Morning Phase

Beck's previous album, Modern Guilt, was released in 2008, and was the final album released under his Interscope Records contract.{{cite magazine|last=Fricke |first=David |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/becks-long-road-to-morning-phase-20131121 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123190333/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/becks-long-road-to-morning-phase-20131121 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 23, 2013 |title=Beck Shares 'Morning Phase' Details |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=November 21, 2013 |access-date=November 26, 2013}} In the interim between album releases, Beck worked on a wide variety of projects, including new studio material, most of which went unreleased for several years. In October 2012, bassist and frequent collaborator Justin Meldal-Johnsen commented: "I would estimate that there are currently about three or four albums' worth of material floating around," and Beck himself said that "I wasn't sure if I was going to put out a record – or if I should put out a record. It felt like I was standing still, while everything else was in such flux."

In 2012 and 2013, Beck began to perform live with more regularity than in the years immediately following the Modern Guilt tour.{{cite web |url=http://www.setlist.fm/search?query=beck&year=2013&artist=63d6a2eb |title=Search for setlists: beck |publisher=setlist.fm |access-date=November 26, 2013 |archive-date=December 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202235016/http://www.setlist.fm/search?query=beck&year=2013&artist=63d6a2eb |url-status=live }} This period also saw new original material. The "I Just Started Hating Some People Today/Blue Randy" single was released in 2012, and he self-released the "Defriended", "I Won't Be Long", and "Gimme" singles in 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Beck#s=year_desc&p=1&t=Releases_Singles-EPs&q= |title=Beck Discography at Discogs |publisher=discogs |access-date=November 26, 2013 |archive-date=April 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406085458/http://www.discogs.com/artist/Beck#s=year_desc&p=1&t=Releases_Singles-EPs&q= |url-status=live }} All three of these songs were standalone releases as 12-inch singles on his own FONOGRAF label. "I Won't Be Long" and "Gimme" were allegedly from an unfinished project from 2009, described as being similar to Odelay. According to Beck, the remaining songs from this project may see a similar release method.

In June 2013, Beck announced the expected release of two new albums for 2014, with one of the two being an "acoustic" album. The press release for the "acoustic" album (along with the news of his contract with Capitol Records) arrived in October 2013, announcing the title as Morning Phase and giving a February 2014 release window.{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/52801-beck-announces-new-album-morning-phase-signs-to-capitol-records/ |title=Beck Announces New Album Morning Phase, Signs to Capitol Records |work=Pitchfork |date=October 28, 2013 |access-date=November 26, 2013 |archive-date=February 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209093926/http://pitchfork.com/news/52801-beck-announces-new-album-morning-phase-signs-to-capitol-records/ |url-status=live }} The other still-unfinished album would be planned for a later release. In comparing the production of Morning Phase with his previous album, Beck stated that prior to recording Modern Guilt in 2008, he had suffered a serious spinal injury,{{cite web |last=Hudson |first=Alex |url=http://exclaim.ca/News/beck_opens_up_about_severe_spine_injury |title=Beck Opens Up About Severe Spine Injury |work=Exclaim! |date=November 14, 2013 |access-date=January 18, 2014 |archive-date=March 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312044543/http://exclaim.ca/News/beck_opens_up_about_severe_spine_injury |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/beck-details-spinal-injury-that-nearly-ended-his-touring-career-20140314 |title=Beck Details Spinal Injury That Nearly Ended His Touring Career |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=March 14, 2014 |access-date=September 5, 2017 |archive-date=August 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813114315/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/beck-details-spinal-injury-that-nearly-ended-his-touring-career-20140314 |url-status=live }} and that the recording process for Modern Guilt was like "doing it with both hands tied behind your back. It hurt to sing. I'm whispering through half of those vocals." On the other hand, Beck said that Morning Phase was a much more satisfying experience: "Some of the songs on the new record – I get to shout and yell. I'm like, 'Thank you!' I had a lot of ideas and things I'd been wanting to do. This last year and a half, I feel like I can really do them."

In 2005, Beck began recording material in Nashville for a new album, but it remained incomplete for several years. It was not until 2012 that he returned to continue the project, this time recording at Third Man Records (which, incidentally had not existed at the time of his previous sessions). Two songs from these new sessions, "I Just Started Hating Some People Today" and "Blue Randy", were released that year as a non-album single on Third Man's Blue Series. Other songs, like "Blackbird Chain", "Country Down", and "Waking Light", were reserved for what would become Morning Phase. In the beginning of 2013, he recorded a great deal of the album in his hometown of Los Angeles in three days, with familiar studio and touring musicians Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Joey Waronker, Roger Joseph Manning, Jr., and Smokey Hormel. The next six months, Beck worked with this material for an album release. His father David Campbell contributed orchestral arrangements for the album, as he had done previously for Sea Change and most of Beck's other albums.

On January 20, 2014, the album's first single, "Blue Moon", was released.{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Moon/dp/B00HYGKGU2/ |title=Blue Moon: Beck |website=Amazon |date=January 20, 2014 |access-date=January 23, 2014 |archive-date=January 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130085439/http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Moon/dp/B00HYGKGU2 |url-status=live }} Beck released the second single from the album, "Waking Light", on February 4, 2014.{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Waking-Light/dp/B00I0C8PHA/ |title=Waking Light: Beck |website=Amazon |date=February 4, 2014 |access-date=February 4, 2014 |archive-date=February 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205042905/http://www.amazon.com/Waking-Light/dp/B00I0C8PHA |url-status=live }}{{cite web|last=Minsker|first=Evan|title=Listen: Beck: "Waking Light"|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/53830-listen-beck-waking-light/|work=Pitchfork Media|date=February 4, 2014|access-date=February 4, 2014|archive-date=June 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602014706/https://pitchfork.com/news/53830-listen-beck-waking-light/|url-status=live}} "Say Goodbye" was released as the third single in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/this-weeks-new-releases-05-05-2014-2983/ |title=This week's new releases 05-05-2014 |publisher=Official Charts Company |date=May 5, 2014 |access-date=February 14, 2015 |author=Lane, Daniel}} "Heart Is a Drum" was released to United States adult album alternative radio on July 28, 2014, as the fourth single.{{cite web |url=http://www.allaccess.com/triple-a/future-releases |title=Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations, Independent Artist Song Releases |publisher=All Access Music Group |access-date=February 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727124426/http://www.allaccess.com/triple-a/future-releases |archive-date=July 27, 2014 |url-status=live }}

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 7.9/10{{cite web |url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/6149/Beck-Morning-Phase.aspx |title=Morning Phase by Beck reviews |publisher=AnyDecentMusic? |access-date=December 19, 2019 |archive-date=December 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218160339/http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/6149/Beck-Morning-Phase.aspx |url-status=live }}

| MC = 81/100{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/morning-phase/beck |title=Reviews for Morning Phase by Beck |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=March 16, 2014 |archive-date=February 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217052113/http://www.metacritic.com/music/morning-phase/beck |url-status=live }}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/morning-phase-mw0002607867 |title=Morning Phase – Beck |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=November 24, 2019 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |archive-date=February 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215042248/http://www.allmusic.com/album/morning-phase-mw0002607867 |url-status=live }}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2score = B+{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/review/becks-new-album-morning-phase-revisits-the-mournin-201441 |title=Beck's new album, Morning Phase, revisits the mourning sounds of Sea Change |work=The A.V. Club |date=February 25, 2014 |access-date=February 10, 2015 |last=Schonfeld |first=Zach |archive-date=February 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212005914/http://www.avclub.com/review/becks-new-album-morning-phase-revisits-the-mournin-201441 |url-status=live }}

| rev3 = The Daily Telegraph

| rev3Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/10651179/Beck-Morning-Phase-review.html |title=Beck, Morning Phase, review |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=February 20, 2014 |access-date=February 21, 2014 |last=Brown |first=Helen |archive-date=June 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602014711/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/10651179/Beck-Morning-Phase-review.html |url-status=live }}

| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev4Score = A−{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2014/05/01/morning-phase-album |title=Morning Phase |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=February 19, 2014 |access-date=February 21, 2014 |last=Rahman |first=Ray |archive-date=February 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209143004/http://www.ew.com/article/2014/05/01/morning-phase-album |url-status=live }}

| rev5 = The Guardian

| rev5Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/feb/20/beck-morning-phase-review |title=Beck: Morning Phase – review |work=The Guardian |date=February 20, 2014 |access-date=February 21, 2014 |last=Jonze |first=Tim |archive-date=March 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316132958/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/feb/20/beck-morning-phase-review |url-status=live }}

| rev6 = The Independent

| rev6Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/beck-the-road-to-a-new-dawn-plotted-on-a-gorgeous-return-9128844.html |title=Beck: The road to a new dawn plotted on a gorgeous return |work=The Independent |date=February 14, 2014 |access-date=February 15, 2014 |last=Gill |first=Andy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226212606/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/beck-the-road-to-a-new-dawn-plotted-on-a-gorgeous-return-9128844.html |archive-date=February 26, 2014 |url-status=dead}}

| rev7 = NME

| rev7Score = 8/10{{cite web |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/beck--2/15106 |title=Beck – 'Morning Phase' |work=NME |date=February 21, 2014 |access-date=May 25, 2015 |last=Cooper |first=Leonie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702141346/http://www.nme.com/reviews/beck--2/15106 |archive-date=July 2, 2015}}

| rev8 = Pitchfork

| rev8Score = 6.8/10{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18959-beck-morning-phase |title=Beck: Morning Phase |work=Pitchfork |date=February 25, 2014 |access-date=April 5, 2014 |last=Dombal |first=Ryan |archive-date=February 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218000524/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18959-beck-morning-phase/ |url-status=live }}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/morning-phase-20140224 |title=Morning Phase |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=February 24, 2014 |access-date=February 24, 2014 |last=Hermes |first=Will |author-link=Will Hermes |archive-date=September 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923064043/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/morning-phase-20140224 |url-status=live }}

| rev10 = Spin

| rev10Score = 8/10{{cite web |url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/beck-morning-phase/ |title=Beck Harvests Some West-Coast-Folkie Sunlight on the Stark, Lovely 'Morning Phase' |work=Spin |date=February 24, 2014 |access-date=March 1, 2014 |last=Gubbels |first=Jason |archive-date=February 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213001343/http://www.spin.com/reviews/beck-morning-phase/ |url-status=live }}

}}

Prior to its release, Morning Phase was placed at number two on Stereogum's list of most anticipated albums of 2014.{{Cite web |url=http://www.stereogum.com/1610701/the-100-most-anticipated-albums-of-2014/list/ |title=The 100 Most Anticipated Albums of 2014 |last=DeVille |first=Chris |date=December 23, 2013 |publisher=Stereogum |access-date=March 17, 2014 |archive-date=April 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427080331/http://www.stereogum.com/1610701/the-100-most-anticipated-albums-of-2014/list/ |url-status=live }}

Upon its release, the album received acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 81 (based on 46 reviews), indicating "universal acclaim".

At Mojo, James McNair stated that "Morning Phase isn't an album that obsequiously courts your approval [...] it just does."{{cite web |url=http://www.mojo4music.com/11395/mojo-243-march-2014/ |title=Rise and shine: The recent INXS and Bowie covers were mere fitful dreams. After his long, dark night, Beck gives us a sleeping beauty. |last=McNair |first=James |work=Mojo |year=2014 |issue=244 |volume=March 2014 |access-date=February 12, 2014 |page=86 |archive-date=February 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209024637/http://www.mojo4music.com/11395/mojo-243-march-2014/ |url-status=live }} Andy Gill of The Independent wrote that the album is "a deeply satisfying journey, the sadness tempered by the warmth and beauty of the settings, and the gentle determination of the resolution. Accordingly, it's a much better album than Sea Change, just as immersive, but wiser and less indulgently wallowing." According to Reef Younis of Clash magazine, Morning Phase has a "slight, melancholic tone", and "there's an awful lot to love."{{cite web |url=http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/beck-morning-phase |title=Beck – Morning Phase |work=Clash |first=Reef |last=Younis |date=February 12, 2014 |access-date=February 15, 2014 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222050826/http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/beck-morning-phase |url-status=live }} CraveOnline's Iann Robinson rated the album 9/10, calling it a "proud successor to Sea Change" and "downtempo stroke of genius", and noted that it was some of Beck's best work in years.{{cite web |url=http://www.craveonline.com/music/reviews/639619-review-becks-morning-phase-shines-with-honesty-and-warmth |title=Review: Beck's 'Morning Phase' Shines With Honesty and Warmth |first=Iann |last=Robinson |publisher=CraveOnline |date=January 31, 2014 |access-date=February 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222235339/http://www.craveonline.com/music/reviews/639619-review-becks-morning-phase-shines-with-honesty-and-warmth |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

Morning Phase debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 albums chart, selling more than 87,000 in its first week, and becoming Beck's second highest charting album in the United States, after Guero (2005).{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5923183/schoolboy-q-oxymoron-debuts-at-no-1-on-billboard-200-albums-chart |title=ScHoolboy Q's 'Oxymoron' Debuts at No. 1 On Billboard 200 Albums Chart |magazine=Billboard |date=March 5, 2014 |access-date=March 5, 2014 |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |archive-date=March 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307113539/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5923183/schoolboy-q-oxymoron-debuts-at-no-1-on-billboard-200-albums-chart |url-status=live }} The album also reached top 10 positions in the UK, Canada, Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand.

All tracks written by Beck Hansen.

1. "Cycle" – 0:40
2. "Morning" – 5:20
3. "Heart Is a Drum" – 4:32
4. "Say Goodbye" – 3:30
5. "Blue Moon" – 4:03
6. "Unforgiven" – 4:35
7. "Wave" – 3:41
8. "Don't Let It Go" – 3:10
9. "Blackbird Chain" – 4:27
10. "Phase" – 1:08
11. "Turn Away" – 3:06
12. "Country Down" – 4:01
13. "Waking Light" – 5:01

;Musicians

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Beck Hansen – vocals, acoustic guitar {{small|(tracks 2–5, 8–9, 11–12)}}, keyboards {{small|(track 2)}}, electric guitar {{small|(tracks 9, 13)}}, piano {{small|(tracks 3, 5–6, 13)}}, sound collage {{small|(track 3)}}, tambourine {{small|(track 4)}}, electric bass {{small|(tracks 5, 11)}}, ukulele {{small|(track 5)}}, charango {{small|(track 5)}}, celeste {{small|(track 9)}}, dulcimer {{small|(track 11)}}, harmonica {{small|(track 12)}}, synthesizers {{small|(track 13)}}, glockenspiel {{small|(track 13)}}, organ {{small|(track 13)}}
• Joey Waronker – drums {{small|(tracks 2–3, 5, 8, 12–13)}}, percussion {{small|(tracks 2–3, 5, 9)}}
• Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. – piano {{small|(tracks 2–3)}}, synthesizers {{small|(track 2)}}, background vocals {{small|(tracks 2–3, 5, 9)}}, Rhodes {{small|(track 3)}}, clavinet {{small|(tracks 3, 5, 9, 13)}}, B3 organ {{small|(track 12)}}, electric piano {{small|(track 12)}}
• Stanley Clarke – upright bass {{small|(track 2)}}, electric bass {{small|(track 3)}}
• Bram Inscore – electric bass {{small|(track 4)}}
• Cody Kilby – guitar {{small|(track 4)}}
• James Gadson – drums {{small|(tracks 4, 6)}}
• Fats Kaplin – banjo {{small|(track 4)}}
• Justin Meldal-Johnsen – bass guitar {{small|(tracks 6, 8–9, 12–13)}}
• Smokey Hormel – acoustic guitar {{small|(tracks 6, 8)}}, ebow {{small|(track 6)}}, electric guitar {{small|(tracks 9, 12)}}
• Stephanie Bennett – harp {{small|(tracks 6, 11)}}
• Roger Waronker – piano {{small|(track 8)}}
• Steve Richards – cello {{small|(track 8)}}
• Greg Leisz – pedal steel guitar {{small|(tracks 9, 12)}}
• Jason Falkner – electric guitar {{small|(tracks 9, 12–13)}}
• Matt Mahaffey – organ {{small|(tracks 9, 13)}}
• Matt Sherrod – drums {{small|(track 9)}}

{{div col end}}

;"Wave" strings

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Joel Derouin – violin (concert master)
• Charlie Bisharat – violin
• Mario De Leon – violin
• Julian Hallmark – violin
• Gerry Hilera – violin
• Razdan Kuyumjian – violin
• Natalie Leggett – violin
• Alyssa Park – violin
• Tereza Stanislav – violin
• Josefina Vergara – violin
• Denyse Buffum – viola
• Andrew Duckles – viola
• Matt Funes – viola
• Steve Richards – first cello
• Stefanie Fife – cello
• Rudy Stein – cello
• David Stone – double bass

{{div col end}}

;Album strings

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Charlie Bisharat – violin (concert master)
• Sara Parkins – violin (concert master)
• Kevin Connolly – violin
• Julian Hallmark – violin
• Tammy Halwan – violin
• Natalie Leggett – violin
• Grace Oh – violin
• Michele Richards – violin
• Sarah Thornblade – violin
• Josefina Vergara – violin
• Nina Evtuhov – violin
• Songa Lee – violin
• Joel Pargman – violin
• Tereza Stainslav – violin
• Roland Kato – principal viola
• Andrew Duckles – principal viola
• Matt Funes – viola
• Jeanie Lim – viola
• John E. Acosta – principal cello
• Steve Richards – principal cello
• Rudolph Stein – cello
• Suzie Katayama – cello
• David Stone – principal bass

{{div col end}}

;Technical

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Beck Hansen – producer
• David Campbell – conductor, orchestrations
• Darrell Thorp – engineer
• Cole Marsden Greif-Neill – engineer
• Cassidy Turbin – engineer
• David "Elevator" Greenbaum – engineer
• Florian Lagatta – engineer
• Joe Visciano – engineer
• Robbie Nelson – engineer
• Tom Elmhirst – mixing
• Ben Baptie – mixing assistant
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• Andy West – design
• Dan Moutford – initial cover layout
• Autumn de Wilde – photography
• Dennis Hallinan – city street image

{{div col end}}

Upon receiving Album of the Year, Morning Phase also beat out Pharrell Williams's G I R L, Beyoncé's self-titled album, Sam Smith's In the Lonely Hour, and Ed Sheeran's x.{{cite web|title=57th Annual GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|access-date=19 February 2015|date=8 February 2015|archive-date=May 29, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120529165439/http://www.grammy.com/NOMINEES|url-status=live}}

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=Morning Phase|type=album|artist=Beck|relyear=2014|certyear=2014|award=Gold}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Morning Phase|type=album|artist=Beck|relyear=2014|certyear=2015|award=Silver|certmonth=3|id=13194-860-2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Morning Phase|type=album|artist=Beck|relyear=2014|certyear=2016|award=Gold}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true}}

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{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Beck}}

{{Navboxes

| title = Awards for Morning Phase

| titlestyle = background: lightblue

| list1 =

{{Grammy Award for Album of the Year 2010s}}

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Category:2014 albums

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Category:Grammy Award for Best Rock Album

Category:Grammy Award for Album of the Year

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Category:Albums arranged by David Campbell (composer)

Category:Albums produced by Beck