I wrote about Beck's new album Sea Change just yesterday that it is very much influenced by two songwriters from the 70s. But when I heard Round the Bend on the radio tonight I couldn't believe my ears. I had heard a string section playing that understated atmospheric tune before. Though it was less pronounced and not as thickly arranged as here. It was in Nick Drake's River Man from his first album Five Leaves Left. Beck even tries to sing like Drake. I like his version of Drake's song especially the cosmic radiance it has, the wide space it conjures up. But I find it extremely shameless by Beck to pretend it his song. He should at least have written in the liner notes by whom it was inspired. By the way the radio deejay had also noticed that those two songs were very similar and played them next to another.

Beck's new album is a cover album. The first second song Paper Tiger is a take on Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg. The overall mood is very similar to Neil Young's Harvest though the album lacks the gorgeous melancholic melodies. Another good song on the album It's All in Your Mind also sounds familiar to me though I cannot yet nail by whom it is. Have you got an idea? Two hints: search in between 1969 and 1972, maybe +- two years and check Beck's iPod (New York Times, I am not sure if registration is still required).

Don't get me wrong. I don't think it is a bad album and I would love to hear it played in a pub by chance. But probably not more than two songs as the album doesn't seem to have enough substance to be listened to in one sitting. Many songs just meander along and fail to catch my attention.

I still can't exclude that I will change my mind tomorrow and that the record is a grower but up till now I am not too convinced. The best song is the Nick Drake cover and that says a lot about the originality and honesty of Beck. In a way it makes me doubt how much he actually feels the songs he performs. He seems a great actor and pretender but I am not sure anymore if he is a great artist.

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