Track Listing

1. E-Pro
2. Que' Onda Guero
3. Girl
4. Missing
5. Black Tambourine
6. Earthquake Weather
7. Hell Yes
8. Broken Drum
9. Scarecrow
10. Go It Alone
11. Farewell Ride
12. Rental Car
13. Emergency Exit
14. Send A Message To Her
15. Chain Reaction

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18744 in Music
• Released on: 2005-03-21
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 58 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Guero marks Beck Hansen's highly anticipated return to his partnership with the Dust Brothers, and the sound captured distinguishes this as the spiritual follow-up to Odelay. Guero is a lovingly crafted soundscape with few lulls and many peaks. High points include the opening one-two of "E-Pro" and "Guero", both of which are insidiously catchy and smartly humorous; "Black Tambourine", which sounds like a miniature reinvention of the Stone Roses' classic "Fools Gold"; "Hell Yes", in which Beck, armed with vocoder, returns as a great wielder of irony, taking potshots at hedonism; and the dustbowl rootsy blues of "Scarecrow" and "Farewell Ride", adverts for the neglected genre that are strong enough to make a next generation pick up harmonicas and slip on cowboy boots.

As with Odelay, Guero's instrumentation and sonic textures are always changing. Everything is here--from string sections, celeste and organ (courtesy of guest keyboardist Money Mark) through 12-string and slide guitars, bass from Jack White, a good dose of colourful samples, and programmed blips and bleeps that recall Midnite Vultures' best moments.

Beck is a true master of pastiche, but Guero isn't eclectic merely for the sake of it--instead, it's a constantly surprising, ever-revolving creation that looks at Beck's multiple talents through an entertaining kaleidoscope and which, backed by the Dust Brothers' formidable production, is damn groovy. In sum, Guero is what Beck's admirers have waited so long to hear: "Odelay 2". Where Beck will go from here is anyone's guess. --Jonathan Davies

Album Description
Beck's brand new album, Guero, is a remarkable addition to an already prestigious career. Guero is being heralded as one of Beck's finest albums and it sees a return to collaboration with producers The Dust Brothers (who last worked with Beck on Odelay). It includes the first single, "E-Pro".

CD Description
'Guero' is musical maverick Beck's sixth studio album, and the follow up to 2002's 'Sea Change'. Once again Beck provesvery hard to pigeonhole, with this record encompassing elements of Latin funk, hip-hop and anything else inbetween. Features the single 'E-Pro'.

Customer Reviews

a palette of beck sounds.....
guero is just great - previously, though, beck showed off his ability of eclectic song writing by releasing whole albums rotating around particular styles (with him going wildly off tangent at times), this time he has seemingly brought in all the styles he's mastered previously in this single album - from the mellow gold scarecrow to the odelay e-pro to the mutations missing to the midnite vultures hell yes and the sea change broken drum - and still he manages to do this with incredible ease creating an album which has beck written all over it. it's a sort of greatest hits album of unreleased songs - excellent for the unitiated and very satisfying to the connoisseur. (try to get hold of the import versions with send a message to her!!!!)

The Beckology Continues
Although only owning one other Beck album "Sea Change" and thinking it was a genius i decided to by "Guero" his much anticipated follow-up. "Guero" dabbles with rap and flirts with hip-hop beats still keeping a somewhat alternative sound.

1.E-Pro - A song that has a most distinct rock sound more than any other song on the album its really cool the distorted guitar mixed with the somewhat camp "Na Na Na's" make it very catchy and enjoyable 10/10

2.Que Onda Guero? - This is one of the albums highlights nice beat which goes with the vibe of the song Beck rapping has always something i frowned at but i think it works well for him i found out that "Guero" is a slurr the spanish people in his neighbour used to call him roughly translate as "White Boy" this is one of the best songs on the album 10/10

3.Girl - The cool Atari-esque intro then kicking into a feel good rock-lite song just about a girl he really likes this was one of the singles as well i dunno why it didn't do well it fits in perfectly with whats out now but oh well i still love it 9/10

4.Missing - Has a bit of a spanish feel to it Back hums in the background which somehow gives it cool atmosphere i love the way he sings on this one the string arrangement make it sounds eerie which i like another album highlight 10/10

5.Black Tambourine - Although not the longest track on the album it definately sticks out very catchy and jus one of the coolest songs it's too bad this isnt longer 9/10

6.Earthquake Weather - I felt this has a very distinct R&B feel to it has a nice laid back feel to it this should have been one of the singles i enjoyed this one alot and have had it on repeat a few times before 10/10

7.Hell Yes - Why didn't this do well over here!!! this is by far my favourite song on the album his rapping just always makes me laugh but it fits very well the beat reminds me of Jill Scott's song "Gimme" i like the way Beck experimented on this 'coz it works very well 10/10

8.Broken Drum - Really the only downtempo song on the album has a nice guitar riff which sounds almost sexy this could have been on "Sea Change" even though i don't find this one depressing at all 9/10

9.Scarecrow - The guy from the White Stripes accompanies Beck by playing bass. Tthis is one of the better tracks, has a nice country-ish vibe this would have made an interesting video concept the beat reminds me of the song "Addicted To Love"
10/10

10.Go It Alone - The beat reminds me of Zero 7's "I Have Seen" this song is not really a favourite of mine although many fans find this one excellent but it just didnt stick with me 7/10

11.Fairwell Ride - Another country-esque song reminding me of the old west and its more evident that the inspiration came from there by the lyrics and the way he sings maybe he was inspired by the late Johnny Cash 10/10

12.Rental Car - Yeah its ok but not really a favourite of mine it jus seems a continuation from #11 although the short guitar solo is beautiful 8/10

13.Emergency Exit - Has an electronic vibe to it and the wailing make it seem very creepy although this may well be one of the strongest tracks on the album the lyrics are good 10/10

Top 5
1.Hell Yes
2.Earthquake Weather
3.Que Onda Guero
4.Scarecrow
5.Missing/Fairwell Ride

Guero was one of the coolest sounding albums from last year pick it up if ur a Beck fan.

Great album - regardless of past glories
A number of previous reviews have focussed on comparing this to Beck's earlier releases, some favourably, some less so. Well, this is the first Beck CD I've picked up (spur of the moment after seeing him perform some of these tracks on 'Later'), so I guess this is a 'stand-alone' review - i.e. without reference to past glories.

It's quite understated (minimalist production, vocals low in the mix), so it takes a few plays to get under your skin - but once the individual songs register, it just keeps getting better. There's a slow burning groove to many of the tracks - it would make a great party album (assuming your party goers are old enough to look beyond the top 10).

The lasting impression is of subtly catchy tracks driven along by a slow-cooked mix of bass riffs, hand claps and finger snaps, overlaid with low key but tuneful vocals.

Some of the tracks rock (E-Pro, Rental Car), some have a old-timer county twang (Farewell Ride, Emergency Exit), others are almost pure rythmn (Black Tambourine), and Broken Drum is just beautiful, but with the possible exception of the final bonus track Chain Reaction they all stand - indeed develop with - repeated plays.

Highly recommended.

PS inspired by reviews of other Beck albums, I've since picked up the highly rated Sea Change album. It's a great if very different album (haunting breakup songs rather than grooves - Broken Drum would slot right in), but it doesn't diminish Guero. Ignore the nay-sayers; there's room for more than one style in an artist's pantheon, and Beck is talented enough to deliver across genres in spades - Guero is ace.