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Modern Guilt is the ’60s psych-pop reinvention that keeps on giving. Never mind that what it’s given of late is a fittingly forgettable, colorless collagist clip for one of its least memorable songs; this is 2009 and the promo cycle springs eternal. This new one comes with the UK iTunes Deluxe release, and I so want to meet the person that bought it once and is lured again by the Deluxe tag, but no bother: it’s a new listen for a new packaging of an otherwise worthy album. Song title says it all, but then Beck’s always been a good lyricist.

All mean things said, this is actually a good little listen. Clearly b-side material, but Hansen’s voice always sounds right over wobbly rhythm sections with drunken slide guitars. Necessary evil I’m starting to wonder what happens now? More videos duh.

Comments (17)
  1. adam  |   Posted on Feb 24th, 2009

    I think Modern Guilt is an OK album…but I think I’d really like to hear a full album of tracks like this. A return to his sort of stripped-down sound, and let Danger Mouse sit this one out.

    • seriously… Danger Mouse is good at his own stuff, but often over kills a lot of stuff. Maybe it is a covert operation, he goes out and produces crappy albums so that Gnarls Barkley will sell out! HA!

  2. Tony Lacey  |   Posted on Feb 24th, 2009

    Stewart Copeland kept Sting from getting all Blue Turtle on us.

  3. Jackson  |   Posted on Feb 24th, 2009

    Sounds like an upbeat ”No Expectations” by the Stones.

  4. Bobb  |   Posted on Feb 24th, 2009

    This would immediately be the second or third-best song on Modern Guilt.

  5. Chris  |   Posted on Feb 24th, 2009

    This definitely owes a lot to No Expectations (slide guitar, open tuning, parts of the progression, etc.). On the bright side, it’s a great Stones song.

  6. joe glow  |   Posted on Feb 24th, 2009

    this is about the best track of his I’ve heard since sea change. if beck starts writing like this again, I’ll start paying for his albums again.

  7. Jackson  |   Posted on Feb 24th, 2009

    Where can we download this?

  8. EnchantingWizardofRhythm  |   Posted on Feb 24th, 2009

    Great song…for those of you complaining that new album was over produced (and I’m not necessarily arguing either) check out what a lot of the songs would have sounded like when Beck plays them acoustic in studio:

    Orphans -
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX0WWzwbTsw

    Modern Guilt –
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjjNSJ0oGYE&feature=related

    Gamma Ray –
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNyFrKC9RYo&feature=related

  9. this owes nothing to the stones…you guys are idiots….

    because it uses slide guitar…?

    like slide guitar hasnt been used before the stones

  10. Burg   |   Posted on Feb 25th, 2009

    This dummy enjoyed the listen. Thanks.

  11. I wholeheartedly agree with adam

  12. and one foot int he grave is one of my favourite albums

  13. billhaverchuck  |   Posted on Feb 27th, 2009

    agreed. for all the “beck is back!” hype surrounding it, modern guilt was remarkably uninspired. give me this & “vampire voltage” over “orphans”, “volcano” or “soul of a man” anytime. i’ll gladly take it.

    and speaking of MoGu, the beck show i went to in NYC in support of the album was probably the worst $60 i’ve ever spent… although i guess i couldn’t think of a better way to show your contempt for touring by playing an over-priced half-assed show for all your loyal fans.

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