Sea Change
by Beck
  • Record Label: Geffen
  • Release Date: Sep 24, 2002
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 176 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 158 out of 176
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 176
  3. Negative: 10 out of 176

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  1. kodyk
    Jul 27, 2021
    10
    The breakup really spurred the making of this album. The beauty, harmony, incredible voice cannot be compared with any other album. One of the best albums of the 2000s and one of Beck's best works.
  2. thegetaway
    May 25, 2021
    10
    A real life-changing experience of an album. Definitely Beck's magnum opus!
  3. YoBo71
    Jan 30, 2020
    10
    This master-piece just keeps getting better with time. Undoubtedly his best and most personal work, there isn't one weak song in this album. Heart wrenching, enchanting, the song writing and production (Beck & Nigel Godrich) are top notch.
  4. AnthonyMiller
    May 16, 2019
    10
    Becks most emotion album and I’d say one of his best. Fantastic album from start to finish
  5. Felipecritic
    Nov 24, 2017
    7
    Beck faz uma transição de um CD funk para um bem mais melancólico e pessoal. Porém, como sempre, ele não decepciona e consegue convencer com um sólido CD.
  6. CrimsonFlush
    Aug 25, 2016
    10
    Becks' ode to heartbreak and melancholy a beautifully haunting and depressing mix. Beck's breakup depression was the world's gain. Top 5 breakup album ever.
  7. Ricko
    Dec 9, 2015
    8
    One of Beck's most acclaimed records and well deserved too. "Sea Changes" is Beck strolling reflectively into the new millennium. It's as mellow and sonically straightforward as you get with Beck, but the simplicity of the record underlines the quality, not only of the songs but of the artist in general. "Guess I'm Doing Fine" is my personal favourite track on the record but really, it'sOne of Beck's most acclaimed records and well deserved too. "Sea Changes" is Beck strolling reflectively into the new millennium. It's as mellow and sonically straightforward as you get with Beck, but the simplicity of the record underlines the quality, not only of the songs but of the artist in general. "Guess I'm Doing Fine" is my personal favourite track on the record but really, it's the way that the individual pieces come together and fit is what makes this such a strong release.… Expand
  8. Vampire25
    Mar 13, 2012
    9
    It took me the longest time to fully appreciate this album. This is Beck's most mature album to date. "The Golden Age" is a perfect opening track. All In All, might not be Beck's best work to date, but it's certainly his most mature and one if his best. A-
  9. MKCyrax
    Jan 22, 2012
    7
    this album is too overrated
  10. j30
    Aug 11, 2011
    10
    This is Beck's best work since Odelay. The lyrics and the whole atmosphere of the album is kind of a "Debbie Downer", but in a good way. This is the kind of album you listen to on a rainy day or when your heart get's ripped out. This album is on par with Elliot Smith's Either/Or and Nick Drake's Pink Moon
  11. Armington
    Nov 28, 2010
    9
    Fantastic change of pace from an artist unafraid to experiment. This was a bigger experiment than his more overtly experimental albums and he pulls it off admirably. What it makes it brilliant is less the realisation of this concept album than the actual concept of this concept album. I would normally steer well clear of depressing, slow, melodic albums about traumatic break-ups but sinceFantastic change of pace from an artist unafraid to experiment. This was a bigger experiment than his more overtly experimental albums and he pulls it off admirably. What it makes it brilliant is less the realisation of this concept album than the actual concept of this concept album. I would normally steer well clear of depressing, slow, melodic albums about traumatic break-ups but since Beck is willing to go there, what the hell, so am I! Totally unexpected, even from an artist you can always expect the unexpected from... if that makes sense...… Expand
  12. Wolfmother
    Oct 3, 2010
    10
    This album rules, I would recommend Paper tiger and little one. Beck is so underated. I mean every song made my pants tight. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
  13. ColinG.
    Jul 17, 2008
    9
    Pretty much the best. Standout tracks:"Golden Age", "Lonesome Tears"(a personal favorite), "Lost Cause"(the video is a trip), "Sunday Sun", and "Little One".
  14. Bruno
    Jun 27, 2008
    10
    I really loved this album, and its amazing to find that beck produces perfect music in such different ways.
  15. Jake
    Jun 24, 2008
    10
    Just a great album. Pick it up.
  16. GeoffH.
    Apr 5, 2008
    10
    9/10 average from 97 users says it all to me. This is one of the greatest albums ever recorded. Affecting, deep and wonderfully haunting, I wonder what some of the critics were thinking but then I'll never work music critics out. They're from a world so full of their own importance things like love affairs and break ups don't exist.
  17. BobR
    Aug 10, 2007
    10
    This one's a grower... it's great
  18. WesF.
    Jun 15, 2007
    10
    Was not a huge fan of Beck until I heard this record on a long trip with my brother. Sea Change is simply one of my favorite albums of all time, and I still listen to it 5 years later.
  19. WillT
    Feb 24, 2007
    10
    Great album. I was never a big Beck fan but this album won me over.
  20. LucP
    Dec 22, 2006
    10
    Touched my soul
  21. PaulF
    Oct 8, 2006
    10
    Easily the best album ever. Yes really, it's like that. If art's supreme purpose is to provoke and disarm, then this album is the epitome of art. Well composed, well produced and extremely sincere, emotional and personal. Thanks for sharing, Beck!
  22. Andy
    Aug 20, 2006
    8
    The best break-up album of the new millenium.
  23. scott
    Jul 29, 2006
    10
    The best album Beck has made up until now.
  24. AndyW
    Oct 4, 2005
    9
    Wow! This is such an emotional album. With so much effort put into the songs, it's hard to press stop on it. Personal favourites: "End of the Day", "Sunday Sun", "Little One", and "The Golden Age", and "Lonesome Tears". The only letdown I think to the album is "Round the Bend" Otherwise, Beck's best album yet.
  25. NickH
    Aug 28, 2005
    10
    It's a damn masterpiece. There aren't enough these days. Hats off to Beck, who seemingly can't make bad (let alone average) albums. This is his best album, out of a sea of great albums.
  26. Teeja
    Aug 18, 2005
    10
    A beautiful deeply moving album.
  27. robl
    Jun 1, 2005
    9
    beck's best, 2003's best, beautiful desendant of blood on the tracks
  28. TomC
    Mar 23, 2005
    9
    It's a stunning album that's really best appreciated on Santa Monica pier at sunset. Lonesome Tears is a stand-out track that I'll be listening to for years.
  29. JimmyM
    Mar 9, 2005
    10
    This is a darn god album and i would love it even if it was made by a fat irishman. so eat that.
  30. Yuval
    Apr 17, 2003
    10
    Superb album, completely connected both musically and spiritually.
  31. Sam
    Dec 31, 2002
    10
    Beck hurts and portrays it with something we can all enjoy. Unlucky bastard makes us very lucky indeed.
  32. Cartland
    Dec 30, 2002
    10
    This is one of the very best albums I've heard. Hopefully he'll continue making such haunting melodies. I can only compare this to the Beatles' best work. Genius!
  33. JimP
    Dec 28, 2002
    9
    The more you listen to it, the more you like it. It's not an easy one. But in the end, it's his best album.
  34. bobd
    Dec 6, 2002
    10
    beck confounds and annoys the ordinary listener by being absolutely unconcerned with their expectations. "Sea Change" is sonically breathtaking (play it LOUD!), lyrically labyrinthine (one has to pay attention to parse the actual narratives here), and emotionally searing. Not for the average debased attention span.
  35. KristineN
    Nov 6, 2002
    10
    Fabulous production that's spare and raw when needed makes this album incredibly hard NOT to listen to - when I heard it was so mellow I thought I might be bored after a number of tunes, but the effect is the polar opposite: spellbinding.
  36. TravisC
    Nov 1, 2002
    9
    The most refreshing album of 2002 so far. Amid the endless racket and cranked up amps comes forth and album focusing on craftsmanship, melody and beauty. I always thought Mutations was Beck's best work by far, so I'm glad to see him revisit the mood and sound of that album and expand on it further. Not the feel good album of the year as far as content, but the one of the most The most refreshing album of 2002 so far. Amid the endless racket and cranked up amps comes forth and album focusing on craftsmanship, melody and beauty. I always thought Mutations was Beck's best work by far, so I'm glad to see him revisit the mood and sound of that album and expand on it further. Not the feel good album of the year as far as content, but the one of the most uplifting albums as far as the current state of music is concerned.… Expand
  37. christophern
    Oct 8, 2002
    7
    Not great, not terrible.
  38. MichaelE
    Oct 7, 2002
    8
    Not my favorite aspect of Beck's music, and certainly not his best record, but it's convincing and gets better the later at night you play it.
  39. AaronL
    Oct 7, 2002
    8
    It's like cracking open Beck's chest, grabbing his barely beating heart, and putting it to your ear for a listen. Beautifully done and fully unexpected. Makes you truly realize that Beck is one of our best musical treasures - and these days they are difficult to come by.
  40. TheresaS
    Oct 6, 2002
    10
    Saw him in concert before the CD even came out and I loved it! Such a personal album, and as he said it's been 7 years in the making. Well worth the wait. I have all his CDs and this one just blows my mind! It's been on repeat for 4 hours now!
  41. HenryA
    Oct 4, 2002
    10
    Sea change is a brilliant 'low' album. Forget springstein, young and etc's 9/11 spam offerings, get this instead. VVoice what were you thinking?
  42. JasonG.
    Sep 30, 2002
    10
    Almost as good as nick drake
  43. ClarkH.
    Sep 30, 2002
    9
    with a few more listens, this jewel may climb into my "10" category reserved only for a handful of albums. if you like nick drake, gram parsons, air or "blow you away" melancholy twang, you better drop what you are doing and buy it. beck needs to lose another girlfriend because he was inspired on this one.
  44. RatatouilleStrychnine
    Sep 29, 2002
    10
    This isn't the best Beck album but this is equally flawless as other albums he did. This album cements Beck's legacy as one of the greatest and most versatile artists in pop culture. "I Guess I'm Doing Fine", "Lost Cause", and "Already Dead" are my personal favorites. These songs are very. very sad and beautiful at the same time.
  45. ElizabethR.
    Sep 28, 2002
    10
    A wave of trance music you want to listen to over and over again, but oddly unmawkish, considering the subject matter. A fully realised effort, integrating new (for him) directness in lyrics, and the lush but still restrained multi-track arrangements. Controlled emotionalism in a new form--beautifully constructed and intelligently executed.
  46. annak.
    Sep 27, 2002
    9
    i really love beck, and this album makes me want to give him a big hug. its gutwrenchingly depressing, but he can pull it off so gracefully, almost lazy. its great, and the village voice can eat it, (although the lyrics are admittedly a bit pretentious)
  47. JoshT.
    Sep 27, 2002
    10
    An immensely personal and heartwrenchingly sad record full of understated beauty; the year's best album.
  48. AGoije
    Sep 26, 2002
    10
    Beck has once again proved that he is a genius.
  49. JohnL.
    Sep 25, 2002
    10
    Excellent album. Lyrically and melodically his best work.
  50. LouisA.
    Sep 24, 2002
    10
    one of beck's greatest. masterfully done, he pours his heart and depression into and comes through
  51. MikeA.
    Sep 23, 2002
    10
    Pure brilliance, Beck has climbed to a new level, in my opinion Sea Change is the best album of the year to date...
  52. AndyJ.
    Sep 22, 2002
    10
    Best Beck album yet... dont be suprised if "Sea Change" pulls an upset over Bruce Springsteen's new album at the next grammys...
  53. bobj
    Sep 22, 2002
    10
    pretty damn good
  54. thomasl
    Sep 21, 2002
    9
    this metascore is misrepresenative (i think thats a word) anywho....almost every review i've read has been 4 out of 5 or 5 out of 5 as in Rolling Stone's case..........this is a beautiful album.......up there for record of the year with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
  55. BitBurn
    Sep 20, 2002
    8
    Very interesting this album. Musically it's a great record. Beck is still a very impressive and original songwriter.

Awards & Rankings

53
#53 Best Album of 2002
17
#17 Most Discussed Album of 2002
15
#15 Most Shared Album of 2002

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Mojo
    90
    Sea Change aches too thoroughly to be mere career shift. It's the kind of album that at times seems too sad for the singer's own good. [Album of the Month, Oct 2002, p.90]
  2. Delusions of Adequacy
    80
    One of his finest efforts to date.
    Read full review
  3. E! Online
    100
    Many of these harrowing tunes, like "Lonesome Tears" and "Guess I'm Doing Fine" have the lonely blues feel of Beck's similar-sounding Mutations, and they definitely get better with repeated play.
    Read full review
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