Comments on: Beck: Modern Guilt

By: steven

steven — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:05:53 +0000

there must be some huge idiots at geffen

By: aguanteflema

aguanteflema — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:26:13 +0000

I thought the cover is great.
It goes just fine with the vibe of the album. retro 60's soul rock

By: mrtruffle

mrtruffle — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:09:53 +0000

I never saw it that way. Thanks for that I think you are right.

By: AZ

AZ — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:23:43 +0000

I'm with you. But some extra stuff from me. The picture seems to me like someone is looking down and the reaseon for that is his guilt. That's very simple and i like that. Because is a perfect human visualation of the title.

By: David Bennet

David Bennet — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:11:52 +0000

I was asked by Beck's manager, to create some concepts based on
my Homage posters, here's the link:
http://www.this-studio.co.uk/beck.html

By: John Foster

John Foster — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:04:39 +0000

Beck is heavily involved with all visual decisions on his packaging so no decision by committee. Hugo's most recent work leading up to this was the sleeve for the last Film School record which he disavowed his participation in. I don't know if a similar conflict squashed this work for Beck as strong personalities seem to be on both ends. Assuming he was paid for the designs it is also frowned upon professionally to show commissioned work that was not used in the final product…

By: mrtruffle

mrtruffle — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 23:38:18 +0000

well put. So why did they bother to commission an artist?

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:55:43 +0000

Ok, so the album is called Modern Guilt. Beck is an audio artist, but as a visual artist, there's nothing more poetic than an album cover that is a direct copy of an artist's old favorite being called Modern Guilt. The cover itself is guilty of a blatant ripoff, using the font that was meant to modernize graphic design itself. The entire point of Helvetica was to create a beautiful vanilla in the design world. Good, but not great. Be clean and out of the way, and let the subject matter speak to the audience, not the typography.

We've all seen and loved Beck covers of the past, correct? Well, we thought we knew what to expect visually, and just like the audio contained within, we were surprised. I think this cover is a perfect example that designers need not get too far up their own asses. Kudos to the designer and to Beck and his people for choosing it.

By: kasper

kasper — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:58:11 +0000

i actually can imagine why nothing is getting out of hugos work.
Beck & co. humping on the right train.

have you reconise,d that millions of these space nonsense is arround.a big eye on top, a triangle (other geometric figures) in the middle and some weird objects flying around...don't forget the stars.

you'll see.

By: pedro freenandes

pedro freenandes — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:20:30 +0000

you see? mario hugo got really strong and dedicated to input a gorgeous and intricate cover for beck. point is, beck does not need that. it is hard for beck to stay on the popular road, and we wants to stay in for long time. he's getting old. to write music on these days is hard. it would be disastrous to use a mario hugo cover. it ain't pop enough and audience could see it as a too damn snob way to show off. more than that, could be difficult to read (on every aspect). this minimal, simple cover he chosen is not great, but is sufficient for his purposes. he's being patient and getting wiser as years go by. he is a musical genius, and he will make more records and covers. maybe with mario hugo… i love the album. cover is ok. mario hugo works are great.

By: christina

christina — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:15:32 +0000

this is a little late, but i just came across this post and thought i'd share mario hugo's current portfolio site that i found when i blogged about this same thing in july! http://www.loveworn.com/

By: Prof B

Prof B — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:33:51 +0000

Even reading the back story to the cover I still think it's shit. At least the Bob Dylan picture was interesting! I also love the variations – that wood type design is superb!

By: JET

JET — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:04:19 +0000

Man, I wish I could get over my inherent need to boycott brainwashing, soul-destroying cults like Scientology, because Beck really is great. But…I just can't do it.

By: unimportantbob

unimportantbob — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:54:43 +0000

I like it. I've got a vinyl record of it that I picked up at Square Records in Akron (visiting my Dad). It works a lot better on a full-size record sleeve than it does on a CD jacket. But, then again, I say that about pretty much every album.

By: renkas

renkas — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:11:13 +0000

These covers are the most beautiful and powerfull things Ive seen in years.
So classic yet very modern. Those inkt effects are mindblowing.
Inspiring stuff.