Beck Says He was Sidelined by a Spinal Injury; Has a Backlog of Music; New Record Comes Out in February

Beck, the alternative musician who rose to fame in the 90s with the slacker anthem "Loser," says he's been sidelined by a spinal injury.

Talking to Rolling Stone magazine, Beck says a spinal injury prevented him from working and that's why you haven't heard so much of him lately. Beck says the damage seriously decreased his musical output.

Beck told telling the Argentine newspaper Página/12 that a spinal condition has kept him from making music. He said "I had severe damage to my spine, but now it's improving, so I'm back in the music. It was a long, long recovery. Lately, I concentrated on playing guitar. Do not think I can move again as before, although I can give a lot onstage."

Beck admitted that he's moved more into production because of his "health problems." Beck produced a collection of Philip Glass remixes and worked on albums for such artists as Charlotte Gainsbourg, Thurston Moore and Stephen Malkmus.

Beck said he did record in 2008 but it was never released  because it "stopped ringing fresh for me." Beck was back in the studio 2010, but nothing came of he. Beck says "now I'm posting songs on my own label, slowly, yet I'm working on other albums."

Beck's new album, Morning Phase, is set for a February release. Beck hasn't released new material since his 2008 album 2008's Modern Guilt. Beck says his new record will revisit his 2002 "Sea Change" album. It was recorded with a lot of the same musicians as that album. Beck is also writing it with his longtime collaborator Smokey Hormel. Beck says he has avoided recording a full album,

Beck last released a collection of 20 songs as sheet music called "Song Reader." Beck also recreated the David Bowie "Sound + Vision" collection. Earlier this year Beck released three folky singles, "Defriended," "I Won't Be Long" and "Gimme."

Late last year, Beck told Rolling Stone "I have a bunch of songs I recorded about four years ago that I'm hopefully going to try to finish. I'm not sure if it's relevant anymore."