Best of the Beta Band

The Beta Band | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 4, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B000AP2ZAI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,161 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Dry The Rain

2. Inner Meet Me

3. She's The One

4. Dr. Baker

5. It's Not Too Beautiful

6. Smiling

7. To You Alone

8. Squares

9. Human Being

10. Gone

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. It's Not Too Beautiful - Live 11/29/04

2. Squares - Live 11/29/04

3. Inner Meet Me - Live 11/29/04

4. Simple - Live 11/29/04

5. She's The One - Live 11/29/04

6. Easy - Live 11/29/04

7. Dr. Baker - Live 11/29/04

8. Dry The Rain - Live 11/29/04

9. Quiet - Live 11/29/04

10. Broke - Live 11/29/04

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

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

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The last word from The Beta Band, November 28, 2005

By 

Nick Mason (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best of the Beta Band (Audio CD)

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.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great send-off for this great band...worth it for the 2nd disc alone!, October 23, 2006

By 

Sakos (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best of the Beta Band (Audio CD)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beta band strikes again (under the radar), October 1, 2006

By 

Stephen Roxborough (Anacortes, Washington USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Best of the Beta Band (Audio CD)

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!"