The Beta Band-The Beta Band (1999)
Artist: The Beta Band
Catalog Number: ASW 6268-2
Year of Release: 1999
Country and Year of Edition: US 1999
Sell Price: $3.48
Sell Date: 10/6/24
Condition: VG+/VG+
Discogs Last Sold: 9/5/24 VG+/VG+ $3.00
Low: $0.99
Median: $3.00
Average: $3.42
High: $8.00
Current low price: $0.88
Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 37
Have/Want: 652/49
Where Sold: Minneapolis, MN
Time It Took To Sell: 12 years
Where and When Bought: new on internet year of release
Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: C
Sad To See It Go: No
The Beta Band's The Three EP's compiling the Scottish groups 1997-1998 output was a favorite of mine around that time. When this debut full length came out, I was excited to get it right away. Unfortunately, this one I felt was lacking in compelling material.
Perhaps it was the annoying "rap" intro detailing their rise to being a signed entity. Cute, but nothing you really ever want to hear again. Unfortunately, even with 4 videos to extract as singles out of 10 songs, that is the most memorable song on the album. In fact, it was the only thing I remembered 25 years later. I threw my hands up when "The Hard One" nicked "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (reversing the once upon a time lines) toward the end of the album.
It's not all bad. "It's Not Too Beautiful" is an echo-laden blob that has it's airy melody. "Brokenupadingdong" with it's "soccer roughhousing" video has as strumming tabla handclap charm. Much of this album plays like ambient soundtrack music particularly "Smiling" which has an accompanying video of pastoral land and cave exploration.
A deeper listen didn't make this suddenly better a quarter century later.
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