Heroes to Zeros

Well this is it! #1089. I'm done with this whole shebang after I write this review. And let me tell you, this album is the perfect way to close off this 3 year trip. It is so emblematic of this list as a whole. Boring ☑ Forgettable ☑ British ☑ Bullshit ☑ It's been a real slice, y'all, and I am happy to have found hundreds of albums worth 5 stars. But the overwhelming majority of this list is dumb boring forgettable british bullshit.

In the words of my good friend Jon - this was the perfect last album for us Generic ✔️ British ✔️ Bullshit ✔️

This had a lot of neat ideas that I just don't think they had the ability to execute well enough. ALSO THIS IS THE LAST ONE BABYYYY I"M FREEEEEEE

There’s two fucking Beta Band albums on this list?

What a find! Consider me interested in being a member of their cult following. This album is a wonderful mix of folk rock and electronica. I definitely need to explore the rest of their catalogue when this is all over.

I've been curious about the Beta Band for a while, after being introduced to them in High Fidelity. I liked this album a lot. It's very eclectic, with a good mix of sweet, slow songs and upbeat numbers. Scottish folks really know how to make great experimental pop music for some reason. It's great to see a rock band embrace electronic music tech and techniques, and everything is very well executed 4/5

The Beta Band. Taking bang average 90s indie music into the 21at century!

This has been one of the biggest surprises so far. I’ve never heard of this band and I ended up listening to the album 3 times today. It’s a mix of different genres and it somehow works.

I love the Beta Band, particularly 'The 3 EPs' and their second 'proper' album, 'Hot Shots II' and even their first album, which the band notably hated and disparage, has some absolutely brilliant tracks amidst the dross! 'Heroes to Zeroes', which was their swansong, is an enjoyable album with the standouts, for me, being the melancholy 'Troubles' and, especially, the beautiful 'Wonderful'. The remaining tracks are fine but perhaps, judging by the diminishing returns, it was right that they chose to call it a day.

I love this album cover. That was such an unexpectedly cool album from never hearing of these guys. I am very glad I listened to it with headphones on because there were a lot of different sounds going on with the electronics. Liquid Bird was my favorite song on here This album reminded me a lot of that Primal Scream album that came up over the summer. If I was also sitting on a beach and drinking some ice cold brews this would probably also get a 5, but instead I am sitting at my desk working on a cloudy day. Pretty solid 4

A very interesting album of a band who called it quits too soon due to lack of success. They feel like the in-between stage from Blur to Alt-J

I lost attention and couldn’t tell you anything because of how boring it was

This album was not good. They are certainly zeroes. Highly questionable if they were ever heroes. It has that indie music feel, you know the whiny feel but this time with electronic music. Not really a two but I will round up

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Very boring, very generic and nothing that hasn’t been done better by those that came before.

First of all, have to say how much I love the album cover. Such great artwork! Now, the album is excellent. Second Beta Band album for me this week, which is great. I am drawn to their style, which is a clever mash-up of elements from various genres, and they compose and perform very well. I'll give this album more listens and, yes, for real, will finally listen to more of their stuff.

The polytime of electronic dance combines perfectly with the rock energy of real instruments. This puts me in mind of an across-the-pond Broken Bells, though on the surface the songs carry less chill. Ends with the kind of uncertain note that suitably ends an album or band.

Fine Beta Band album even though the vocals are so so. In my memory, Hot Shots II, its predecessor was a bit better and same goes for the material on the 3EPs. But still there is enough stuff to like, such as Wonderful, which sounds like the blueprint of a Beta Band song.

Like a piece of pretty good store bought cake. 2.5 rounding up for the cover art. Doesn't belong on this list.

A great album, I have to underline the superb production and ideas, though I didn’t really connect with the overall project…

fun and rocking. 3 stars.

Liked it more than I was expecting, post Britpop sound with some decent songwriting

Didn't care for this one. I stopped paying attention.

An absolutely Beta Band album. If you like the Beta Band's brand of laid back, psychedelic, folk, indie pop, you'll like this. No sign as to why it's considered essential listening, though. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: Assessment Date listened: 24/02/24

As I woke up this morning on Nov 6 2024 and found that we are now looking down the barrel of a fourth Reich and another national depression in America, I am hard pressed to find anything redeeming about this album. 1/5

I am forgetting the songs while listening to them. I might remember this album just because of this. I wonder if it is hard to reach this level of blandness... Interesting to note that the only song with some kind of spirit samples a great one from Siouxie and the Banshees. It is a poor, tortured attempt, but it was the only time this album made me feel anything. Listening to this till the end was like waiting for water to boil.

Catchy and peaceful. Very surprising given my only prejudgment was the ridiculous album cover being so corny looking.

What? Beta Band made it on this list but not for The Three EP's with "Dry The Rain", the song that gets everyone to buy the album when they hear that song for the first time? The opening song, Assessment, was a good intro to convince me to listen to more. The rest of the tracks were equally good in different ways. Happy to have listened to this one now for the first time too.

Sounds like a compilation album, in a good way, with a dizzying variety of styles. I rally liked it, and they get the Scottish bonus point too!

Cool, was on the tube so maybe need to go again but good fun

I completely forgot to rate this. It is now mid-August, whoops. When I first listened to this, I couldn’t decide if it was a 4 or a 5. I wrote the below review and I guess planned to listen again, but totally forgot. I finally did re-listen today and my decision has been made. This album rocks. Surprised to see this has a score under 3 (as of writing this). I really liked it! I'm waffling between a 4 and a 5. I really enjoyed it but I don't know how often I'd play it if I kept it on my phone.

I remember liking the prior Beta Band album we had but I don't really remember why. HtZ doesn't jog my memory at all but I loved it. I think maybe I'm into the Beta Band and their whole deal.

I remembered that I enjoyed The Beta Band "Hot Shots II" that came up a while ago in this project, but I couldn't really remember what to expect. This is a moody, quirky affair that was a perfect soundtrack for today. “Lion Thief” and “Simple” were particular faves, but I liked the whole album a lot. I seem to really like The Beta Band and should probably investigate them further.

Wow! I love this.

I have been a fan of The Beta Band since the early 2000s and I love any chance I get to revisit them.

great album, awful cover

Unique. Pretty groovy. New to me.

It was a cold, foggy, dark morning as I drove to the airport for an early flight. And this album hit perfect. Some real gems here. Glad to find out about this group.

I was attacking a tedious and frustrating task while listening to this. It was helpful. The task still frustrated, though.

3.5

I really enjoyed this album. Moody (but driving) indie pop. Why did I always think these guys were electronica?

A nice surprise, didn't knew this band, I enjoyed a lot listening to this album ;.-)

Pretty good.

What a delightful surprise

Did not use a private Spotify session for this one. I have listened to some songs of the Beta Band, but never sat down for a full album. It was good, worthy of another listen.

Such an Alpha Band

I surprisingly liked this a lot. Maybe because I am emotionally vulnerable right now, but it's good. Not my usual thing.

Never heard of them before, but I kind of enjoyed the album and thought the songs were pretty good. They reminded me a little of Beck at times.

Unexpectedly good

Better than expected based on the cover. It was great! Love me a psychedelic chill trip hop band.

This was enjoyable! I'll probably forget they exist, but I would not be sad to listen to this again.

Love these guys

Нормальный альбом, есть пара интересных треков

Not their best, but still head and shoulders above most other stuff

A glorious fuck up.

This is a poppier version of the Beta Band and I like it a lot. Each track seems to made up of little vignettes that create a song when they are combined, which makes them quirky and fun.

Not bad at all, definitely interesting and creative. But some tracks feel like they're blending styles for the sake of it, rather than for actual artistic merit. I did enjoy it, but it was not inspired or powerful enough to be amazing.

1st time listening to Beta Band. I enjoyed the mix of musical styles.

Voix atmosphérique, musique riche et texturée par contraste. Me fait souvent penser à Eels, parfois à Enon, deux groupes que j’adore

Well, nice album cover, but the music is not as explosive or colourful as it would suggest. It's just a nice alternative/soft rock, with frw cool songs at the end. I'll give it a four, but I certainly would have to listen to it couple more times to assess it.

Rhythmic pop, felt like some middle east influence. Pretty interesting

Nice and relaxing music, nice!

All over the place, but in a good way

Mega meget up my alley, fed produktion og gode numre. Har hørt et par Beta Band plader før men ik den her.

that album art kicks ass. i assumed this would be some really loud epic rock music that would be out of a comic book or video game, but i was pleasantly surprised by how it actually sounded; this album is full of soft and embittered compositions. many people might think this album is a bit simple and quiet, but i honestly really enjoyed this listen, hearing all the different ways these guys produced their tracks and all. the title is gripping. once respected, now feeling like outcasts.

I liked this one. First time listener of the band/album. They remind of and sound a lot like Portugal but with more of an electric sound.. kind of like if David Bowie were the lead singer for Portugal. Does that shit make sense?? Either way. I dig it.

If I were to judge this band by its cover. It would be a 0/5. Thankfully the packaging doesn't reflect the gift inside. This album was pretty damn good. Way better than I expected. Perhaps the album cover was to make you have low expectations? I don't know. But none the less, there are some well written songs. I got a Sam Roberts feel in a few songs. Really enjoyed this.

Instrumentally, this record is really fun. Lots of different sounds and layers mixing funk, rock, and electronica. Honestly, I love when bands mix rock and electronica. A bit of a psych production with poppier melodies makes this an easy, yet interesting listen. I think this one is better listened to intentionally with good headphones. If listened on like crappy car speakers, you'll miss a lot of interesting production. It makes sense this was produced by Nigel Godrich. While not being one of the masterpiece albums on this list, it is an album I think I'll choose to listen to on my own because of how much I enjoyed it. There were some boring songs on the record for sure but overall it was enjoyable.

I had no idea what I was in for with this album and while I wasn’t totally blown away by it, it was still a pretty good time. Funky, electronicish, and mostly 2000s indie Brit rock. Not too memorable except for space but still solid. lol I just searched for beta band in my history and said pretty much the exact same thing about their last album (which I have literally no recollection of)

They clearly have no idea what music to make they just fucking jam and make it happen and I'll say I kinda fw it. Rock Electronica? Don't you mean Rock, Electronica, Pop, Folk, Indie, Britpop, with elements of New Wave, Grunge, and dare I say, Shoegaze?

The Beta Band are great. The starting point is and always will be the 3EPs. But this is a stonger offering than their first album proper

I loved this. A great discovery. Am baffled that I hadn’t heard it before. Now going through the back catalogue.

Yeah, this one was pretty good. I didn't love it to the end...got a bit bored after a while, but pretty strong, in general.

The album cover alone is worth 5 stars, however the songs don't quite live up to that level. Still, a really enjoyable album and an improvement over their previous one.

Low key dig it.

Surprisingly good!

The Beta Band (grupo de culto salvo cuando salieron en High Fidelity, incluso por ello) siguieron, en su tercer y último disco, la estela de The Flaming Lips, la portada remite a Yoshimi o The Mystics... y de Elephant Six. En realidad The Beta Band han sido siempre un mundo en sí mismos. El disco es un viaje por los rincones de la psicodelia, una delicia con canciones como Troubles, Wonderful y esa gema que es Out-Side. Abre potente con Assessment y continúa con Space, en clave Animal Collective (Panda Pear). Lion Thief ensambla unas guitarras y coros Byrdianos (los de Notorious Byrd Brothers) con percusiones y ritmos mucho más actuales además de un toque Pink Floyd, que hacen del conjunto un temazo. Easy fusiona su estilo con algo de Funk. Space Beatle es una marcianada, como Rhododendron, una delicada pieza instrumental. Liquid Bird podría haber sido un éxito, de haberlo querido alguien. Cuando llegas a Simple y Pure For (que recuerda a la psicodelia noventera de Screamadelica - Inner flight/Higher than the sun) ya estás entregado y esperando a darle otra vez al play. Joya exquisita y atemporal. Hubo muchos, pero no mucho mejores discos en 2004: Nick Cave- Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus, Arcade Fire- Funeral, Wilco – A Ghost Is Born, Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand, Tom Waits – Real gone, Morrissey - You are the quarry. También: Sonic Youth- Sonic Nurse, TV on the radio- Desperate, Youth, Blood, Green Day - American Idiot, Bart Davenport – Game Preserve, Interpol – Antics, Modest Mouse – Good news for people who love bad news, Brian Wilson – Smile, Lambchop – Aw c’mon / No you c’mon, The Dears – No cities left, The Divine Comedy – Absent friends, The Delgados – Universal audio, Kasabian-Kasabian, The Organ - The Organ, Adan Green - Friends of mine, Ye (Kanye West)- The College dropout, Keane- Hopes and feras, Pinback-Summer in Abaddon...

At their peak, the Beta Band were one of Britain's most innovative, creative and promising bands. Sadly that peak came and passed far too quickly. The aptly-named Heroes to Zeros soundtracks the period from their excellent Hot Shots II era to their breakup just months after this was released. It's a damn shame but they just didn't seem to be able to agree on the creative direction, some members struggled with mental health and they and collectively kept hitting the self-destruct button. Lots of this album are of the playful, genre-bending variety that made them so exciting, but it lacks consistency and sags in the second half. I can't go lower than a 4 because they were just so special while we had them around (and outstanding live) but it's much messier than its predecessor and not as much fun as the 3 EPs that put the Betas on the map in the first place.

Some good stuff here, but it takes a few song to get it. Hardly their best album.

An interesting eclectic album I’d like to hear more of - enjoyed its particular brand of noughties alternative

I quite liked this, good background rock music. Stand-out: Troubles

Great discovery. I really enjoyed some of the pieces of this experimental rock with a very British slant. I especially liked space beatle (just like yesterday and also wonderful

Enjoyable, if not ground breaking

Reicht knapp für 4. Gefällt nebenbei ganz gut und der Sound stimmt.

This album reminded me of another band I like, "Django Django". The vocals are distinct, and the subtly electronic melodies are soothing and ethereal.

I like the Beta Band enough. Not as good as The Three EPs, but enjoyable.

I surprisingly liked this early 2000s rock/indie album by this Scottish band I haven't heard about before. This album is atmospheric, moody, interesting enough and overall it was a pleasant listen. Maybe it'd be a 3.5 but I round it up to 4.

Without the shock of the new of the 3 EPs, still a great offbeat listen. Steve Mason is a genuine one off and needs to be cherished.

An interesting band that rises above the typical middle of the road jangly guitar pop.

I liked the sound of this band. They had a almost late Beatles sound with an alternative edge.

Honestly I was expecting to hate this album with every fiber of my being. I did not. I thoroughly enjoyed this. Maybe it was because I was listening to this after studying for o chem all day and the vibe was just what I was looking for. Maybe it was because it was super low-key and they didn't seem to take themselves stupidly seriously. Whatever the reason I really liked this one. What an unexpected, pleasant surprise.

“Folktronica” is definitely the best way to describe this band. Fun listen.

Not sure why this is on the list, but I enjoy the album

I remembered someone suggesting the Beta Band to me, but it turns out it was the movie High Fidelity. This is a really good album--I went back and listened to some of their other stuff and it was not as good. Too bad this was their last album!

I had never heard of The Beta Band before but I really enjoyed this album. I wouldn't say that any of the songs particularly stood out to me, but I did enjoy the vibe of the album!

I kind of really dug this album. It was sooooo different from anything, but still really cool (70's acid trip, modern electronic, high school band). I can see why the commercial success is low and personally I don't think they would do good playing big venues and having big fan bases. I want to see them play in a garage or a small club because their music has an intimate presence and the ability to be different but not pretentious and so unique but digestible. I really liked the first four songs. Easy and Wonderful were only okay, but they picked up again after and finished great (really liked Out-Side and Pure For). I am so glad I found them too and I will search them out more.

Way better than their previous efforts, turns out the upbeat, up tempo Beta Band have far more to offer than the lo fi, dour tunes that came before.

I didn't know this band at all and I actually really enjoyed this listen. Their sound was not at all what I was expecting when I heard the band name and saw this album cover. I probably would have never given this a chance left to my own devices, but it had some cool tracks that I'll add to my rotation.

This was much more my cup of tea than expected. Not a complete banger but generally deserves 4/5

Quite liked this