Retrospect Review: Beck's Guero - 10/10

Upon listening to Guero in high school, I was struck by the fact that I was listening to an album where I had practically nothing to critique. Lo-fi grunge in "E-Pro" starts the album and everything that follows (hip-hop, blues riffs, and western slide guitar to name a few) is all mixed to sonic perfection. The only accusation I could imagine one would place on Guero is a lack of focus in the lyrics between the songs. "It is an attempt to be completely mature, but lacks a concrete soul, so how could it?" That's SO not what I hear, however, and I do object to the claim the words lack continuity and ingenuity. If you listen to an album 15 years later and find there's still so much perfection to it, clearly something's gotta give. So... what is it?

The riff throwing you into the Guero ride is infectious and includes clever lyrical games: "Talking trash to the garbage around you" because "There's too much left to taste that's bitter." Hopefully, you understand what he's talking about. "E-Pro" is a solid introduction to the wasteland of musical materials gathered like a child gathering remnant ghetto material and still finding some magic in the creation. This is the heart and soul that Guero lives and breathes. ALL of the lyrics revolve around this. "Qué Onda Guero" continues the barren magic of living in Los Angeles with a biographical depiction of strolling through Latino neighborhoods as one of the only white kids in town. The result is probably the most charming piece of the Guero riddle that sends most away with a smile. Next comes an entrancing depiction of Beck's sun-eyed "Girl": "Fist pounding on a vending machine / Toy diamond ring stuck on her finger." Guitar, harmony, and melody are simple but create a delightful charm in Guero's trash collection. "Missing" makes eloquent synthetic strings and Latin guitar with clave ring beautifully with one of my favorite statements: "I pray, Heaven today, bring its hammer down on me." It seems the rummage through trash is high-brow enough to yank at the heartstrings of man's inevitable feeling of loss. Great work from the L.A. native so far!

"Black hearts in effigy": a portrait of a run-down relationship in "Black Tambourine," but just economically speaking. Beck's "tambourine is still shaking." The song has a strong blues-rock hook that describes a relationship with someone who is livin' about as low as Beck. Not quite the sun-eyed girl he came to fall in a "love at first sight"-esque manner. This relationship seems to continue in "Earthquake Weather." "I push, I pull, the days go slow / Into a void we filled with death and noise": the relationship has been reduced to a drudge. Despite that, the music mixes a solid combination of memorable blues guitar with hip-hop beats and embellishments. "Hell Yes" seems concerned with mass-production capitalism and features a music video of dancing robots communicating the message synchronized to solid rhythms. In contrast, "Broken Drum" is said to be Beck's ode to Elliot Smith, not long after his death. The songs continue to roll out strong riffs and enticing ornamentation. The suggestion that the western "Farewell Ride" is a reference to cocaine recreation ("Two white horses in a line") and the "Farewell Ride" is the possibility that this really might be his last "farewell ride" is most likely legit (Uh-oh...), but Beck is still rolling out albums!

The album's finale, "Emergency Exit," ends Guero on a hopeful note: "Kindness will find you when darkness has fallen 'round your bed." This glorious montage of garbage we call the human experience is conveyed with the utmost sensitivity toward designing something beautiful with whatever Beck found. It is likened to a series of autobiographical vignettes, though not entirely. Beck is not an idiot, and he trusts his instincts enough not to perturb himself by hastily designing his songs to be Pitchfork's "Man of the Year" (No lie, however, I really like Pitchfork). Sadly, this album does not get the credit it deserves because it fills me with inspiration and conviction. I'm convinced this is the best album Beck has ever given to those who'll give it a taste. Think of it as your brilliant sloppy burger: a mess of American inspiration.