While Beck's earlier work (who can look at Odelay and not say "masterpiece?") was brilliant in a raw way, I think he's gotten more refined and yet has developed more depth over the years. I totally fell in love with Guero and wondered if he could keep the pace going. To my surprise, I like parts of The Information even better. It's more techno, which I like, and yes, darker. What I get out of this CD is a love/hate affair with technology & the alienation it brings to our lives. We can cross the world in seconds thanks to the net, and yet we are more distant, isolating within ourselves. This is a CD for the current day...it's wired, and so are we. And there's no going back.

I felt OK writing a review on release day because Beck was leaking videos and other new tracks on his myspace page for a month or two before. I appreciated that and because of it, I must admit that I cannot remember the last time I was so eager for an album to come out. That being said, I definitely have favorites already. They include:

"Elevator Music" - very danceable tune, should have been the 1st single.

"Soldier Jane" - constant head bobbing, (important for me after Guerolito) definitely has some psychedelic qualities; I like the synths here.

"Dark Star" - I have never done acid, but the media has convinced me it must be something like this. Cool song and by far the best video on the DVD. It is as if Stanley Kubrick directed the video laced to early 80s underground beats. One person commented that Beck resembles Willy Wonka a bit here.

"We Dance Alone" - I just added this one because it caught on with me after a while. This is probably a song that showcases Beck's eclecticism more than any other, many different things going on here.

"No complaints" - Very catchy; one of the most stripped down tracks on the album, perfect for the MP3 player, walking outside. Great lyrics.

"The Information" - The title track has a hard bass beat and is solid overall.

The last song is a montage of a couple different tracks, focusing on change. This album was marketed different from the others; Beck is telling us the music is changing. Example: I went out and bought it rather than downloading this . . . Why?

Partly because of the DVD that comes with the album, partly the releases on myspace. Brilliant marketing focusing more on the album as a package. And I'm still split on rating it vs. Guero. Even though there were some tracks I could do without, (e.g. - Motorcade) when rating this album you have to keep in mind that Beck made a video for every song. Has anyone done that before??? And then NOT charge us a lot for it? At well under $15 here, this is a bargain for an album with 15 tracks and 15 videos on DVD.

I could go on about the stickers, but I won't. Beck has attempted something different and I liked it, hope you do too. Let's watch if the rest of the music industry follows suit.

I've always been partial to Beck's Mutations, Sea Change and Odelay offerings and this disc did not disappoint at all on first listen. In fact, I was completely blown away by how psychedelic, organic and tuneful this was while at the same time being modern and even danceable!

This one manages to merge the beautiful melodies found on Mutations and Sea Change with the funky stuff found on Odelay, Midnight Vultures and Guero. There are songs on here that a person can completely get lost in, and I mean that in a very good way...

I encourage everyone to listen to the disc for the first time by watching the DVD with a good set of headphones. The DVD is completely original and as a bonus, the chicks are hot too.

If the 1967 Rolling Stones were teleported to 2006, given 70s and 80s era equipment and asked to produce a disc that would sell to the hippest people on the planet, it would sound like this.

After living with "The Information" for two weeks, I've come to the conclusion that we are now in The Age of Beck II. Beck II is just like Beck I, except that Beck II is largely depressed, humorless and apparently convinced that slicker production can make up for a lack of enthusiasm. Does Beck still want to be a recording artist? Does the job still make him happy, or is he only going through the motions?

If, as some reviewers believe, this is Beck's "Scientology Album," it's pretty clear the "church" isn't making him happy either. He sounds miserable here and unlike on "Sea Change," the misery makes no point and serves no purpose. I don't think he's recovered from whatever inspired "Sea Change" even if he thinks he has. There is NO humor here, just a lot of expert, but ultimately tedious craftsmanship. On "1000 BPM" he briefly uses his hustler voice from "Hollywood Freaks" and all I could think was: "Man, 'Midnight Vultures' was a PARTY. This is a funeral." I mean, what can you say when the most radio-ready track on the album, "Nausea," has a message that basically comes down to: "Life's a bitch and then you die"?

There are some good moments, especially "Elevator Music" and "Cellphone's Dead," which is the only track that really gets the hip-hop/electronica merger that is (apparently) the goal of the album. But after a few listens it's very hard to care about much else here. There is also the standout bad track "Strange Apparition" which I have to believe was recorded while being held at gunpoint by a crazed Dave Matthews fan. Never has Beck sounded less like Beck, though he comes close on the endless final track, which sounds almost exactly like William Orbit in places.

Beck I is my favorite living American recording artist; here's hoping Beck II gets a new therapist and a new producer, in that order.

Oh...and if you haven't heard "Guero," pick up a copy immediately. Though I think Beck II also made "Guero," under the heavy influence of the Dust Brothers he put together an album that is both sophisticated/professional-sounding and lots of fun that gets better every time you hear it. It's no "Odelay" (and despite what 10 million critics have written it doesn't sound ANYTHING like "Odelay") but it is a damn fine record.

Who's as consistently interesting (read:unexpected) that Mr. Beck Hansen? That's right, nobody. A few albums in and he's still the most interesting pop musician on the scene. I only just picked this CD up and it's been on heavy rotation for me ever since. Each listen I pick up some nuance I missed the previous time. Trust me, grab the car keys, get on iTunes, whatever your method, just get this music into your head. Now.