. In fact this album was a companion to that one.

Beck: Morning Phase

I tried to figure out what I was missing so I listened to this album over and over again. Oh I said I liked it but I really wasn’t sure, I just didn’t want to be that guy who gave up on artists in their later years. Of course if I really wanted to blame someone for being shocked by his changing style I really have to blame myself. I have to blame myself for one simple reason, I got caught up in the idea that all good music was released while I was in high school or college. I swore up and down that would never happen, but, it did. It was my fault because I stopped listening after Odelay.

After a week of solid listening I decided I was trying to force it so I let it go. Then I wanted to listen to the album and I was looking to see if I could find Sea Change.

Beck Looking Through a Hole

Like all good artists Beck changed, some reviewers pointed out that this was because the world didn’t. He had always seen the problematic establishment, but was now dealing with the idea that it wasn’t changing and he wondered if there was a point. I don’t know whether Beck was feeling that or not, but I know I understand that idea. I get it, I look into the mirror and my beard is becoming grayer every day, silly me I had just assumed I would be a little wiser by this time in my life. Don’t get me wrong I feel like I earned the gray through stress, but if I could at least feel like I was learning something.

Sometimes I walk to my record player and want to listen to something, and when I don’t know what it is that I want to listen to I play Morning Phase. Not because there is nothing to listen to, but it has become a soundtrack for my personal mental noise. If I can’t sleep and I can’t figure out why, Morning Phase helps bring to the surface the block. I don’t know if Beck sat down to write and album that became a tool to calibrate my sanity but he did and I thank him for it.

I have considered writing about this album for months but always felt like I needed to understand it better. The album doesn’t always make sense to me, but then I remember neither did Mellow Gold.