Beck has been relatively silent since 2008’s Modern Guilt. That will change this December with the release of his next effort, Song Reader. Unfortunately, unless you have musical talent, you will have to jump through a few extra hoops to hear tracks from the project.
Rather than issuing Song Reader on a disc-based format, it will be published as 108 pages of sheet music by McSweeny’s (Faber & Faber in the UK). When you purchase it, you get the following: a hardcover case described as “lavish” by marketing materials, 20 full-color music books and illustrations from artists like Marcel Dzama & Leanne Sharpton. The package will also include writings from Beck and a few music critics.
McSweeny’s will make fan-produced versions of Song Reader tracks and a few from Beck’s friends available for download on their website. Fans are free to circulate their version amongst their pals, too; however, attempting to make a profit from it is obviously a no-no.