I will now sell...

I imagine everybody reading this who has heard of The Beta Band has seen this scene in High Fidelity where John Cusack mispronounces the band's name:



I've been a fan of The Beta Band for a while now, since around 2000. They were one of my favourites when I was at university, which was the first time I'd ever lived somewhere with a music shop. Enough reminiscing though.

The Beta Band released three separate EPs in the late 90's. They weren't given huge distribution and in 1999 all 3 EPs, Champion Versions, The Patty Patty Sound and Los Amigos Del Beta Bandidos, were released together on the imaginatively titled The Three EPs.

At the time Britpop was dead, even the post-Britpop hangover had gone away and we had an indie music scene dominated by bands like Travis. The Beta Band's sound is from a totally different universe from Travis.

Experimental and talented the experimental side got toned down on the release of the 2nd and 3rd albums. It was still pretty far away from anything mainstream and still really good.

Enjoy the mp3s and buy the albums:

The Three EPs (buy)

Champion Versions

Dry The Rain (This is the song featured in High Fidelity)
Dogs Got A Bone

The Patty Patty Sound

Inner Meet Me
She's The One (live version)

Los Amigos Del Beta Bandidos

Needles In My Eyes
Dr. Baker (live version)

The Beta Band (buy)

Dance O'Er The Border (live version)
Round The Bend

To You Alone/Sequinsizer (buy)

To You Alone

Hot Shots II (buy)

Quiet (Acoustic)
Squares
Won (US and Japanese release bonus track)

Heroes to Zeroes (buy)

Out-Side (radio edit)
Space Beatle
The House Song (live version)