Customer Reviews
Competent, but no classic - By: A. Wright, 21 Aug 2008 
'Modern Guilt' has the feeling of an 'in-between' album, although having said that, Beck's last truly great album was 'Sea Change' - 'The Information' & 'Guero' had moments of brilliance, but were incomparible to 'Midnite Vultures' or 'Odelay'.
I think the saddest thing about this album is that its hard to even pick one song that could have been a decent launch single. Its all just... samey, which is a shame.
I've not given up on Beck, because he clearly has talent... but this feels like an album cranked outin his sleep.
Unfairly labeled a return to form, as he was always deadly - By: Ryan Corr, 29 Jul 2008 
Like I said above, nearly all the reviews I've read for Modern Guilt have praised it as a return to form, "best since Sea Change", & that sort of garbage. Lazy, lazy journalism, particularly considering I read the exact same things about previous two albums (and bona fide clinkers) Guero & The Information. Where Modern Guilt outshines those albums isin its length, as both were at least twice as long as the half-hour Modern Guilt. That, & the music.
Which is fantastic. For reasons I don't understand, this Beck album took me the longest to get into. Well, of the ones I like. The less said about the boring Mellow Gold & the HIDEOUS Midnite Vultures the better. I was initially put off by how minimalist the album sounds. After about three listens, I was completely & utterly dependent on it. I couldn't do without it. Still can't. Strange that, isn't it? I think the reason for it is that I like the songs, or something.
Seriously though, the songs are fantastic. From the opener "Orphans" to closer "Volcano", there's not a duff moment on here. Plus, not one of the songs outstays its welcome. Once the verses, choruses & bridges have had their moment, its onto the next one. "Gamma Ray" is about the funnest song of the summer so far, "Chemtrails" has some incredible drumming & eerie vocals, "Modern Guilt" is relentlessly catchy, "Youthless" & "Replica" sound like Guero culls, "Walls" could pass for a Gnarls Barkley song (thanks Danger Mouse), "Soul of a Man" is sleazy as anything, "Profanity Prayers" is a super-happy bass fest & "Volcano" is perfect. The songs are as sparse as the artwork, but Beck doesn't need to layer his songs full of washboard solos & Schubert to be great. Modern Guilt's your proof.
A beautiful reminder of Beck's genius - By: Mr. A. M. J. Buncall, 24 Jul 2008 I can't really see what people are complaining about. Beck has spent the last countless years reeling out album after album of quality, thought provoking & truly original music.
Modern Guilt is a timely reminder of the sheer quality of his song writing, yes it's shorter this time but that affords him only track where he breaks out the "experimental"/quirky/frankly not very listenable stuffin 'Replica'.
Frankly the first & last tracks contain everything you need to fallin love with Beck either for the first time or the 500th.
Volcanoin particular is potentially his most beautiful track to date & makes me go all goosepimply just listening to it.
I can't see how comments along the lines of "this isn't as good as seachange or odelay" hold any value at all. If it's that era of Beck you like then go back & listen to those albums - or compile yourself a "best of beck" CD - there's plenty to choose from!
These are dark daysin terms of the quality & originality of music on offer & this latest offering from Beck is much needed ray of light - a reminder that human beings can still make music that is worth listening to.
Modern guilt of past crimes - By: Ziramen Tao, 21 Jul 2008 
I like any hardcore fan of Beck from the start, stopped listening to him when the atrocity that was Midnight Vultures came out.
After that I pretty much resinged his career to the bin as I did with said Lp.
I gave up on him as he lost what he once has & had never actually came close to Mellow Goldin music terms since. This Lp though is a nice little shotin the arm. Every track is great & pulls on some matured posturing albeit with a sturdy nod towards some of his older work ethics.
There is not a single bad track on this Lp & the beats on it are great, unlike a former review claiming 8 out 10 were just wrong.
A big thumbs up. If Beck carries on releasing this kind of quality I'll defnitely start listening to him again.
No Beck. No. - By: , 17 Jul 2008 
The i-tunes exclusive single "Timebomb" was no masterpiece & seemed a bit too much like a mid life crisis attempt to rekindle the fun of "Sexx Laws" era Beck. At least it was fun.
Following that release, Beck has chosen to change tack & go for a more "introspective" Beck record. Sadly this is no "Sea Change" - his last brilliant recordin my view. The teaming with Dangermouse is also a mystery...he hasn't worked his magic here & recent Gnarls Barkley material would suggest that he too has lost his muse.
"Chemtrails", the lead track, is reasonable butin comparison to his past glories it sounds like a C side, bot even a B side. This record saddens me greatly, & seems like such a waste of time. The fact that it is his last release for Geffenin the US strongly suggests contractual obligation, & nothing else. Avoid at all costs.
