Electronic / Alternative / Psychadelic
7.5/10
DJ Danger Mouse and Beck have joined the latest movement in indie music- electro-pop steeped in 60’s era psychedelic undertones (think: of Montreal, MGMT, Department of Eagles)- but their baby, Modern Guilt, still sounds distinctly Beck; a blessing or a curse, depending on how you look at it. The album opens with “Chemtrails,” which evokes Mutations-era Beck, but Danger Mouse’s influence becomes more apparent as the album progresses. The next track, “Gamma Ray” opens with a beat that would sit comfortably on a Gnarls Barkley album.
The marriage of Danger Mouse and Beck sounds odd at first, but Beck’s lilting moan sounds surprisingly at home amidst Danger Mouse’s vintage-style samples. It’s not the first time that Beck has toyed with electronic music- don’t forget the ubiquitous “Hell Yes,” but Modern Guiltis certainly his best effort to date. Thankfully, Modern Guilt is a big step up from The Information, and from the underwhelming Guero. If you feel like you’ve been waiting forever for Beck’s next solid album, or even just enjoy a solid piece of folk-flavored psychedelic electro-pop (and there are those of us who do), check out Modern Guilt.
