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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

The Information
by Beck


8.5

based on 36 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 81 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

Official Artist Site

Nigel Godrich produced the latest eclectic release for the prolific Los Angeles-based artist, which is more varied and uptempo than their previous collaborations.

LABEL:	Interscope
RELEASE DATE:	03 October 2006
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Alternative, Rock

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Los Angeles Times

This is their third collaboration, but neither the casual, light-bodied "Mutations" nor the intimate "Sea Change" anticipated this kind of flowering. [24 Sep 2006]

Entertainment Weekly

It's a sonic tour de force, and Beck seems comfortable in the info-storm.

The Onion (A.V. Club)

There's nothing here that Beck hasn't done before, but it sounds unexpected once again.

Filter

The Information is a truer return to the Odelay mentality--and surprisingly, the sound as well. [#22, p.92]

MSN Consumer Guide (Robert Christgau)

Unlike "Guero" this one really has some war in it.

E! Online

Along the way, it scores a lot of points, thanks to Nigel Godrich's earthy but twisted production.

New Musical Express

If Beck gets better as he gets madder, this is definitely his best since 'Midnite Vultures' - maybe even since 'Odelay'.

PopMatters

Impeccably sequenced and incessantly engaging.

musicOMH.com

Fun, fresh and (mainly) utterly listenable, The Information is the most diverse and, at times, thrilling album you'll hear all year.

The New York Times

[A] darkly intelligent album.

Dot Music

He's turned his gaze back on himself and created a record that brilliantly summarises and even critiques his own past.

Drowned In Sound

Despite the album’s plethora of stylistic shifts and breakdowns, there’s a solid coherency to The Information that allows it to flow from beginning to end without the listener losing interest.

Alternative Press

Overall, this collision of dirty loops and polished pop is Information you need. [Dec 2006, p.198]

Rolling Stone

One of the best albums Beck has ever made.

All Music Guide

If you give it time, The Information eventually reveals itself as Beck's tightest, most purposeful album yet.

Slant Magazine

His latest album plays like a subdued collection of greatest hits, dropping in on the sounds and themes of each preceding album with graceful brevity.

Spin

It's about three songs too long and a little all over the place. [Nov 2006, p.99]

Pitchfork

Although The Information contains some of his most aware, intriguing lyrical head-scratchers yet, the familiar musical settings are something of a letdown from an artist famous for complete reinvention.

Stylus Magazine

More than with either Mutations or Sea Change, you can hear Godrich’s rich instrumental layering beneath the rhythms.... Still, at fifteen tracks and over an hour, perhaps Beck needed a stiff editor more than the comfort of a familiar producer.

Austin Chronicle

What The Information lacks in Sea Changemanship it makes up for in Midnight Vultures, hats be damned.

ShakingThrough.net

What sounded fresh and spontaneous a decade back now seems labored and wearying.

Under The Radar

Even though The Information is neither a leap forward or nearly as exceptional as his previous collaborations with Godrich, it does serve as hope that Beck still has some great work ahead of him. [#15]

Hartford Courant

Despite his penchant for experimentation, much of his material remains accessible to casual listeners, even when he turns toward the self-indulgent.

Playlouder

The Information is as creative, tuneful and interesting as you could wish from an established artist.

Mojo

The latter tracks sink into Beck-by-numbers fare. [Nov 2006, p.100]

Q Magazine

The Information... is hamstrung by the sensation that, though Beck likes rapping, he has little to say beyond smart-alec one-liners. [Nov 2006, p.138]

Uncut

The Information often feels hygienised and missing some grit. [Nov 2006, p.100]

NOW Magazine

Without the bizarre lyrical invention and fuck-shit-up whimsy of his earlier work, Beck's attempts at party jams come off woefully overwrought and flat, making the darker bits interspersed throughout seem intriguing by default.

The Guardian

However annoying it sounds, give The Information a chance. By the time Horrible Fanfare rolls around, 15 numbers in, you'll be too dazed to resist.

Village Voice

Information ultimately suffers from the same hollowness that weakened Guero, but it's bolder at its best and less derivative of previous victories.

Urb

[Contains] scattered but affecting shots of brilliance. [Oct 2006, p.117]

BBC collective

The bubbly cartoon funk of single Cell Phone's Dead is a winner, but tracks like 1000 BPM and We Dance Alone are mid-paced, cautiously funky numbers with neither the bare sentiment of Sea Change nor the ribald lunacy of Hansen’s late-90s bombs.

cokemachineglow

I’m convinced that Beck Hansen has a few more good albums in him. One thing’s for sure, though: The Information isn’t one of them.

Prefix Magazine

[The songs] demand reconstruction that can only come from multiple listens. Unfortunately, the initial impact of the record is so muted that only an artist as challenging and road-tested as Beck warrants such effort.

Blender

Assured but tame. [Nov 2006, p.139]

Billboard

Yet for all the headphone-worthy sounds, the pace seldom rises above a back-porch feel and, at times, the stickers meant for customizing the cover seem like more fun than the music.

The average user rating for this album is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 81 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Brian F. gave it a10:
Well put together, you cant make a better sound.

Vid M gave it a7:
A few excellent tracks are held back by several weaker ones.

Ross G. gave it a9:
This album is vastly underrated to the point that it's almost criminal. I'll admit I wasn't a huge fan at first, but repeated listens revealed its genius. On many of the tracks, Beck layers the sounds in the songs so perfectly you can't help but be amazed at his appreciation for texture and production. Songs such as Soldier Jane, Cell Phone's Dead and Dark Star (off the top of my head) among many others are classics. As a devout fan of his older albums including the overlooked Mellow Gold and the acclaimed Odelay, I can say with confidence that this album is up there with his best, beating out the previous year's Guero by a long shot.

Johnny S gave it a9:
Truly Becks best album. I read somewhere on this site that to find the best music in Metacritic you have to look for a rating in the mid 70's to low 80's and the more I look the more this rule holds true. This album will be unfortunately somewhat overlooked which is a real shame. It's worth listening to just for Nigel Goodrich's production alone.

James O gave it a9:
An awesome albumn. Phat and Phunky with brains to boot. Best Beck Albumn Ever.

[Anonymous] gave it a9:
Best songs on there are Cellphones Dead, Nausea, and Think I'm In Love. The rest of them are also very good, though, although one (Don't remember the title) reminded me of the Hell Yes from Guero album.

Ry V gave it a10:
I'lll put it this way, on my new mp3 player; I put on this album and the slayer discography ;) Ppl who luv metal can luv beck ! -but I bet most don't listen

The Information by Beck

The Information
by Beck