Customer Reviews

Heroes to Zeros

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I love it when a group I'm a fan of finally busts out and delivers a record that perfectly synthesizes everything I've liked about their music. This is the Beta Band doing just that. Their earlier records were great but sometimes seemed crammed with too many melodies, too many ideas. On "Zeros" the sound is more organized but no less satisfying -- somehow they combine the instrumental drift of space-rock AND pscyhedellic-tinged garage rock within a compact 3-5 minute track. Plus, it's got buttery vocals that would do Eric Woolfsen from the Alan Parsons Project proud.

"Wonderful" sounds downright "Meddle"-esque, a nice nod to "San Tropez" and "Seamus." "Out-Side" is the ultimate pounding, driving-home-from-work-on-a-Friday-afternoon tune. "Space Beatle" is the sound of a crush in the best and worst sense of the word. I'm not sure what "Rhododendron" is but I love it. And I never would've thought a power-ballad called "Liquid Bird" would be something I could take seriously; but I can.

"Heroes To Zeroes" proves that UK The Beta Band is still going strong, in their first self-produced album. (Good for them!) Despite the goofy comic-book cover, this is a solid collection of multilayered, infectious rock-pop. These "heroes" are on steady footing here.

It starts off with a bang in the thumping "Assessment," with a wonderfully roaring wall o' guitar riffs that makes your ears tingle. Following that are experimental numbers (the eclectic "Rhododendron" with its bells, organs and bongos and wonderfully strange "Liquid Bird"), swelling strings ("Simple" and "Wonderful" are simply wonderful), before finishing with the distant electronic-tinged "Pure For."

"Heroes and Zeroes" strikes a good balance between quirky rock and experimental stuff. Not to mention that the Beta Band manage to combine things that would sound silly in many bands. And their songs are unusually creative and elegant (meaning: songs like "Wonderful" won't make you sick).

Frontman Steve Mason is in good form here; few singers could repeat "She's so wonderful" without sounding goofy. And ear-friendly depression lends itself well, as downbeat as the cover is comic. "I think I cracked my skull on the way down/I think I lost my head when I lay down/The fear of facts presented in the cold light of day," Mason sings mournfully.

And the instrumentation is solid and sweeping. Harmonica? Organ? Electronics? Chime-y guitars? Strong percussion? Horns? Sweeping strings? Barking dogs? All here, and all somehow meshed together. There are messy bits, but they're easily skimmed over in favor of just how pretty or rock-y the Beta Band can be.

This Scottish band proves they've still got it it, in this sweeping, eclectic collection that blends solid rockers with some of the sweetest ballads. Good job, lads.

The die hard fans out there are bound to cite the "3Ep's" and the "Self Titled" album as THE BEST Beta Band albums, and I would definitely agree. Their early stuff is amazing and the first two albums especially capture the Beta Band's signature offbeat, anthemic sound. On "Heroes to Zeros" the songs are more poppy, focused and less experimental, but brilliant just the same. In fact, if you are new to the Beta Band this is the perfect place to start as this album really captures their sound. It's more offbeat than Hot ShotsII but more accessible than their Self Titled debut. Like all of their music, it takes a few listens to grow on you, but I think even the critics will agree that there is some essential Beta Band material on this record. I am loving it!
(Recommended Tracks: Space, Assessment, Out Side, Pure For)

Controversial release.... I could almost side with any of these reviews. Here's what I think,,, it is "very produced", and I can see how some would say "overly produced", but this is their bag. Somehow, amazingly, it sounds natural - 'cause this is what they do best. Maybe it's not the "wow, something completely fresh and breakthrough" like the 3 ep's, but it's the brilliant pop record they have been striving for. It gets better w/ each listen and there's not a wasted beat.

The Beta Band seems to attract a lot of mixed reviews. I first discovered them with the song Squares on the Six Feet Under soundtrack and have since purchased The Three EPs, Hot Shots II, and this new album. While The Three EPs seems to receive the most praise, I would have to say that I personally enjoy Heroes to Zeros the most. The Three EPs was a very spontaneous and experimental record; some of the songs, like Dry the Rain, She's the One, and Dr. Baker, struck me immediately, while others were interesting but ultimately left me cold. Hot Shots II was a much more relaxed album with a heavily electronic sound. Squares was easily the best song off the record, which was ultimately marred by the fact that too many of the songs had a similar beat and feel to them. Heroes to Zeros seems to represent a compromise between these two poles. While more coherent and focused than The Three EPs, it is also much more energetic and varied than Hot Shots II. The result is what may be The Beta Band's most mature disc. From the controlled chaos of Out-Side and Liquid Bird to lilting ballads like Wonderful and Pure For, there's so much going on sonically in Heroes to Zeros that it rewards close and frequent listenings. Anyone remotely interested in this sort of spaced-out, trippy music should definitely check this out.

To be perfectly honest, I'm a tad disappointed with "Heroes to Zeros". It's not a bad album necessarily, nor is it a good album. It's the kind of album you skim through a few times, nod your head, and throw it somewhere in the near back/far middle portion of your library. I really do not feel anything at all when listenning to the songs. Even though the songs are very origional and inventive, the monotone singing and electronic rythm just doesn't seem to do the trick. "The Three E.P.s" was a little bit more style than "Heroes to Zeroes", which just seems to bore me and make me wish I would have listenned first. So, in short, listen first; this might do more for you than it did for me.

The problem with Heroes To Zeroes is encapsulated in the first single and the song that leads off the CD--Assessment. There are those cool guitar shards...now here comes that cool rolling bass part, now here comes that really loud drum part, now check out the cool Association-like harmonies. Now check out this unexpected horn chart. Assessment is an over-produced mess.

In short, Heroes to Zeros is a CD of "parts" that don't really add up to much. It is as though each individual song is meant to encapsulate the Beta Band sound, rather than explore anything surprising. The excessive song lengths have been reduced, and apparently the focus is on the songs themselves. It does pick up a little toward the end of the CD however. There are songs that almost connect, that sound like the makings of a grand Beta Band anthem. But those are given short shrift and left undeveloped.

Pure For, Out-Side, and Liquid Bird are okay, but the slower songs putter about aimlessly. Lyrics have been reduced from trance inducing ruminations (remember the 'She's the one for me' Chipmunk-like vocals or 'Push It Out' from 3-EPs) to silly, meaningless fluff like Wonderful.

The Beta Band has gone from a band that you didn't know what was going to do next to a band that you don't really care what they do next. Pity. At one point they were so good it was exhilarating.

The Beta Band made a splash in the late 1990s with their EPs. These recordings were mentioned in the film High Fidelity. For a while The Beta Band was the cool name to drop. They were eclectic and an evolution of all indie music at the time. Their first album marked the height of the band. They replaced Stereolab and Air as this cool band that everyone wanted to check out. Then Hot Shots II came out and left us scratching our collective heads. While we were debating what happened here, the guitar rock movement and other bands like Simian took off. The Beta Band has returned to their roots on this new album. They have relied on the dynamics of their live show as an inspiration. The results are less electronic and folksier. In other words, they are more like Gomez and Super Furry Animals on this one. It may not be the break through album but it is still pretty damn good.

This record is everything I've been expecting from these guys and more. The 3Ep's gave us a band that showed enormous potential that hadn't been fully realized. The next record was somewhat of a misfire, while with Hot Shots 2 the band started to find their stride. Now with "Heroes To Zeros" we find the Beta Band in amazing form, executing first rate psychedelic space pop. The sounds are soothing, trippy, even crunchier at times than past efforts, while the songs are their best batch yet - check out "Liquid Bird" possibly their finest moment to date. A flat-out Gem and early contender for record of the year. Here's hoping these guys get their due with this one.

Sure, everyone has their own opinion! But if you are going to talk trash about a band like Beta Band make sure you do it deservedly. Do not pick on an album that is tasty, full of promise and downright talented. It actually deserves a 4.5 rating but perhaps not a five. Besides that, everything in this album is just right. They have a certain style that makes them worthwhile, certainly a pretty good album to own. Mediocre? I can tell you what mediocre is: Paul McCartney's last album! Sir McCartney must have the media in his pocket (and that includes so called cutting edge music publications) so much in fact, that I, like an easy target went out and bought the darn thing. Let's just say that Beta Band runs circles around an album like that. Mediocre? I don't think so...! In my quest to find out about new bands Beta Band is a welcome sight for sore eyes. "Heroes to Zeroes" is a tasty album, I am very happy I own this album and that is something to be proud of. They are good and all the negative can be dispelled with one honest listen to this CD. There, I said it! Rock on!