The Best of the Beta Band

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With a total of four full-length releases (counting their Three EPs compilation), it may seem a little premature for a retrospective, but since The Beta Band disbanded at the end of 2004, it's understandable. Of course, "understandable" was never the band's specialty. Like an Earth-bound Spacemen 3, or Beck in his more out-there moments, The Beta Band lurched through a sometimes-bizarre kaleidoscope of indie rock and ambient texture, creating solid pop songs out of playful futurism. With druggy shuffles and quasi-trip-hop backgrounds, "DJ" John MacLean fashioned a rolling pastiche of samples and sounds that meshed perfectly with drummer Robin Jones' lumbering beats. Meanwhile, vocalist Stephen Mason's moaning tone and odd but cerebral lyrics (when intelligible) gave a shambling energy to songs included here like "Dry the Rain," "Dr. Baker"and "Squares" (the latter from 2001's Hot Shots II). Still, instrumental breaks like the one that finishes "Assessment,"originally released on 2004's underrated Heroes to Zeros, make it clear that lyrics and melodies are only there to give some grounding to the band's rampant yen for experimentation. The two-disc set also includes a sterling live recording that will make you hope this supposed swan song is just another idiosyncratic indulgence, and that it really isn't over for good. --Matthew Cooke

The Best of the Beta Band,The Beta Band,Astralwerks,Indie Electronic,Indie Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

The Best of the Beta Band

Average customer rating:

A great send-off for this great band...worth it for the 2nd disc alone!
beta band strikes again (under the radar)
Betas go bye bye
Alpha Band...
The last word from The Beta Band

The Best of the Beta Band
The Beta Band
Manufacturer: Astralwerks
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Electronic Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Three E.P.'s
The Beta Band
The Best of the Beta Band
Heroes to Zeros
Hot Shots II

ASIN: B000AP2ZAI
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Tracks:

Dry The Rain
Inner Meet Me
She's The One
Dr. Baker
It's Not Too Beautiful
Smiling
To You Alone
Squares
Human Being
Gone
Broke
Assessment
Easy
Wonderful
Troubles
Simple

Tracks:

It's Not Too Beautiful - Live 11/29/04
Squares - Live 11/29/04
Inner Meet Me - Live 11/29/04
Simple - Live 11/29/04
She's The One - Live 11/29/04
Easy - Live 11/29/04
Dr. Baker - Live 11/29/04
Dry The Rain - Live 11/29/04
Quiet - Live 11/29/04
Broke - Live 11/29/04
Assessment - Live 11/29/04
Dog's Got A Bone - Live 11/29/04
House Song - Live 11/29/04

Amazon.com

With a total of four full-length releases (counting their Three EPs compilation), it may seem a little premature for a retrospective, but since The Beta Band disbanded at the end of 2004, it's understandable. Of course, "understandable" was never the band's specialty. Like an Earth-bound Spacemen 3, or Beck in his more out-there moments, The Beta Band lurched through a sometimes-bizarre kaleidoscope of indie rock and ambient texture, creating solid pop songs out of playful futurism. With druggy shuffles and quasi-trip-hop backgrounds, "DJ" John MacLean fashioned a rolling pastiche of samples and sounds that meshed perfectly with drummer Robin Jones' lumbering beats. Meanwhile, vocalist Stephen Mason's moaning tone and odd but cerebral lyrics (when intelligible) gave a shambling energy to songs included here like "Dry the Rain," "Dr. Baker"and "Squares" (the latter from 2001's Hot Shots II). Still, instrumental breaks like the one that finishes "Assessment,"originally released on 2004's underrated Heroes to Zeros, make it clear that lyrics and melodies are only there to give some grounding to the band's rampant yen for experimentation. The two-disc set also includes a sterling live recording that will make you hope this supposed swan song is just another idiosyncratic indulgence, and that it really isn't over for good. --Matthew Cooke

Customer Reviews:

A great send-off for this great band...worth it for the 2nd disc alone!.......2006-10-23

The Beta Band were an experimental rock band from Scotland that disbanded in 2004 after about 10 years together. In that time, they released the excellent Three EPs album, the difficult self-titled album, and their two masterpieces, Hot Shots II and Heroes to Zeroes. So why the greatest hits? And why am I rating it 5 stars?

First of all, for the uninitiated, this would be a great start to try and get into the Beta Band's melodic, textured, swirling and downright unclassifiable brand of music. Tracks from all 4 albums are on here so this would be a great sampler. Then you should move on to buying all 4 of their albums.

For the already initiated fans (such as myself), besides being a nice send-off, the 2nd disc is a live set recorded on their farewell tour. And it's a revelation. As someone who has seen the Beta Band live, I can personally attest to the fact that the songs have completely different characters when performed on stage. Still great but they take on a life of their own. And this live set shows that off and is all the better for it. From a song like Dr. Baker, which sounds completely different here, to the dual drum kit duet/duel of Broke (seeing this done live is AWESOME), live Beta Band is a different beast...and one that will be sorely missed.

In all, this is a great set for the new fan or the established one. And a fitting send-off for a band that will be sorely missed, no matter how much out of the mainstream they were during their all to brief career.

beta band strikes again (under the radar).......2006-10-02

here is an original band that defies description. their music is melodic, hypnotic and creative yet couldn't sell enough product to maintain status in the abysmal corporate insult known as "the music industry." a colossal disappointment. i'll miss them. at least we have a few documents of their inventive pop. this is one of the best. a good place to start, or even if you have them all (like i do), an even better place to finish. hey guys, if you ever get the urge/opportunity to make another recording, get brian eno to produce. sonically (the way you layer/sculpt music) you guys have a lot in common. thanks for all the fabulous songs. miss you. look forward to "the return of the beta band!"

Betas go bye bye.......2006-03-08

I suppose a Beta Band greatest hits package was inevitable. Song selections are okay...pretty much everything you need to hear by the Betas is included.

In retrospect, what kept these guys from becoming HUGE, and ultimately leading to their breaking up, was an inability to write memorable songs with melodies. At the end of their run, the electronic noodling produced by the Betas sounded like Depeche Mode leftovers. Can anyone hum just one Beta Band song?

The Three EPs remains the definitive Beta Band purchase.

Alpha Band..........2005-12-24

...should be their name: Top notch, truly 21st Century band that has broken hearts around the globe since their breakup. Alas, this disc is of course a best of hits/swan song production, and while I would change maybe a song or two here or there with a different "favorite" of mine, it's basically a flawless disc and a very good selection of their collective genius. This is hardly a matter or gripe seeing as how one of the greatest things about The Beta Band is their depth of writing/composition/emotion so as to render a new favorite almost weekly. Truly epic stuff here. The live disc only holds a couple of different songs than the first "best of" disc, but that hardly matters; the live versions are different enough from the studio versions(if you have been lucky enough to see them live you know what I speak of). The production quality of the live disc is top notch as well. Kudos.

God I wish they would come back. At least we have some more of Steve Mason's new solo stuff -King Biscuit Time- coming soon....

Long live The Beta Band!

The last word from The Beta Band.......2005-11-29

Okay, I'm biased - the lead singer is my cousin - but this is a great collection of tunes that have influenced several bigger name UK bands - Oasis and Radiohead to name just two.

If you don't own any Beta Band cd's then this is the one to go for. If you already own some of their stuff, then get this one for the 2nd cd that has the live set from the farewell tour. At last, a recording of them playing live!

Top stuff.

Average customer rating:

Uncapped Access (Coca-Cola)
Haven , Moth , Playgroup , Kings Of Convenience , Craig Armstrong , Blue Six , Air , and The Beta Band
Manufacturer: Virgin Records America, Inc.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000OYRQUO

Product Description

This cd has 8 tracks on it by various artists. They are: Let It Live by Haven, I See Sound by Moth, Number One by Playgroup, Toxic Girl by Kings of Convenience, Wake Up In New York by Craig Armstrong, Music & Wine by Blue Six, People In The City by Air, Dry The Rain by The Beta Band.

Average customer rating:

Music: Best Of
Beta Band
Manufacturer: EMI/Regal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000AMUUP8

Tracks:

Dry The Rain
Inner Meet Me
She's The One
Dr Baker
It's Not Too Beautiful
Smiling (Edit)
To You Alone
Squares
Human Being (Radio Edit)
Gone
Broke (Radio Edit)
Assessment (Radio Edit)
Easy
Wonderful
Troubles
Simple

Tracks:

It's Not Too Beautiful (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire)
Squares (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire)
Inner Meet Me (Live At Shepherds Bush Empire)
Simple (Live At Shepherds Bush Empire)
She's The One (Live At Shepherds Bush Empire)
Easy (Live At Shepherds Bush Empire)
Dr Baker (Live At Shepherds Bush Empire)
Dry The Rain (Live At Shepherds Bush Empire)
Quiet (Live At Shepherds Bush Empire)
Broke (Live At Shepherds Bush Empire)
Assessment (Live At Shepherds Bush Empire)
Dog's Got A Bone (Live At Shepherds Bush Empire)
House Song (Live At Shepherds Bush Empire)

Album Details

The Beta Band Are Sadly Missed by their Fans and Counterparts Industry Wide. They Gave Us Innovative New Music and Creative Cleverness that Left Most Other Groups Far Behind. They Had 'a Hands' on Art School Approach to Most of What They Did in Terms of Video and Artwork that Worked Brilliantly in Visually Representing Themselves and also Inspiring Countless Other Bands at the Development and Established Level. Its Fair to Say that their Legacy is Not Fully Understood as Yet and No Doubt Over the Next Few Years their Legend Will Grow and Grow. "Music" Perfectly Sums Up What this Band was all About and Stand as a Testament to the Success and Creative Innovation of a Band that Will Be Loved for a Long Time to Come. Disc One features Studio Recordings While Disc Two features a Live Set from Shepherd's Bush Empire Recorded During their Farewell Tour.