Beck's seeing a lot of changes on his latest album, Sea Change.

While his last outing, 1999's Midnite Vultures, had its share of both fun and glum tunes, Sea Change is a departure from the amusing "Mixed Bizness" and "Debra."

Sea Change contains no comic relief.

Rather, Beck groans and moans, which sets a rather somber yet still enjoyable mood. Mellow is not a strong enough word to describe this album. Beck rarely raises his voice above a murmur and just glides along steadily through the album's 12 tracks.

The only track that really ventures into the rock realm at all is "Sunday Sun," which is subdued throughout, then concludes with electric guitars and percussion to create a little jam.

He also experiments with string arrangements on several tracks, including the haunting "Round the Bend" and "Lonesome Tears." Strings accentuate the solemn auras surrounding the songs.

Beck's lyrics are meditative and earnest and are also much more coherent than in the past. However, they still allow room for personal interpretation in many places.

On "Lonesome Tears" he mutters, "Lonesome tears. I can't cry them anymore. I can't think of what they're for. Oh, they ruin me every time."

Some fans might appreciate this discovery of logic in his words, but others might miss the atypical style that made him stand out as an anomaly in the industry.

In the past, he alternated between funk, rap, rock and even country, all on one album. But this time, since all songs are similarly paced bluesy numbers, they seem to blend together as one long, drawn-out number upon subsequent listens, which is the only big downside of the album.

However, Sea Change serves as a showcase of a more serious side of Beck that was left in the background on much of his past work.

Although this means it might not be as fun as his older works, it is still quite impressive and has the ability to draw listeners in with its tender tones.

It feels as though Beck has pulled you into his head, which is full of both rational and irrational thoughts mixed together to create a bleak yet telling album that not everyone may truly like, but most will likely appreciate.