IT IS A BETA BAND THREAD

It's very... slow. Even the more uptempo tunes feel slower (and that's not just because some of them have a stutter-beat thing goin on). I wonder if this won't lead it to being misinterpreted as not-as-good.

We need bands like this. i was thinking of how the Slits worked with a reggae producer and now this band are working with an R n'B producer. That's always a positive sign. We need bands that have a bit of vision- especially indie bands since they tend to be so closed up to other music.

Can't wait to get it later on.

The lyrics to the last song made me smile... political statements which read like nursery rhymes or children's stories, nice.

Gareth, I found The Three E.P.s to be quite underwhelming as well. The first proper album was in turns excellent and confusing, and Hot Shots II is shaping up as plain excellent. Not sure what Josh means about it being slow - er, compared to what else that they've done?

A special mention has to go to to the final track on the album, 'Eclipse'. This is surely the band's finest moment, especially the superb ending sequence. And I'm off to see them on Friday in Manchest*o* which can't come quickly enough if I'm perfectly honest.

So with this new album, they have taken off all the rough, demented, crazy, psychotic edges which I liked so much, and replaced them with this sort of smooth, slightly off-kiltre (but still thoroughly classically indie) Scottish Soul Band sort of nonsense.

I don't like it. I really don't.

Can't wait to see them in a couple of weeks, e

Yesterday, I finally got my hands on the thing and,yes, it's an exceptional album. Today, I woke up a little earlier than expected and decided to give it a morning spin. During the outro to "Dragon" (the part that sounds like a computer processing alien signals while tiny static snippets of twang float in and out), I hear a particularly distinctive bit of twang, a warbling voice singing something about his "honey" and I notice how superb the constrast between the electronics and the old-time folk melody sounds. Then I realize that my tinny-as-crap alarm clock radio has switched on and is softly playing a dance remix of a David Gray song. (!)

(I came back later and attempted to play the album again and the CD fell *inside* my CD stereo! FUXOR! Thankfully, I retrieved it and is fine. Phew!) (PS. Tim, I feel your pain- my version was an Australia import and also doesn't contain "Won".

The much praised ‘Al Sharp’ is weak art-house pop forlornly trying to be ‘Higher than the Sun’. ‘Gone’ has a slow melancholic feel that meanders around to no great purpose. The opening and close of ‘Dragon’ hints at a dark stirring vibe but, not for the first time, they over egg the pudding. ‘Broke’ opens with an ‘Alive + Kicking’ piano motif that leaves me yawning even as they attempt to throw salsa, warp-sub-bass , and the kitchen sink into the mix.

A foppish, proggy ‘trip-hop’ whose clever-clever stylistic mutations frustrate more than they please.

This is a lovely, wonderful record.

Their best album by a mile, including The Three EP's.

Only really consistently great thing they ever did. They hit on aesthetic that worked for them and could never really follow it up.

I still like Heroes to Zeroes a lot too, but yes, this is more consistent. 3EPs has some awesome highs, but some indulgent dross, too. debut album a rightly-disowned mess.

there's some great stuff on the debut. but yes HSII is streets ahead.

streets ahead lol

I saw them on tour for this album & yeah, streets ahead!

otm

laughing at this use of "streets ahead" btw not bb. they were ace

^streets behind

never tire of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppJAkN4m9bY

what happened to these guys

various underwhelming solo projects but steve mason's stuff is all worth checking out, esp the king biscuit time EPs and Boys Outside album

Cosign.

i really like both of the aliens albums.

various underwhelming solo projects

Concubine Rice still sounds pretty good these days.

despite never being much of a beta band fan i am enjoying (most of) steve mason's new solo record

Also... the three eps are back on vinyl for record store day this year.

despite never being much of a beta band fan i am enjoying (most of) steve mason's new solo record

― gila free (electricsound), Wednesday, April 3, 2013 6:25 AM (2 hours ago)

Yeah, it's great and probably the best thing he's done since The Beta Band (that first King Biscuit Time EP aside)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYUewxLjs4U

cool 2001

I loved 'Boys Outside'. The new one has some fantastic songs on it but they're diminished for me by the filler inbetween, especially the instrumental/seague tracks. I appreciate that they're an important part of how Mason has tried to theme the album but for the most part they're throwaways to me ears. Some of the proper tracks on it are really heartfelt and beautiful, not too keen on the gospel tinged stuff though.

Anyone who likes Steve Mason should hunt down a copy of his Speedy Wunderground single with Toy and Emiliana Torrini - I Go Out. It's certainly one of my favourite singles of the year so far. The sound quality on this YouTube is well ropey because it's a vinyl rip but still...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBr8s-Gg6zg

Anyone else enjoying Steve Mason's newest? Sounds a bit like the last one, a bunch of good tracks mixed in with some throwaways.

Anyone go last night?

Sounds amazing from mates who went. Lots of Beta Band and King Biscuit Time songs amongst his solo stuff

Apart from a couple of moments, I didn't really think The Beta Band were that much cop. Love Mason's solo stuff, though.

Three EPs still sounds great this grey cold spring afternoon.

Sudden compulsion to listen to 'Human Being'

sometimes

The people with the questions smile
And the people with the answers lie
They lie
So no pizza for them

just pops in my head

that song has some of my favourite lyrics ever

20th anniversary remaster forthcoming

https://stevemason.bigcartel.com/product/the-beta-band-3-eps-20th-anniverary-edition-preorder

The Beta Band LP is a great album IMO but also listening again "Brokenupadingdong" seems super-prescient w/r/t the mid to late 00s.

Hot Shots II is my favourite, even including The 3 EP's. I remember really liking Heroes To Zeroes at the time but I haven't heard it in years now.

Stoked for a 3EPs remaster but so far have only seen the vinyl available - hope there will be a single CD or digital release.

There is a single CD version coming.

https://thebetaband.pmstores.co

and an exhibition: https://www.jhammondprojects.com/upcoming/

from the press release:
the exhibition brings together an extraordinary collection of original artwork and rare artefacts sourced directly from the group, their fans and the artists who became part of their story. Handmade posters, outlandish stage costumes and copies of the band's cut 'n' paste artzine, The Flower Press, will go on display alongside contributions from internationally acclaimed artists like Jeremy Deller, Corinne Day and Haroon Mirza.

(This band has a bunch of threads, all started ~20 yrs ago, ranging from around 4-12 posts each; this one seems like the most robust.)

I've never really listened to their stuff, but read on another thread about how they slagged their debut LP ("fucking awful"), and was curious to hear what such an album sounds like. Well, it sounds pretty good! Not quite my bag in terms of approach/aesthetic, but nice melodies and cool ideas. It feels like the kind of "stoner music" I can connect with, if that's a compliment (it's meant to be!).

Unsure if I should explore further to hear what their less "fucking awful" music sounds like...

three eps, of course. it's still my favorite thing they did. i have been listening to stone roses a lot recently so "the house song" currently sounds like an homage to them. "push it out" is a stoner anthem and a classic to listen to during the morning after a big night at the bar. there's a lot to love on Hot Shots, too. Heroes to Zeroes was a disappointment to me (and others, i think) when it came out but i understand it to be critically rehabilitated

Was thinking about them recently myself. A band kinda caught up in a time and place.

Some of their post-breakup projects have been worthwhile.

They toured in support of Radiohead in 2001 and were completely unmemorable. The Three EPs is magic, tho.

S/T album totally sui generis, utterly remarkable achievement that the band themselves struggled to understand at the time even

xpost I dunno, their LA date at the Hollywood Bowl w/Radiohead was pretty fun. But I am glad I saw the club show at the Roxy two years prior first.

I wish I had seen the show at the Bowl. I saw them at Stone Mountain, which was phenomenal.

The s/t is one of my favourite albums ever

yes the s/t is excellent - as is The Hot Shots II for very different reasons, but than one also seems less exciting than it did at the time, whereas the s/t kind of exists outside of trends.

Though as I intimated upthread, I think it might have found a more welcoming reception if it had been released about 7 years later in the era of animal collective, gang gang dance, yeasayer, high places etc.

completely love the 3 EPs and the self titled beyond all reason

The first King Biscuit Time is good too

Really amazing live circa 2001-2002

Though as I intimated upthread, I think it might have found a more welcoming reception if it had been released about 7 years later in the era of animal collective, gang gang dance, yeasayer, high places etc.

I've always thought of it as Anco-prescient too! It's this hook I've used to lure certain friends into the album.

I’ve made my way thru more (most?) of their catalog today… Hot Shots is pleasantly funky, and I do like some of the early tracks. I look forward to circling back to the S/T.

tempted to poll if 5 copies of the 3 EPs were sold during that cringe scene in high fidelity

I need to listen to them too. I remember a friend used to love them yet the only song that made an impression on me at the time was “walk the earth” by king biscuit time.

I was crazy about the 3 EPs, King Biscuit singles & first LP back in the day & still enjoy them. The stuff that followed, I spent a lot of time & effort trying to find things to like until I finally had to give up & admit that it bored me.

They're one of those bands where the early stuff was so exciting & promising, I wanted so badly for them to live up to my hopes and be better than they were, but they just never got there. They came out of the gate with so many wild ideas & big ambitions, and then quickly started releasing these forgettable albums full of mushy bland songs that just sat there. I used to listen to Heroes to Zeros & even a few of Steve Mason's solo records and be amazed at how it was all just in one ear & out the other for me, I'd forget the songs before they were even over.

Well, that's what I was like about the first album (proper) but I came around eventually

good band but man oh man were they dullsville live

wow wrong

I remember when they opened for Radiohead way back doing a great job. Crowd could’ve cared less but they put in a good effort.

So many of their songs remind me of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tn64z2cCdk

I sort of see it but even at their most songful I'd say they have more layers in the mix.

video not available here (what is it?)

To be fair, Radiohead in 2001 were pretty much untouchable, and any band opening for them would have been met with indifference, if not outright hostility.

Currently listening to Smiling and if anything is untouchable mate

Yeah I feel pretty confident (after another listen) that the S/T is The Real Deal...

Parts if the album (esp. the early tracks) remind me of The Red Crayola in certain ways; that may be some of what I'm responding to when I hear it.

I got the deluxe of s/t with the extra cd. Don't bother, nuthin' much to it.

“round the bend” is my emo anthem

I have a messy unfinished review* of the Beta Band where among the press button Anco/Panda Bear**/00s neo-psych comparisons I start comparing some songs, incl Smiling, to Roy Wood. There's a fair bit in common with the album and for instance 'You Sure Got It Now' I think, if not in immediately obvious ways.

*in the spirit of the album itself I suppose
**The Cow's Wrong specifically here, whereas It's Not Too Beautiful or Brokenupadingdong remind me more of Anco

I also have the deluxe CD. The bonus disc is fine enough I reckon. Might have been neatly received if Ricky Eat Acid or Trevor Powers had released it in more recent years.

To be fair, Radiohead in 2001 were pretty much untouchable, and any band opening for them would have been met with indifference, if not outright hostility.

i saw them on that tour, in chicago. i had just turned 18! a homeless man told me that i needed to get laid, on the way back from the show.

it's not true that an opening band for them would be treated with hostility. everyone around was into it. they sprayed firehoses into the air to cool everyone down. it was 1 million degrees. kid koala was met with indifference

Your mileage may vary. The crowd in Georgia could not have cared less about the Beta Band.

that's too bad for GA! and it reflects poorly on the crowd

i have watched missouri audiences be hostile to all sorts of number of incredible acts. that doesn't mean the act sucks, it means that people in missouri don't believe in anything until you show them, the show me state, and then even after you get shown you're just like "nope"

maybe they just sucked in GA. i've never seen a good modest mouse show. they were fucking HORRIBLE. i've heard some good bootlegs

That was the point I was trying to get at--the opener could have been almost anyone and the crowd would not have been patient.

I saw Big Audio Dynamite at a tiny venue in Denver back in the late 80s-early 90s. The opener was a hip-hop act. They literally got booed off the stage. Rude as hell.

they don’t sound like anco but they have that same kinda “are they magical fairies?” vibe

i enjoyed their performance a lot more than rhead’s in 2001. they were awesome at Coachella the next year as well. loved when the curly haired trumpet dude with the headband/aviator shades wandered on stage for the climax of dry the rain