I can't say I've listened to the album yet, though I will be rushing over come Tuesday to pick it up.
However, I can say this in regards to the Scientology thing: I remember in the year round up issue of Magnet in 2001, there was an unsuccessful Beck interview that ended in the patented Beck Hang Up where, before the interviewer ranged into topics that pissed him right off, he asked Beck about the Scientology thing, to which Beck answered that yes, he was a practising Scientologist. Or maybe he just said no comment. My memory's getting foggy, but who can blame me? Jesus, it was five years ago. I remember the piece was called "Beck Ate My Homework" or something like that. I better get points for that.