The Information

Beck

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 3, 2006)
• Original Release Date: October 3, 2006
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Interscope Records
• ASIN: B000HIVO64
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (136 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,494 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Elevator Music

2. Think I'm in Love

3. Cellphone's Dead

4. Strange Apparition

5. Soldier Jane

6. Nausea

7. New Round

8. Dark Star

9. We Dance Alone

10. No Complaints

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Bonus Material [DVD][*]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

On The Information, Beck Hansen is seriously bummed out. Not that he sounds it as much as he did on 2002's laconic, Fred Neil-worshipping Sea Change. Technology and stuff, and the way it gets in the way of human interaction, is the subtext if not the full-on concept at play here. Recorded with art-rock anal-retentive Nigel Goodrich at the helm, work began on this album not long after Sea Change but was shelved for a few years while Mr. Hansen made 2005's Guero with the Dust Brothers. Unsurprisingly, it sounds a bit like both of those. The trappings of minimalist pop, fuzzy folk, click-hop, hip-hop, baroque psychedelia, and funky pop are to be found on this endearing release. Like Jean Cocteau or David Bowie, Beck is an artistic chameleon whose greatest gift is knowing which artists to borrow from, and when. The cover artwork consists of stickers that you can arrange however you like, which perhaps appeals too much to your own nostalgic/retro, "Trapper Keeper" sensibilities. And yet, it's kind of awesome, something you can't believe has never been done before. Much like the album it adorns. --Mike McGonigal

Product Description

Hailed as "a deeply natural songwriter" (THE NEW YORKER) who "defies expectations in his own way" (TIME) and "Gen X's most famous absurdist" (BLENDER), BECK is the single most inventive and eclectic figure to emerge from the '90s alternative revolution. In an era obsessed with junk culture, Beck seamlessly blends pop, folk, hiphop, indie/underground and electronica with the end result being an authentically uncategorizeable musical style that nevertheless has sold millions of records and scored multiple Grammy awards.

Three years in the making, THE INFORMATION is the album Beck began work on in 2003 with producer Nigel Godrich (Radiohead's OK Computer, Kid A; Beck's Sea Change, Mutations) and finally completed this year once Guero's massive success and encore touring engagements, as well as Nigel's other commitments, were fulfilled.

THE INFORMATION is comprised of 15 songs and a DVD featuring homemade videos for each of the 15 songs shot in-studio during the actual sessions. The artwork for The Information is either non-existent or infinite, depending on one's point of view. Each copy will come in a blank package with one of four collectible sticker sheets specially designed by European and American artists and representative of the unique Beck aesthetic. The stickers will give every Beck fan the opportunity to participate in the creative process by designing his or her own one of a kind CD cover.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Getting better all the time..., December 20, 2006

By	Yasmine F. Galenorn "Magic, Mystery, & Mayhem... (Seattle WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While Beck's earlier work (who can look at Odelay and not say "masterpiece?") was brilliant in a raw way, I think he's gotten more refined and yet has developed more depth over the years. I totally fell in love with Guero and wondered if he could keep the pace going. To my surprise, I like parts of The Information even better. It's more techno, which I like, and yes, darker. What I get out of this CD is a love/hate affair with technology & the alienation it brings to our lives. We can cross the world in seconds thanks to the net, and yet we are more distant, isolating within ourselves. This is a CD for the current day...it's wired, and so are we. And there's no going back.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very professional. If you're into that., October 19, 2006

By	Paul DeZan "paul55764" (Burlingame, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After living with "The Information" for two weeks, I've come to the conclusion that we are now in The Age of Beck II. Beck II is just like Beck I, except that Beck II is largely depressed, humorless and apparently convinced that slicker production can make up for a lack of enthusiasm. Does Beck still want to be a recording artist? Does the job still make him happy, or is he only going through the motions?

If, as some reviewers believe, this is Beck's "Scientology Album," it's pretty clear the "church" isn't making him happy either. He sounds miserable here and unlike on "Sea Change," the misery makes no point and serves no purpose. I don't think he's recovered from whatever inspired "Sea Change" even if he thinks he has. There is NO humor here, just a lot of expert, but ultimately tedious craftsmanship. On "1000 BPM" he briefly uses his hustler voice from "Hollywood Freaks" and all I could think was: "Man, 'Midnight Vultures' was a PARTY. This is a funeral." I mean, what can you say when the most radio-ready track on the album, "Nausea," has a message that basically comes down to: "Life's a bitch and then you die"?

There are some good moments, especially "Elevator Music" and "Cellphone's Dead," which is the only track that really gets the hip-hop/electronica merger that is (apparently) the goal of the album. But after a few listens it's very hard to care about much else here. There is also the standout bad track "Strange Apparition" which I have to believe was recorded while being held at gunpoint by a crazed Dave Matthews fan. Never has Beck sounded less like Beck, though he comes close on the endless final track, which sounds almost exactly like William Orbit in places.

Beck I is my favorite living American recording artist; here's hoping Beck II gets a new therapist and a new producer, in that order.

Oh...and if you haven't heard "Guero," pick up a copy immediately. Though I think Beck II also made "Guero," under the heavy influence of the Dust Brothers he put together an album that is both sophisticated/professional-sounding and lots of fun that gets better every time you hear it. It's no "Odelay" (and despite what 10 million critics have written it doesn't sound ANYTHING like "Odelay") but it is a damn fine record.

62 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The album as we know it has changed here, October 3, 2006

By	Steve Chernoski (Hoboken, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I felt OK writing a review on release day because Beck was leaking videos and other new tracks on his myspace page for a month or two before. I appreciated that and because of it, I must admit that I cannot remember the last time I was so eager for an album to come out. That being said, I definitely have favorites already. They include:

"Elevator Music" - very danceable tune, should have been the 1st single.

"Soldier Jane" - constant head bobbing, (important for me after Guerolito) definitely has some psychedelic qualities; I like the synths here.

"Dark Star" - I have never done acid, but the media has convinced me it must be something like this. Cool song and by far the best video on the DVD. It is as if Stanley Kubrick directed the video laced to early 80s underground beats. One person commented that Beck resembles Willy Wonka a bit here.

"We Dance Alone" - I just added this one because it caught on with me after a while. This is probably a song that showcases Beck's eclecticism more than any other, many different things going on here.

"No complaints" - Very catchy; one of the most stripped down tracks on the album, perfect for the MP3 player, walking outside. Great lyrics.

"The Information" - The title track has a hard bass beat and is solid overall.

The last song is a montage of a couple different tracks, focusing on change. This album was marketed different from the others; Beck is telling us the music is changing. Example: I went out and bought it rather than downloading this . . . Why?

Partly because of the DVD that comes with the album, partly the releases on myspace. Brilliant marketing focusing more on the album as a package. And I'm still split on rating it vs. Guero. Even though there were some tracks I could do without, (e.g. - Motorcade) when rating this album you have to keep in mind that Beck made a video for every song. Has anyone done that before??? And then NOT charge us a lot for it? At well under $15 here, this is a bargain for an album with 15 tracks and 15 videos on DVD.

I could go on about the stickers, but I won't. Beck has attempted something different and I liked it, hope you do too. Let's watch if the rest of the music industry follows suit.