Beck : Ride Lonesome

If you’re a fan of sad Beck Hansen then you’re in for a treat with his new album Ride Lonesome. We have the 3rd record in a trilogy of sadsack Beck records, following Sea Change from 2002, then Morning Phase in 2014. These are the sad Beck songs, expertly produced to a finite sheen; spectral vocals, slow motion rhythms, and intricately sad melodies that show off Beck’s 70s singer/songwriter muscles, along with his knack for soft rock blandness.

Yeah, I’m not really a fan of the medicated, woozy Beck. I truly appreciated what he did in the 90s with the hip hop/slacker production and weird lyrics. I liked that Beta Band/punk rock production/homeless guy on the street busking vibe. I think it was both genius and indicative of where alternative music was heading, and Beck Hansen was at the forefront of it. Sea Change was a fine record, as it came from a place of real heartbreak for Beck. He immediately followed it up with the excellent Guero, then the equally amazing The Information. After 2009s Modern Guilt Beck put out some lofty singles and albums that felt pop-powered and left the obscure at the studio door. That leads to the now, and Ride Lonesome.

There’s no denying the production value, musicality, and ambition are here. There are some truly beautiful songs, in-particular “Failed Words”. There’s a grandeur to the piano-led song, and Hansen hasn’t sounded better. And title track “Ride Lonesome” sounds like Sea Change opener “The Golden Age”, so much so I had to make sure I was listening to the right album. But so much of this album sounds alike that with the exception of a few tracks they all seem to roll into each other with little distinction.

“Disappearing Act” has a Jim Croce-meets-Nick Drake melancholy, and “Slow Canyon” has some thoughtful slide guitar and interesting chordal changes. “Falling Through My Hands” is reminiscent of Mutations-era Beck, while album closer “Beyond The Light” has a cinematic quality with its string arrangement. But I don’t find myself wanting to revisit these songs with the exception of a couple. It all remains in a rather low gear. You can still get to where you’re going, but it takes a long time to get there.

If you’re a fan of the orchestral, woozy Beck of Sea Change and Morning Phase then you will enjoy Ride Lonesome. If you like to get crazy with the cheese whiz, there’s always Mellow Gold, loser.