Beck Will Return With His New Non-Album Titled ‘Song Reader’

The concept may appear to be contrived but Beck seems to be determined to push ahead with his project. ‘Song Reader’ is not really an album in the conventional stage because it consists of sheet music which fans are invited to play in order to change their lives. The last time that the act released a proper album was four years ago. After a long wait, we have been given something that is not quite an album as we know it. Fans have been clamoring for a follow-up to his 2008 album titled ‘Modern Guilt’. He is currently putting the finishing touches on ‘Beck Hansen’s Song Reader’. This is a book with sheet music for good measure.

- A statement from the musician’s representative: The new album will be released in December by the by the McSweeney’s publishing house. Twenty songs will be released but they will only consist of individual pieces of sheet music. None of them have ever been recorded or released before. The set will have a full color illustration and some ukulele notation.

It is not clear whether the phenomenon will catch on. The statement says that the songs are unfailingly exciting. You can watch but not hear ‘Do we? We Do’ and ‘Don’t Act Like Your Heart Isn’t Hard’. Maybe the fans will tell us what they think about the new scheme. Meanwhile a new incentive has been added in as much as the fans’ renditions will be featured on the McSweeney’s website. There are pretty pictures and a Song Reader but not much else. You will also get the original artwork from Marcel Dzama. He did the cover from Beck’s previous album Guero. Other contributors to the artwork are Josh Cochran and Leanne Shapton.

A new way of sharing art

The set will include an introduction to Slate’s Jody Rosen. Beck will also give a foreword to the work. The release date is not confirmed but fans have been advised to check his website until they get an update.