James Villa– By Dustin Blocker –
“DON’T PUSH PLAY”
What the hell is going on, here? Where’s the bass and the beats and the funky guitar and even funkier synth? No talk of aliens or the devil, or even a whimper resembling a guttural scream into an old broken microphone. Is Beck growing old, laying down his two turntables for a single dusty record player that solely exists to spin Bon Iver in perpetuity?
Beck’s newest full length, Morning Phase, is a yawn, and it really bums me out, both during the 13-song sprawl, and afterwards when I am left with the residual, and perhaps inherent, drowsiness. I mean, come on, qué onda guero?
I get it: We all have to grow up and push forward, but pushing forward has never been an issue for Beck. He has always been a creator without boundaries. On Morning Phase the boundaries actually seem to be the real issue. Boring was the story, and Beck’s sticking to it.
