In the context of his diverse and expansive discography, saying that Sea Change is my favorite Beck record is a weighty claim to make. But, I make it anyway. True, it may be his least Beck-ish release, free of his deadpan rap stretching of the English language; and at times it might feel like longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich might be calling most of the shots here (string arrangements and analog delay abound). But on Sea change, Mr. Hansen proves that his emotional range stretches far beyond self deprecation and a generous helping of irony.

The Break Up Album is a uniquely Western pop tradition, from the Bob Dylan’s raggedy Blood On The Tracks to Bon Iver’s stunning debut, For Emma Forever ago. Sea Change joins in this tradition beautifully, trading his two turntables and a microphone for an acoustic guitar and scribbled-in-a-notebook lyrics. The simplicity and beauty of the songs that result speak to the the tragedy that most of the social consciousness will forever attach Beck to a 1994 geek anthem that, while a fun listen, does nothing to represent his sheer skill as a songwriter. Sea Change does what it can to undo that injustice, showcasing a Beck that knows what he’s doing, and is cool even when baring his heart.

Another one of Beck’s most overlooked talents is his innate knowledge of who to work with, and how much freedom to give them. Throughout his career, his producers seem more like collaborators, bringing very specific sonic palettes to their records. Here, Nigel Godrich’s bent toward ambient textures and unconventional harmonies counter the more country-tinged elements of Beck’s songs, often placing a lap-steel and a glitchy synthesizer in the same mix. The effect is wonderful, transforming simple two-chord affairs like It’s All In Your Mind into more sophisticated numbers, and the simple folk of Round The Bend into an emo-epic thanks to a menacing orchestra. But Godrich knows when to show restraint, letting songs like Guess I’m Doing Fine grow within the confines of their country-tinged sensibility.

All in all, due to Beck’s simple songwriting and Godrich’s spacey production create a record that exists in an atmosphere all its own, and its an atmosphere that I never mind spending any time in.