Let’s get something straight, guys. Beck hasn’t released an album since 2008’s good-ish-for-Beck-ish Modern Guilt (TMT Review). And no, whatever dumb bullshit like video game soundtracks and song books you have to play yourself don’t count. So yeah. It’s been five years. End of discussion! And while he dropped a few hints last year about kinda sorta working on a new one in his spare time, there’s been no real activity in his camp since. Until NOW!
See, he’s just announced a small smattering of solo acoustic shows this July — including one with Bob Dylan and Wilco for Dylan’s not-stupidly-titled-but-only-because-he’s-Dylan “AmericanaramA” tour — followed by two full-band sets in Boston and Brooklyn in August. And for all you cynical jerks out there (hi, mom!) who may be sardonically thinking “psssht, this little string of solo acoustic dates probably just is the new Beck album,” congratulations! You may not be far off! Upon perusing his most recent press release on the subject (tucked without fanfare in between the usual crap about him being a stylistic chameleon and his Song Reader thingy being genius or whatever), I found this shit:
In addition to acoustic renditions of some of Beck’s best loved classics, these very special performances will feature never before heard material from an upcoming acoustic record. The record can best be described as a self-contained work, one that came in the form of a burst of inspiration following the completion of last year’s groundbreaking Song Reader sheet music album.
Huh. So there you go. Go see him play some intimate, inspired new material this July on acoustic guitar, or watch him dance around to “Sexx Laws” this August. No easy choice.
Beck’s New Album Better Not Be a Tour 2013:
05.19.13 - Santa Cruz, CA - Rio Theatre
05.20.13 - San Francisco, CA - Davies Symphony Hall
07.02.13 - Paris, France - Days Off Festival
07.27.13 - Wantagh, NY - Americanarama Festival *
07.28.13 - Newport, RI - Newport Folk Festival
07.30.13 - Portland, ME - State Theatre
08.02.13 - Boston, MA - Bank of America Pavilion ^
08.04.13 - Brooklyn, NY - Prospect Park Bandshell (Celebrate Brooklyn) ^
* Bob Dylan, Wilco, Ryan Bingham
^ Electric-as-fuck
• Beck: http://www.beck.com