Beck ~ “Chemtrails”

Okay, at times this almost sounds like an introspective Stereolab cut, and those familiar with “The Black Arts” from “Sound-Dust” will get what I mean exactly. Also, Beck is emoting in some sort of Morrissey universe here in places as well, so basically, he doesn’t exactly sound like himself. Truthfully, anything beats that drone he found himself with all over the “Sea Change” album. This is certainly a well produced cut from the fairly soon to be released “Modern Guilt,” and one wonders if the record will stick within this downcast mood or stir up some of the usual absurdist Beck humor, at least in places.

I find it funny that “Chemtrails” ends in a wall of Pavement-style lead guitar bits. It is not a bad ending, but I feel as if it is somehow a copout of sorts, but still, there is a nice surprise element to the song’s ending as well. I find it interesting as well that Beck is taking a lesson from Suzanne Vega’s book, in terms of really limiting himself lyrically and sticking thematically within a very specific framework of feeling and thought. This works for Beck; and his little wordless vocal in the middle of the cut falls a bit into the Stereolab category again as well, at least the Stereolab of more recent years.

Oddly, I am not getting much out of this song by way of late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s UK Psyche Folk as has been advertised, but rather…it sounds like Progressive Rock mingled with Tears for Fears. Musically, this is a very good direction for Beck, as it seems like largely new ground for a man who just recently started to backtrack a little for the first time, really. The drums are satisfying and strong, and almost tastefully danceable in places…but it is important that the beat never falls into that generic Hip-Hop flavor that has been so commonplace on the Pop charts, and in a lot of Beck’s songs, for such a long period of time now.

Anyhow, if the rest of the record is better than this cut or roughly equal, then “Modern Guilt” may be Beck’s first truly important album since “Midnite Vultures”. He really sounds alive with some new ideas, hopefully it will all pan out nicely, especially for his oh, so patient long-term fans.

Amen, dude.

L. Ron Hubbard, Modern Guilt, Beck, Chemtrails, Scientology

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