Three years after the down-tempo, sophisticated sounds of Sea Change, Beck's latest effort, Guero, returns the creative focus to beats, lyrics and guitar-based pop. This change in direction accompanies a change in the production booth; the full, flowing sounds of a Nigel Godrich production have been replaced by the danceable, beat-heavy influence of the Dust Brothers.
On Guero, Beck collaborates with numerous artists including Jack White of the White Stripes (bass guitar on "Go It Alone") and the Beastie Boys, who lend the drum line from their 1992 hit "So Whatcha Want" to Guero's first single, "E-Pro." The Dust Brothers, who produced Beck's 1996 release, Odelay, as well as some tracks on 1999's Midnite Vultures, co-produced Guero with Beck and co-wrote and played on seven of the album's 13 tracks.
While Guero's vocals are often reminiscent of 1994's Mellow Gold-style white-boy hip hop, there are hints of Sea Change's throaty fullness.
Beck is infamous for his genre experimentation on each album, and Guero is no exception. Twangy Spanish guitar pervades almost every track, and the percussion, when not computer-programmed, includes maracas, claves and hand-played drums, giving the album a Latin feel.
After Guero's opening track, the catchy, contagious "E-Pro," Beck develops his Spanish theme in "Qué Onda Guero," Spanish for "What's up white boy?" Synth beats circa the '80s start track three, "Girl," juxtaposing programmed beats with raw guitar, strings and harmonies in the refrain. Top tracks include the danceable "Hell Yes," which boasts, "I'm cleaning the floor/ My beat is correct," and "Go It Alone" with its slower, bluesy bass and thick, layered vocals.
Although some tracks lose momentum after three minutes, the last few songs showcase Beck's signature experimental style. With layers of unrecognizable sound effects and distorted vocals, "Farewell Ride" delivers a jumbled electronic freak-out. Beck's once-characteristic harmonica solos are revisited on many of Guero's tracks, especially at the end of "Scarecrow."
As opposed to the dynamic, attention-holding density that Beck listeners have come to expect, Guero's new songs don't deviate from repetitious drum lines; layers build on top of it, but there is little divergence from the basic beat over the course of a song.
Even though it isn't one of Beck's masterpieces per se, Guero is a worthwhile addition to a solid career.
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