The Beta Band.

Could never get into them.

I think this deserves another chance. I know this band has been almost totally forgotten (and they only split up last year) but really, the 3 EP's compilation from 1998 is one of the great albums of the 90s. Totally original and unique. Unfortunately, and perhaps inevitably, everything they did afterwards couldn't match it, but for their first three 12"s they deserve to be remembered.

I feel somewhat sorry for this band, because they have been left effectively penniless:

I Always Thought We'd Be As Big As Radiohead

They never seemed to get the exposure that many much worse bands seemed to have received.

i thought they were not crap after 3 eps but then after some soul searching i realized they were crap. that one song that sounds kinda like t rex is alright though. rain something or other.

Someone's already tried, but I'll attempt one more bump.

Everytime I think I have this band figured out, they surprise me. I just watched a DVD about them, and I think the reason they never made it big is because they are a whole package. Here's what I've concluded:
-The live show was pretty damn cool. They gave a shit.
-The video stuff they did was budget level and really interesting in an "too much acid" way.
-They somehow blended psychedelia, beats, and folk without it sounding awful. Seemingly a recipe for disaster, but they did pulled it off.

Sometimes there's a sameiness that creeps in, but I find this band to be really unique. They used melodicas and that rules.

My guess is that people didn't know what to do with them. Too interesting to remain underground, yet too left field to make it big, even though they got a support slot with Radiohead.

I think history might be kind to these guys.

-A

When I saw Radiohead years ago, the Beta Band was the opener; I fell asleep on the grass.

If art students are going to make records, better them be like this, i.e., art, than the toids falling out of the Kaiser Chiefs dribbly fat affected botox.

This band has done some monstrous shit. But actually, they've also done a few really good bits. Kind of a shit jam band, but the early stuff has good moments. The three Eps is good. Therefore NOT CRAP.

Bump. One of my favorite bands. They were a lot of fun to watch live. Jumping around in space suits and gorilla costumes while playing catchy psychedelic tunes. Not Crap. They should have been much bigger.