Sea Change
| Beck
Sea Change
Sea Change is the eighth album by American alternative rock artist Beck, released on September 24, 2002. Recorded over a two-month period at Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles with producer Nigel Godrich, the collection includes themes of heartbreak and desolation, solitude and loneliness. "Lost Cause" and "Guess I'm Doing Fine" were released as singles. For the record, much of Beck's trademark recondite and ironic lyrics were replaced by simpler, more sincere lyrical content. He also eschewed the heavy sampling of his previous albums for live instrumentation. When interviewed, Beck cited the breakup with his longtime girlfriend as the major influence on the album. Sea Change peaked at number 8 on the Billboard 200, later being certified gold in March 2005 by the Recording Industry Association of America. Sea Change was met with favorable responses from critics, who considered Beck's transition from sonically experimental work to emotionally charged balladry to be successful and convincing. The album later appeared in many publications' lists of the best albums of the 2000s, and is today one of Beck's best-reviewed recordings.
Critic Reviews
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Rolling Stone
With Sea Change, he has made it the hard way, creating an impeccable album of truth and light from the end of love.
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Pitchfork
If there's anything the self-absorbed murk of Sea Change illustrates with unmistakable clarity, it's that Beck has forgotten how to connect with his inner loser-- and it's nobody's fault but his own.
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Consequence of Sound
It was only through Sea Change that Beck was able to exorcise the demons that haunted him — and what a horrific yet beautiful deed it’s been.
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Stereogum
I dig this version of Beck: the leaf blower-wielding performance artist reborn as heartbroken bohemian superstar.
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AV Club
Beck swaddles the hurt in a lush assortment of elements that would sound like Babel under anyone else's direction.
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Slant
Beck has made a recording that bucks the trends of the moment and defies all expectations. In doing so he has crafted a meditative masterpiece of powerful resonance for the ages.
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Spin
Maybe Sea Change was an emotional hiccup, an experiment not to be repeated.
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Pop Matters
Sea Change is a solid transitional disc, enjoyable but a far cry from Beck's best.
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All Music
It's a genuine masterpiece in an era with too damn few of them.
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Drowned In Sound
The music is as haunting as the singer is haunted - stark, late-evening acoustic melodies embellished by gorgeous eastern strings, courtesy of Beck’s old man.
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No Ripcord
If this is what heartbreak sounds like, then here's to cold women and shattered illusions the whole world over.
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Prefix Magazine
It’s a miserable, rainy, gray afternoon in New York. Beck is so miserable. Sea Change is near perfect.
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The Young Folks
His most disciplined work, feels like an Impressionist painting, with stripped down acoustic tracks provided with immense layers of mesmerizing sound.
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Analog Planet
Sea Change is a finely crafted, thoughtful, and enduring album. Highly recommended.
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High Fidelity Review
While ‘Sea Change’ is surely Beck’s most personal album to date, he characteristically pulls off the feat of being expressive without ever telling specific stories.
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RTE
'Sea Change' won't be the soundtrack to many parties, but acoustic sincerity doesn't come much better than this.
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DVD Talk
Beck's "Sea Change" was a terrific surprise.
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XS Noise
Beck is ever the musical troubadour on his very individualistic musical trail, one can hardly wait for what comes next, but Sea Change is certainly a masterwork milestone on his journey.
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Dusted Magazine
Sea Change certainly marks a highlight of some sort for Beck Hansen. It is consistent in tone, mood, and most importantly, in quality.
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My Vinyl Review
The strings, guitar, piano, and vocals wash over you.
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Diffuser
BECK SHINES THROUGH THE SADNESS ON ‘SEA CHANGE’
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The New Yorker
The arrangements are lapidary and seductive, and the record feels cohesive, despite the fact that we can clearly identify Beck's influences.
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The Quietus
The record is accomplished, admirable, in many places outright beautiful.
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Audiophinyl
The production on this record is wonderfully lush, with gorgeous string arrangements and understated guitar and vocal performances.
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Sound Stage Direct
Becks Sea Change remains the best record of the indie icons career. And how.
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Tone Deaf
Revisiting the album a decade later, it’s stunningly clear that it’s impossible for Sea Change to date at all.
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Leighton Literature
A work of incredible depth, it is by nature an album that rewards its audience with repeated listens, revealing itself gradually as if an unfurling flower.
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U of Music
his most artistically provocative achievement to date
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Mr Hipster
The thing is dull–there’s no two ways around it.
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