Beck's 'Ride Lonesome' Finds a Grayer Shade of Blues
Beck's latest album revisits the country-folk and gently psychedelic West Coast rock of his 2014 record Morning Phase. The songs trade his earlier absurdist persona for low-key meditations on isolation and emotional alienation. The blues here feel muted, as if filtered through a overcast lens.
Beck’s early career pivoted on a chaotic, absurdist persona that overshadowed his quieter acoustic sets, which often featured straight-faced blues covers and originals. Those earnest performances were typically met with confusion until he adopted the surreal rapping that made “Loser” a surprise hit. His later albums, including *Mutations* and *Sea Change*, gradually moved toward more personal expression, culminating in *Morning Phase*, which won the Album of the Year Grammy and established a commercially successful, introspective style.
*Ride Lonesome* reunites most of the musicians from *Sea Change* and *Morning Phase*, and its sound leans on loping country-folk, buoyant French pop with prominent bass, and ’60s West Coast rock. Unlike *Morning Phase*, which felt like a first-person inner monologue, the new songs often use broad, hypothetical lyrics that drift into questionable advice, creating a sense of emotional distance rather than lived experience.
This album may resonate with listeners who value introspective, melancholic songwriting, but its muted emotional tone could limit its cultural footprint compared to *Morning Phase*. For longtime fans, it may reinforce a sense of artistic stasis, while newer audiences might see it as a gentle, accessible entry point. The record’s focus on isolation could speak to those navigating loneliness, though its detached delivery may reduce its potential for deep personal connection or broader social conversation.