Earlier this week, as I scanned through my email, I ran across a special iTunes notice. Because I have purchased music by Beck in the past, they wanted to let me know that his new album, Modern Guilt, comes out on July 8, and, of course, that I could pre-order it now and grab some bonus features.
The thing about Beck's music that captivates me is the incredible diversity between albums. If you listen to his 1996 offering, Odelay, it is completely different from the 2002, Sea Change, and yet both were incredibly popular and critically acclaimed.
And yet, even with all of this diversity, there is a consistency that underlies the work of Beck ... creativity. Beck, as an artist, is always pushing the bounds and forging into new territory. For Beck, this value extended all the way to his choice of record label after the song Loser exploded onto the scene in 1993. With all of the major labels wanting to sign him, Beck didn't pursue riches, rather, he signed the deal that paid him the least, but allowed him to incorporate the greatest amount of creative freedom in his music, both on his main label and through independent releases.
As I ponder Beck's devotion to what is most important to him, I can't help but wonder what it is in me that holds the same space that creativity holds in Beck's life. Sure I have the answers I'd like to share, but do I have the "record contract" evidence that Beck carries with him.
How about you? What do you value most and how, in very practical ways, does that value impact your daily life?