Wed, Sep. 16, 9pm EDT - 'Sea Change' by Beck

This was the first Beck album I ever bought.  I purchased it in the midst of a solo cross country trip back in July 2006.  I hadn't brought any CD's with me (I had my ipod in tow) so this one remained in the player the entire time. Needless to say I listened to it quite a bit (didn't always feel like hooking up the ipod).  I knew and had heard nothing about Sea Change when I bought it. I just knew I needed some Beck in my collection and was intrigued enough by the cover to shell out the dough for it.

If you really pressed me I probably couldn't tell you, off the top of my head, a single lyric on the entire album.  But that doesn't mean I don't love the album.  What I really love about it is the vibe and aura of it.  Driving through a lot of open landscapes on America's two lane highways was a perfect fit for this album.  Admittedly, some of the music can be a bit eerie and foreboding at times - not precisely a recipe for wandering the country on your own - but it can also be very comforting.  The presence of the instrumentation feels very thick as it wraps you up and draws you in.  And that feeling of closeness and warmth made for a great co-pilot on my trip.  

But of course the appeal of this album goes well beyond the limited scope of what made me connect with it on my journey.  Beck is obviously an immensely talented songwriter and musician, and although I've listened to the album a countless number of times, I'm really looking forward to listening to it again during "Album Night" where I can sit down and concentrate on nothing but the songs and anything and everything that is going on within them.  And that, after all, is what makes "Album Night" so unique and rewarding. Setting aside one hour every few weeks to really concentrate on a piece of art without distraction is often exactly what's needed in this chaotic world. Just as you would look at a painting and see every brush stroke, the same can be done with a great album. Every note, every instrument, every vocal and every sound is just like an individual stroke. Put them all together and you have an expressive work of art: 'The Album'.

And with that I invite you all to join me for "Album Night" on Wednesday, Sept 16 at 9pm EDT as we bask in the glow of Beck's Sea Change.  I'll 'see' you then!

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