As both a quintessential entry into his catalog and a striking entry into mainstream popular culture, Colors once again cements Beck as a clever, ever-dynamic and enduring artist.
As a collection of songs, however, Colors is by far Beck’s most upbeat and enjoyable record from front to back since the ’90s. Repeated listens will no doubt be rewarded.
You can still hear marginal residue of the man who managed to be compared to both Dylan and Prince within the same five-year period. You just won’t find those comparisons so much lately.
Overall it’s a fun album of two halves. The first half tows the line between the cheesy elements of radio pop that even the snarkiest Slayer fan secretly loves, and some truly inspirational, if not fleeting, compositional substance. The second half, although still very much a fun listen, somewhat strays.
Colors dispels a greater notion of contemporary selfhood with its sheer tastelessness. It holds status as the most truly perplexing move from the artist to date. Unfortunately, the result of that move is borderline unlistenable.
Colors is a fantastic album. I am a massive Beck fan, loving everything he has done. Among the very best rank Odelay, Sea Change, Guero,Colors is a fantastic album. I am a massive Beck fan, loving everything he has done. Among the very best rank Odelay, Sea Change, Guero, Morning Phase, and Mutations, but all of his albums are great in their own way. As a Beck fan, I recognize that every album he records is a vast departure from the last. Really only two are even similar, in Sea Change and Morning Phase, and they were recorded more than a decade apart. So I dont understand the people saying he's lost his touch, or not the same. Thats the point. He is never the same, something that makes him great, and vastly unique in today's music.
Colors is one great song after another, until its over. It might be his most "complete" work to date. The opening title track kicks things into gear, and songs like Seventh Heaven, I'm So Free, Dear Life, No Distraction are intant classics in my book. Dreams is great, and like every other song, extremely upbeat and catchy. Eminently listenable, this is the first album in years where I never want to skip a song looking for a better one. The songs and his vocals, are melodic, fast, and fun. It puts a smile on your face to listen. For the first time in a while, it sounds as though Beck is truely happy in his music. I am too. This may be my new favorite Beck album.…Expand
I know what a lot of people said when they heard this album: this album is pop and it doesn't sound like Beck - absolutely different. But II know what a lot of people said when they heard this album: this album is pop and it doesn't sound like Beck - absolutely different. But I want to say that this album does not look like that, compared to its previous antipode - and this has already caused a lot of positive emotions - and if the Morning Phase was for music lovers, then Colors were for those who live with this music already in the new musical era.
I really liked this album. My favorite songs: Dear Life, Dreams, Colors. And the most unloved one, from which I simply turned away at the very first chords, is Seventh Heaven - as for me this is too pop song, and if the songs of Square One and No Distraction were on that brink, then Seventh Heaven was beyond the point of foul.
The entire album is dedicated to the value of life - when you listen to this album, you understand that life is beautiful and that it is happiness to own this life.…Expand
Beck has done it again. Colors feels like Becks big pop opus. Evey song could fit on the radiocharts, but still has the Beck vibe to it. ThisBeck has done it again. Colors feels like Becks big pop opus. Evey song could fit on the radiocharts, but still has the Beck vibe to it. This feels like beck most straight-ahead pop album since Guero. The songs also feel unique, but still manages to feel like an great whole. There are two kinds of Beck on this album. You have your fun and party Beck. Songs like Colors, Dreams (colors mix, so no f word), i'm so free and no distraction. Colors feels like an old retro 80's song with an great pan flute lurking beneath the surface. This version of dreams really works with the more trippy aproach. No distraction almost feels like a reggae song. I'm so free may be easily one of the best songs on the album. It has this awesome rap pre-chorus that really works. The other Beck that shows up is more serious and depressed Beck. Seventh Heaven, Dear life and Fix me are those songs. Seventh Heaven feels like a ride through the highs and lows of an relationship, while being hopefull at the same time. Dear life is more of a Beatlesque song about losing your grasp on life. Fix me feels like when the party is over and everybody is going home. The only song I don't fully get is Square one. It 's suddenly about this girl and it felt out of nowhere. The rest of the album is truly worth checking out…Expand
Colors is a very polished, bright album from start to finish. Beck did a great job at fine tuning his sound to make it more accessible, whileColors is a very polished, bright album from start to finish. Beck did a great job at fine tuning his sound to make it more accessible, while still keeping his uniqueness.
I like this album even if it does feel like Beck is losing his touch a little bit. These tracks are fun and punchy with the same drum tracksI like this album even if it does feel like Beck is losing his touch a little bit. These tracks are fun and punchy with the same drum tracks popularized in MGMT and Foster the People.…Expand
This is a far cry from the introspective, solemn and mature 'Morning Phase' which earned Hansen a Grammy, but it certainly proves hisThis is a far cry from the introspective, solemn and mature 'Morning Phase' which earned Hansen a Grammy, but it certainly proves his versatility, perhaps at the sacrifice of the album's depth and meaning. Regardless, this is a fun album and an easy listen.…Expand
This album is dull and just lacks the sparkle or substance you get from many other Beck albums. There are some good bits, but the bits thatThis album is dull and just lacks the sparkle or substance you get from many other Beck albums. There are some good bits, but the bits that are good are really just sections of songs, or sounds used, which are interesting for a few seconds, but then somehow they do not click into a shape that has power.…Expand
Get details on the most-anticipated albums arriving this fall (including new releases from St. Vincent, Taylor Swift, U2, Beck, and more), and listen to tracks from each one.
Published: September 7, 2017Get details on the most-anticipated albums arriving this fall (including new releases from St. Vincent, Taylor Swift, U2, Beck, and more), and listen to tracks from each one.