I had no idea how out of the loop I was when it came to my favorite musicians until this morning when I saw that singer-songwriter Beck‘s latest studio album is just eight days away from its release. Thanks to NPR, you can now listen to Morning Phase, Beck’s first album in six years and his first for his new label Capitol Records, streaming in full for free.

Beck has reportedly been working on this album since 2005 but had to put it on hold until 2012. Morning Phase is considered to be a successor to his low-key, lyrical 2002 release Sea Change. Critics are hailing it as one of his finest in years and after listening to selected tracks I’m inclined to agree. This is coming from a guy who can often find no fault with Beck’s work; to me anyway he’s one of the most consistently enthralling and innovative musicians in the world.

Never let it be said that Pink Floyd doesn’t know how to mark an occasion in grand style. Back in September, to celebrate the start of EMI Records’ “Why Pink Floyd?” marketing campaign that will see the rerelease of 14 of the band’s studio albums among other things, organizers staged a recreation of the famous cover art for the band’s 1977 album Animals.

You can watch a video the staging here below.