Beck has released the video for “Run Away,” the standout track from his new album Ride Lonesome, and he shot it in Tokyo with a star of Japanese cinema leading the lonely walk through the city.
The clip follows the album’s recent “In the Night” visual, which starred French actor Denis Lavant. For “Run Away,” Beck brought in Tadanobu Asano, known for his roles in Ichi the Killer and Shogun, to play the lead role in a film set through the streets of Tokyo.
“At the end of a long hot summer we went to Japan. I looked up my friend [Kunichi Nomura] with the idea to make a video in Tokyo. Through him, we met some amazing Japanese artists who came together to make a little film for my new song ‘Run Away,'” Beck wrote on social media on Friday. “And a huge thank you to the star of our video, the great actor, Tadanobu Asano. This was all shot on location in Japan with the help of many talented new friends.”
The Cast Behind the Tokyo Film
Asano is the central figure in the video. He is joined by a group of Japanese artists Beck met through his friend Kunichi Nomura, who helped arrange the shoot in Tokyo.
The video director is Mikai Karl, who also handled the “In the Night” visual for the album.
What the Album Review Said
Ride Lonesome arrived today, and Rolling Stone published a review of the record. The publication described the album as “amorphous, hazy, dappled, and almost impossibly pretty,” adding that listening to it “can feel like you’re floating in amniotic fluid.”
The review continued: “But the album never gets vague or sleepy. Every song stands out on its own.”
A Long Road to the New Album
Ride Lonesome is Beck’s first studio album in seven years. It is also his third LP in a spiritual trilogy that includes Sea Change and Morning Phase.
The album marks a return to recording after a long gap.
The Tour Dates Are Set
Beck will hit the road to support Ride Lonesome starting Sept. 22. The tour follows the album’s release and the arrival of the “Run Away” video.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sept. 22 | Tour begins |
The Album’s Critical Reception
Rolling Stone’s review of Ride Lonesome is positive, calling the album “amorphous, hazy, dappled, and almost impossibly pretty.” The publication also noted that “every song stands out on its own.”
The review appeared alongside the album’s release today.
Key Facts Box
- Album: Ride Lonesome
- Lead single video: “Run Away”
- Star: Tadanobu Asano
- Director: Mikai Karl
- Album release: Today
- Tour start: Sept. 22
The Verdict on the Video
The “Run Away” video succeeds because it commits fully to its setting. Asano’s presence grounds the piece without overwhelming it. The film moves through the streets of Tokyo, and the actors Beck met through Kunichi Nomura fill out the cast around him.
The video is a standalone work, and it gives Beck another strong visual to build the tour around.
Beck has spent years building toward this record. The wait has produced an album with real critical weight, and the video for “Run Away” shows he knows how to package it.
Source material: “Beck Marks ‘Ride Lonesome’ Release With Tokyo-Set ‘Run Away’ Video,” Rolling Stone.
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