7. Morning Phase / Beck

When Beck turned into Gordon Lightfoot, his horizon changed forever.  Sea Change was a surprising turn in 2002, abandoning the chameleon playfulness of Mellow Gold, Odelay, and Midnight Vultures for an emotionally direct singer-songwriter record.  The Nigel Godrich-produced album was sad, gorgeous, and arguably the best release of that year.  By trading in sly eyebrow raises for earnest folk-rock, Beck marked his unique place in the pantheon of American songwriters and performers; few artists could ever go from "Loser" to "Devil's Haircut" to "Golden Age" in one fell swoop.

Fans have long hoped for a return to Sea Change's acoustic handiwork, so many listeners were excited when word leaked that, a dozen years later, Morning Phase would be Sea Change II.  Or at least it comes close in parts.  Though Morning Phase is a worthy attempt to capture Beck at his most folkie or forlorn, it never quite matches the emotional resonance of its predecessor, which was written in the wake of his breakup with his longtime girlfriend.  There are no tracks here that equal the heart-tugging confessions of “Lost Cause” or “Guess I’m Doing Fine.”  To expect as much may have been too much.

But Morning Phase is still an achievement, garnering five Grammy nominations including Album of the Year.  The timbre in Beck's voice is very pleasing in a folk/harmony setting, and this may be a career best vocal performance.  The album is lavishly produced, channeling golden 70s radio, and it emphasizes harmonic textures and backing vocals, resulting in a more immersive listening experience than Sea Change's spare melancholy.  The production sounds expensive, a nod to that bygone era when bands camped out in studios for months and enjoyed massive recording budgets.  Beck's father, David Campbell, provides the orchestral arrangements just as he did on Sea Change, and at least 18 musicians lend their talents to the record's multi-layered production.

Any lingering sorrow is tempered by warmth and beauty.  Beck seems to have his jaw set, moving forward with a seasoned optimism.  While making a beautiful, traditional pop record may be seen as a step backward, Morning Phase actually feels like the start of a new day--and an accomplishment worth hearing.