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Guero

(2005, Rock, by Beck, Label: Geffen Records)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Beck keeps it interesting -- and pretty clean

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Perhaps a bit overly self-obsessed?
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Some violent images, wrapped in dense poetry.
  • Sex:

    Nothing obvious.
  • Language:

    All clear.
  • Consumerism:

    Nothing obvious.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Does "confection of venom" count?
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Guero

Parents need to know that a few conceptually violent words are used, either with gentle instrumental tracks or as poetic non sequiturs.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the power of musical context, and whether the words "trigger" and "noose" (for example) seem more or less threatening over soft, sweet instrumentals than visceral hip-hop beats.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    For when you want weirdo lyrics to awesome music

    This is a fun CD! I still can't say Beck is my favorite artist but you can rarely say that when you only listen to one of an artist's albums. My favorite track is "E-Pro" (whoever you are, I guarantee you will love it) and "Girl" comes in a close second. I just gotta say though that CSM made a mistake when they said the the language is "all clear". There is a song called "Hell Yes" that repeats that line a lot and uses the d word once. It didn't bother me (that song is kinda catchy after you listen to it a few times) but it could bother some other people, so I'm just pointing that out. Oh well, that doesn't relate to the CD. Try out Guero and you'll probably like it too! NA NA NA NA NA NA NAAA....

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Maine
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Third Best Of Beck's Albums

    This is a very awesome album. Catchy single, creative lyrics and well produced. This is the thrid best Beck album to Odelay (first) and Mellow Gold (second). Please, do your self a favor and buy this album.

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    One of Beck's less imaginative albums, but still top-notch

    Guero, which is Spanish slang for "white boy", feels more like a compilation of all Beck Hansen's different albums, a "Greatest Hits" per se. It's still a good album, and there is a lot of innovation. The headline to this review might be a little misleading, because see, all of Beck's albums are VERY imaginative with loads of musical styles thrown in there. The only reason this album isn't as imaginative, is because of the "Greatest Hits" feeling. As for the content, I wouldn't say that the violence is really a problem. There are a lot of things that are pretty subtle, such as in the song "Girl" he wants to take the girl, "where her soul belongs". And one major thing that is not mentioned in the review is the song "Rental Car" which is presumably talking about a prostitute. From "Rental Car": "She's taking me far, as far as a rental car can go" and "Hey now girl, at the end of the road, down where the reaper is walking alone, singing a death knell, clapping along, at the end of the night, that's the road we'll be on". Though these lyrics are substantial in what they underlying message is, these won't usually be picked up by a younger audience, and even if it is, the way the song is sung it's not in a way that glorifies the subject. What I say: get the album.

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