Beck - everyone's favorite "Loser" is back with a new album, only Mr. Hansen is much more of a winner these days. 2002's brilliant and somber Sea Change found the innovative folkster in more melancholy terrain but his new masterpiece Guero is a return of sorts to the eccentric stylings of Odelay and Midnite Vultures.

Also back for this outing are The Dust Brothers who bring their creative production chops to the table. lending slick tricks to a record that features everything from zany raps to trippy Game Boy sampling.

Holding the entire album together of course is Beck himself whose deep and perfect pitched voice continues to mature with each passing album. And while Guero may sound similar to past Beck works, dig deeper and you'll find it has a tone all it's own. This artist continues to push the musical envelope, and what's more, he fuses any number of disparate elements that you'd think would never work, but somehow manage to with flying colors.

Guero is all over the map, but I wouldn't want it any other way. On the bizarre but infectious "Que Onda Guero," Beck raps about "vegetable vans and Mariachi bands," and even allows one of his back-up vocalists to goof on Yanni, and on the catchy "Girl" (which works amazingly well, even if it does sound a little too reminiscent of Outkast's "Hey Ya!"), Beck gets his groove on.

Guero does take time to slow down a bit with beautiful tunes like "Missing" in which Beck sings of - surprise - lost love. It all makes for a listening experience that isn't necessarily his best (I'm still most fond of Odelay), but it's certainly right up there.

You always know you're going to get something different when you pop in a Beck CD. And if it's something relatively familiar, you know he's going to put a novel spin on it. That's what I love so much about Beck. Whether he's singing his heart out about lost love or smooth grooving and
spinning R & B tales of picking up chicks at JC Penny's, Beck always pricks up this listeners ears with his innovative style and creativity.

On a side note, if you're a huge fan such as myself, be sure to pick up the special limited edition of Guero. It comes with a booklet and features seven bonus tracks and a DVD with some pretty nifty extras.