The Three E.P.'s [Best of]

 

 

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Frontman Stephen Mason has oft described the sound of the Beta Band as "folktronic", yet that comment seems to only appease the masses. The music of the Beta Band is more complex and interesting than a simple label or generalization because the Betas are not JUST a folk band, electronic band, or anything of the likes. It's a blending of different music and cultures into a beautiful mess.

For example, songs like "the house song," which blend real interesting vocal harmonies and trance rhythms, almost personify the early Beta Band style. The blatant incorporation of different genres makes the Beta Band a band that one cannot truly define in one genre.

The Three E.P.s is the quintessential Beta sound real early into their careers. Unlike the polished and refined sound of Hot Shots Part II, you can really hear the Betas TRYING to create something new and innovative for our genre. For that reason alone the CD is worth buying.

In many ways I feel this is the superior beta band release simply because of it's great song writing and awesome incorporation of different genres. If you're gonna own one, own this cd.

Having listened to a great variety of music in the past few years, I think I can safely say that "The 3 EP's" is one of the most endlessly fascinating new finds I've stumbled upon lately. This collection of three separately released EP's (hence the title, heh) showcases a band that revels in eclecticism, adventurousness, and flat-out strangeness. Mutating frequently and unpredictably, these songs are generally built around the traditional rock-band lineup, but the Beta Band go well beyond facile classifications by embracing decidedly irregular song structures and incorporating found sounds ranging from piano to accordions to samples to God knows what else. All throughout, the band's obsession with detail is matched by a strong ear for melody. The opener "Dry The Rain" could actually make a decent single and perfectly exemplifies what this band is about, moving from twangy acoustic folk tune to upbeat horn-fueled anthem about halfway through. "I Know" is a hypnotic, repetition-oriented instrumental featuring some mangled beats and snatches of guitar noise. Starting out as a droning piece of acidy pop, "B + A" suddenly shifts into overdrive and morphs into a monstrous rave-up complete with hand claps, crashing percussion, and even an "aaaah, aaaah" chant. Things get even more interesting with "Dog's Got a Bone," a gentle, non-rocking mood piece driven along by little more than quiet acoustic strumming, accordions, and sweet vocal harmonies. "Inner Meet Me" actually manages to be catchy in its own unique way, with entrancing near-rapped vocals placed over a head-bobbing rhythm. "Monolith" is a fifteen-plus minute epic of almost comical weirdness, seguing from one ambient passage to another with no apparent pattern. A clinic on how to do a lot with a little, "Push It Out" begins as an eerily minimal piece before becoming steadily more expansive as it adds a series of new sounds throughout its running time. In yet another odd move, "She's The One" could almost qualify as a ballad, aside from the fact that it's more than eight minutes long and its soft sound eventually gives way to quasi-psychedelic jamming and some Alvin and the Chipmunks-style chanting. The last three songs, "It's Over," "Dr. Baker," and "Needles In My Eyes," find the band moving in a somewhat more accessible direction, but there's still plenty of gonzo experimentation and and startlingly original craftsmanship to be found. As cohesive as it is diverse, and as fun as it is wacky, "The 3 EP's" is a modern-day classic not to be missed by those seeking something out of the ordinary.

Okay. This album is my favorite backround music album of all time aside from The Velvet Underground's Velvet Underground & Nico. I really can't see how somebody can dislike The Beta Band but then again, people will be people. I know some people at school that own this record and I was pretty suprised (my school is run by trends...emo...cough cough...) but yet again, this album is just too good to resist (not to mention John Cusack's reference to it in High Fidelity probably boosted some sales). Yeah I'm blabbing on about nothing. Just buy this if you don't have it. You won't regret it.

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2.0 out of 5 stars Learning how different tastes are
This CD isn't bad if you like repetitive lyrical phrases without meaning, looping samples, speech that repeats and says nothing (like "pushin' out" over and over and... Read more

Published on Feb 10 2004 by jmagus

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique Sound = Great Music
I finally purchased this album after owning the High Fidelity soundtrack for several years and loving "Dry The Rain" by The Beta Band. "The Three E.P. Read more

Published on May 14 2003 by roastbeefalo

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything is different now
I've had the good fortune of driving in Scotland, an excellent method of refining ones sense of humor. Scots themselves, The Beta Band are great fun. Read more

Published on Mar 14 2003 by templecola

5.0 out of 5 stars One Of My TOP 5 ALBUMS Of ALL TIME!
Wow....

This is one great CD. I am usually only a fan of classic rock (the Doors, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin) but a friend of mine told me I had to listen to The Three EP's. Read more

Published on Mar 2 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars Everything is different now
I've had the good fortune of driving in Scotland, an excellent method of refining ones sense of humor. Scots themselves, The Beta Band are great fun. Read more

Published on Dec 31 2002 by templecola

4.0 out of 5 stars not as brilliant as some make it out to be
OK first thing's first, I love the beta band. Secondly, they're a typical prog band. If you can imagine Stone Roses inviting Kraftwerk for an acoustic jam session (NOT an album... Read more

Published on Nov 24 2002 by drwoz3

4.0 out of 5 stars Or 5, Depending on my Mood
To anyone who knows a give-a-dog-a-bone about music, this is not exactly intricate stuff. My dead gramma could play something more complicated with her rattling bones. Read more

Published on Oct 18 2002 by PJ Willy

5.0 out of 5 stars Their Rosetta Stone(d)
"There are problems in these times/ but none of them are mine."--Lou Reed

The comparison is totally invalid on a musical level, but at a spiritual level, the Beta... Read more

Published on July 8 2002 by P. Gunderson

5.0 out of 5 stars Apparently it's hate it or love it
This album seems to get either one star or five stars from Amazon customers. As with anything where people have such strong feelings, it's probably worth a listen to form your... Read more

Published on May 18 2002

4.0 out of 5 stars The Beta Band begin to find their place in the music world
In just a few short years, it seems like The Beta Band have come so far from where they began. With their most recent album, "Hot Shots II", they emerged as a band with... Read more

Published on April 3 2002 by el_abrotsky

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