Heroes to Zeros

Album art turned me off completely from wanting to listen to this. It sounds nothing like the art, I can’t fathom that decision. This is okay 2000s rock. It’s pretty devoid of personality, nothing grips you, it’s just sort of music to be there. I reserve 2 and 1 for things I actively dislike or think are truly bad music, and I don’t think this is that, but this is absolute filler that you don’t need to hear before you die.

The first couple of tracks here were honestly something of a pleasant surprise given where my expectations were based on the cover art and the "British electronica" genre tag but they did really start to lose me by ten minutes in once said surprise had worn off. Really I just don't understand why this is on this list. Did it really make that much of an impression on literally anyone? I mean, the Wikipedia page for it can't even muster more than 8 sentences

I'm sort of surprised I hadn't heard of this one. It was all decent, and it made pretty enjoyable background music... but writing this review the next day, I can't remember a single track from it, and I think that has to count against it somewhat.

Lots of variety, nothing special, I liked some things, don't remember most of it. Solid 3

This wasn’t for me. Musically it’s pretty good, had this been instrumental it would have fared a lot better. The vocals are horrible - turns a competent band into sounding like a shit college band. Scraped to a 2.

5/10… average rock / indie / *2004

They were so right

They had me in the beginning. But then I fell down and couldnt get back up nomo

Yeah fine whatever

3.5 (42:13, 12 tracks, 3rd and final, 2004) Rock (traditional), folktronica, Scottish #381 - Heroes to Zeros is the third and final studio album by Scottish musical group the Beta Band, mixed by the legendary Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck) reached 18 in the UK charts. This is their Swan Song and they know it. They were in massive debt and had fought the industry that should have fed them for their entire careers only to end in financial and emotional ruins. Since redacted from the current 1001 Album list (to make room). Beta Band’s 2nd and 3rd albums both briefly were in, then out, of the list. I like these Brits (Scottish) and it fits with Dimery’s style but as a ‘must listen’ it is debatable at best. It’s sort of a Pink Floyd sound updated to the early 2000’s. Inclusion was a nod to folktronica. Their sound reminds me of the Kaiser Chiefs. Thought about a 4 as I like the sound and the album but settled on 3 as I don’t feel it’s influential enough to rate a 4 nor do I love it enough to put it on a frequent playlist. I am looking forward to their other offering in the project. Cover illustration by comic book writer and artist Kaare Andrews. The song "Liquid Bird" features a sample of "Painted Bird" by Siouxsie and the Banshees. The Beta Band was/are a Scottish musical group formed in 1996 broke up in 2004, reformed recently consisting of Steve Mason (vocals, guitar), Robin Jones (drums), John Maclean (keyboard, samples) and Richard Greentree (bass). Their style is described as being a blend of folk, psychedelia, electronica, post-rock and trip hop, often involving stylistic experimentation and occasional humor. They were praised by members of both Radiohead and Oasis, the former of which chose them to open for their concerts. After disbanding in 2004 due to financial difficulties, Jones and Maclean joined former bandmate Gordon Anderson to form spin-off band the Aliens; Mason worked in other music projects before embarking on a solo career. The band later reformed in 2025 to tour Britain and the United States. Formed in 1996 of St Andrews musicians Steve Mason (vocals, guitar) and Gordon Anderson. The two had plans to call their group The Pigeons but later changed their minds. As they pulled together songs for their debut EP, Champion Versions, they added Robin Jones (drums), John Maclean (DJ, sampler, keyboards), and Steve Duffield (bass). Duffield quit the band soon after recording Champion Versions. Not long after they were signed to Regal/Parlophone, Anderson became ill and quit the band. They released 3 Eps and 3 Albums - Champion Versions was released in July 1997 to critical acclaim, not only for the music but also for the record's innovative cut-and-paste sleeve design (the work of John Maclean). Two EPs followed in 1998 The Patty Patty Sound in March and Los Amigos del Beta Bandidos in July. Despite inner conflict, the band commenced work on their first album recording after being signed to Regal. The record, titled The Beta Band, was released in June 1999. The album was more stylistically diverse than the initial EPs, and was loose and unrefined in comparison to their prior style of production. A hiatus followed, during which Mason released his second King Biscuit Time EP. The band gradually gravitated back into the studio, this time recruiting UK producer Colin Emmanuel, aka C-Swing, to oversee the process. The second album, Hot Shots II, appeared in mid-2001, and was warmly received by critics and fans. It sacrificed much of the first album's experimentation for more boiled-down pop structure and hooks. The band began demo sessions for their third studio album in September 2002. They entered the studio with producer Tom Rothrock in 2003 and completed a number of tracks; however, neither the band nor Regal's executives were pleased with the results. Producer Nigel Godrich was recruited to mix the album, which was completed in early 2004. Lead single "Assessment" was released on 12 April 2004, followed by the album Heroes to Zeros on 26 April. One of the tracks, "Liquid Bird" is based on a sample of "Painted Bird" by Siouxsie and the Banshees. A second single, "Out-Side", followed in July. The band announced their breakup on their website on 2 August 2004, citing financial discord with their label, to whom they owed £1.2 million. In November, they performed at the Summer Sundae festival and set out on a farewell tour. Their final show was at Edinburgh's Liquid Rooms venue on 5 December 2004. On 3 October 2005, the band released a 2-disc DVD set, The Best of The Beta Band - Film, featuring most of the band's videos and a selection of short films, television footage, documentaries as well as four songs recorded live at the Shepherd's Bush Empire on 29 November 2004, one of the band's final performances. Also released on the same day was a two CD set, The Best of The Beta Band - Music, comprising a compilation disc of studio recordings and a disc containing the Shepherd's Bush gig. After the band's breakup, Steve Mason began a solo career, releasing music with his solo project King Biscuit Time, as well as new projects Black Affair and Good Face. On 3 March 2025, the band confirmed their reunion and announced a tour for the UK and North America performing The Three E.P.'s in its entirety, their first live dates in over 20 years. All tracks written by Steve Mason, John Maclean, Richard Greentree, and Robin Jones. No. Title Length 1. "Assessment" (4:34) Functions as a chaotic, urgent look at facing harsh reality, suffering a mental or emotional crash, and trying to salvage what is left of your life. The opening track and lead single for Heroes to Zeros, it sets a tense mood that contrasts its upbeat, horn-assisted indie-rock rhythm. The song immediately opens with a striking realization of trauma: "I think I cracked my skull on the way down / I think I lost my head, better lay down." This "assessment" is a literal inventory of personal damage. Frontman Steve Mason uses the image of physical injury to describe hitting rock bottom—whether through mental health struggles, toxic lifestyles, or the crushing weight of the music industry (the band famously owed their label £1.2 million at the time). The core turning point of the song focuses on forced clarity: The lyrics confront the stark realities of a deteriorating situation, emphasizing the urgent need to make a decisive, purposeful choice to stay afloat. "Assessment" captures the precise moment you realize your life is spinning out of control and you have to make a choice to save yourself. 2. "Space" (4:00) Operates on two distinct levels: literal outer space and personal mental "inner space". Typical of the band’s songwriting style, the track blends scientific imagery with deep feelings of alienation, self-doubt, and the struggle to communicate. Opens with the line: "The Milky Way results from the crowding of extremely faint stars." This is a factual cosmological statement, but the band uses it as a metaphor for human connection. The idea is that individual, "faint" people—who feel isolated or insignificant on their own—somehow come together to form something massive and beautiful, like a galaxy. Throughout the song, frontman Steve Mason chants lines like: "Start is the end, more or less." "Friend is a fool, more or less." "Love it but you lost a truth, more or less." The constant repetition of "more or less" creates a feeling of apathy or emotional exhaustion. It hints at a relationship that is failing or a friendship where the truth has been lost, leaving the narrator feeling like they are drifting away from someone they care about. Going "Round the Bend" As the hypnotic Krautrock beat drives forward, the lyrics turn inward: "Can it be, can it be? It's not impossible, I know... and I know I'm round the bend." The Beta Band famously dealt with immense internal pressure, label demands, financial debt, and mental health struggles during the making of Heroes to Zeros, which ultimately led to their breakup shortly after its release. "Going round the bend" is a direct acknowledgment of losing control or feeling like one's mental sanity is slipping away into the void. The music itself mirrors this meaning. Critics like those at the A.V. Club noted that the track constantly sounds like it is "threatening to fall apart or lapse into silence," echoing the unstable, drifting feeling of being lost in a vast space, whether that space is the cosmos or your own mind. 3. "Lion Thief" (3:27) One of the most candid, bitter tracks on Heroes to Zeros. The song deals directly with betrayal, a collapsing inner circle, and the agonizing guilt of ruining a friendship. The song opens with an explicit confession of sabotage: "I lied to this man as I called him a friend / He fell as I tripped him; he won't smile again." Frontman Steve Mason sets a bleak scene of deliberate betrayal. There is no triumph in this act; the narrator is immediate in their guilt, attempting to "lay dead" or hide from the consequences of their actions, realizing too late that they have pushed things entirely to the edge. "The Fruits of the Loops" The most famous, repeating line in the track serves as a heavy metaphor for the band's identity: "The fruits of the loops of the friendships that droop." This line operates as a double entendre: The Musical Loop: The Beta Band built their career on repeating electronic "loops" and sampling. Here, Mason implies that the music they are making (the "fruits" of their labor) is no longer a joyful, creative process. Instead, those repetitive loops have become a chore, running parallel to the "friendships that droop". The band members, who started as close companions, are watching their relationships slowly wither under the financial debt and exhaustion of the industry. By the end of the song, any hope of fixing the situation is flatly denied: "The situation cannot be rectified / We're drowning the small ones with loose lips and lies." It acts as a stark acknowledgment that the damage is permanent. The reference to "loose lips" highlights how gossip, poor communication, or industry politics have poisoned the well. The repetitive plea, "Where do you go when you hide your love away? / There's no point in asking; there'll be no reply," illustrates the complete shutdown of communication between people who used to be close. The phrase "Lion Thief" evokes the idea of stealing away someone's pride, courage, or strength (the "lion" within them) through deceit. The song is a sad, melodic post-mortem of a band that knows it is breaking apart from the inside out. 4. "Easy" (2:32) "Easy" explores emotional dependency, chemical or mental dissociation, and the wild mood swings that happen when a person loses their anchors. The lyrics a hypnotic, repetitive cycle that touches on a few deep psychological themes: Codependency vs. Volatility The defining line of the song repeats like a mantra: "When I don't cross myself with you / Sometimes I can be up like that... Sometimes I can be down like that." In British slang and religious context, to "cross" someone can mean to check in with them, align with them, or even cross paths. The narrator is saying that without the presence, grounding, or stabilizing force of this other person, their emotional state becomes completely unpredictable. They oscillate wildly between intense highs ("up") and depressive crashes ("down"). The lyrics explicitly step into the territory of mental instability and substance use: "Some kind, psychosis / Don't know what you call it, oneness might be the closest / A psychotropic segment so tasteless, it tastes sweet / And then it changes." Frontman Steve Mason uses terms like "psychosis" and "psychotropic" (mind-altering drugs) to describe a feeling of losing touch with reality. There is a fleeting moment of "oneness" or euphoria that initially feels sweet, but it quickly shifts, leaving the narrator feeling detached and unstable. Body Dysmorphia and Public Image In an alternate verse of the song, the imagery becomes shockingly visceral and surreal: "Dysmorphic in doses / Imagine trying to shit out twelve red roses / It's how I do but not everybody knows it / Imagine how I'd feel to be called a promotionalist." This vivid metaphor highlights the internal pain of trying to produce something beautiful (the "roses") under forced pressure, while feeling completely twisted or "dysmorphic" on the inside. The anxiety of being viewed merely as a "promotionalist" points directly back to the band's fatigue with the commercial music industry, where they felt forced to package their mental struggles as commercial art. The title "Easy" is deeply ironic. The track itself features bouncy, почти-cheerful keyboard work, making the music sound light and effortless. However, the lyrics underneath paint a portrait of a mind that is anything but easy—it is fragmented, heavily reliant on others for stability, and trying desperately to mask an internal crisis. 5. "Wonderful" (4:39) A straightforward, low-key, and deeply sincere love song. While the other tracks on the album navigate betrayal, bankruptcy, and mental breakdowns, "Wonderful" serves as a rare, gentle sanctuary on the record. The song's lyrics rely on extreme simplicity and hypnotic repetition to convey two main themes: 1. Pure, Unconditional Adoration: The core of the track is built entirely around a single, heavily repeated realization: "She's so wonderful... In time you realize / It's all for you, I do." Frontman Steve Mason strips away all the cryptic metaphors, scientific references, and cynical industry complaints that dominate the rest of the album. Instead, the lyrics focus on the sudden clarity that comes with time—recognizing the profound value of a partner and acknowledging that everything the narrator does is ultimately driven by love for them. 2. Pining and Vulnerability: The brief bridge introduces a sense of longing and hesitant vulnerability: "And if I see her tonight / Will I leave her alone now? / And if you see her tonight / Will you tell her I love her?" These lines highlight a delicate fear of disruption or a temporary distance between the lovers. Rather than assuming control, the narrator questions their own actions ("Will I leave her alone now?") and even asks an outside observer to pass along a message of devotion, highlighting a gentle, selfless kind of love. Musically, "Wonderful" acts as the emotional anchor of the album's B-side. While the band was famous for packing songs with chaotic, overwhelming layers of samples, noise, and horn sections, "Wonderful" leans into a lush, shimmering psych-folk arrangement with tender vocals. It creates an audio landscape that matches the title perfectly—warm, beautiful, and completely at peace. 6. "Troubles" (2:34) A weary, deeply empathetic plea for connection and shared relief in a world overflowing with sadness, dishonesty, and emotional exhaustion. While much of Heroes to Zeros deals with anger, panic, and internal friction, "Troubles" shifts into a softer tone. Frontman Steve Mason uses a world-weary vocal delivery to offer a simple, childlike wish for world peace and mental reprieve. The song opens by contrasting a genuine desire for happiness with the harsh reality of everyday life: "Too many people, too many troubles / Too many mouths are lying" highlights the overwhelming weight of living in a cynical world, reflecting both industry frustrations and societal disillusionment. As an antidote to misery, the track yearns for a utopian pause on suffering—expressing a simple desire where "If everybody laughed for just one day / You know that'd make me happy" to break the cycle of sadness. The second verse shifts focus toward the marginalized and isolated ("all those lonely people"). Drawing on his own experiences with clinical depression, Mason frames the track as a comforting hand reaching out in the dark, reminding listeners that unexpected comfort may come from those right beside us. Musical "Troubles" functions as a calming comedown track on the album, trading aggressive guitar energy for a slow, hypnotic rhythm that mirrors a lullaby and transforms heavy lyrics into quiet hope. 7. "Out-Side" (4:06) Functions as a dizzying, manic-depressive look at creative block, overwhelming poverty, and the desperate yearning for simple mental freedom. The second single pulled from Heroes to Zeros—and the very last single the band ever released before their sudden breakup in August 2004—the track acts as a sonic and lyrical microcosm of everything they were struggling with at the end of their career. The song kicks off with frontman Steve Mason laying bare the immense pressure he felt to force out commercial music: "Tried to write a song today / The devil knows I couldn't get far / Went to the beach but I couldn't find a path..." The imagery is entirely about wandering aimlessly. He tries to look for inspiration at the beach, boards a train, and plans a flight, but everything leads to a dead end. It’s a direct confession of a songwriter whose creative well has dried up under the crushing weight of label demands. Amid this failure, his only anchor is the repeating mantra: "All the time I'm doing this I'm trying to get back to you / I love your way." Just as the song's energy shifts, Mason drops a brutally honest line masked in a catchy rhythm: "Wish I had a pot to piss in / I'd take it outside / I'd take it outside just to catch a little rain / Catch a little rain just to boil a little rice" This uses the classic idiom "not having a pot to piss in" to highlight their literal financial ruin. Despite critical acclaim and being featured on projects like 1001 Albums, the band famously owed their record label £1.2 million. The surreal imagery of going "out-side" just to collect rain to boil rice contrasts their status as famous rock musicians with their actual stark financial reality. The bridge of the song addresses the literal internal chaos of mental strain: "And the knocking in my cranium reminds me of a tribal drum / Basic sound, a simple feeling / Can we go or am I dreaming?" The "knocking in the cranium" serves as a metaphor for an overactive, anxious mind that cannot turn off. The chaotic arrangement—which features a "rainbow-hued splurge" of garage rock rhythms, layered vocal counterpoints, and bizarre sounds like barking dogs—musically mimics this feeling of a brain firing in every direction at once. "Out-Side" is about wanting to step outside of your own skull, your own financial ruin, and the traps of your own identity. It packages deep artistic exhaustion into a psych-pop track that is both brilliantly creative and deeply sad. 8. "Space Beatle" (3:40) So if you’re going to name a song “Space” it’s recommended not to have another song on the same album with a similar name unless confusion is your goal. The song is Beatle-esk so I think this was the homage. It functions as a hypnotic, bittersweet farewell track that addresses creative exhaustion, the finality of a relationship, and the acceptance of an ending. The title itself highlights the song's musical identity: it marries a sweeping, cosmic "space rock" atmosphere with vocal harmonies and keyboard arrangements heavily inspired by Brian Wilson and The Beatles. However, beneath the melodic, off-kilter groove, the lyrics carry a profound sense of resignation. The song repeats a wistful realization about time running out: "Just like yesterday / I'll never feel this way again / Just like yesterday / If I never see this face again" This serves as a heavy acknowledgment of the end of an era. Whether Steve Mason is singing about a dissolving romantic relationship or the imminent breakup of the band itself, there is a clear understanding that the passion and connection of the past cannot be recreated. Mason directly addresses his deteriorating mental state and the feeling of going through the motions to keep up appearances: "And I'm brain dead, I keep smiling / It's the action, oh, I'm hiding" captures the exhausting paradox of being a performer. Even when feeling entirely drained, hollow, or "brain dead" from the industry's pressures, he feels forced to put on a smile and hide his true emotional state behind a mask. The track features a fascinating meta-commentary on the band's own songwriting and imminent departure: "It's my last speech, I'm just dreaming / What I'm saying has no meaning" Critics from The A.V. Club point out that The Beta Band used repetition on this track to let phrases slowly warp and take on new emotional weights. By calling the song his "last speech" and claiming it has no meaning, Mason leans into a surrealist, dreamlike state, letting go of the need to explain himself to the world as the band reaches its finish line. The song dissolves into an incredibly long, chanted mantra: "I love you to pieces." Depending on how you interpret the delivery, this line is either intensely affectionate or deeply tragic. It signals a love so overwhelming that it fractures you, or a declaration of love directed at something that has already fallen to pieces. 9. "Rhododendron" (1:36) Instrumental – basically a mental break from the problems associated with the previous songs. 10. "Liquid Bird" (3:23) functions as an apocalyptic, existential trip that explores environmental destruction, the absurdity of human survival, and the looming finality of death. Musically, the song is famous for its frantic, driving rhythm built entirely around a prominent, brilliant sample of "Painted Bird" by Siouxsie and the Banshees. However, matching that post-punk urgency, frontman Steve Mason delivers some of the most surreal and dark lyrics on Heroes to Zeros. The Absurdity of Human Existence ("A Liquid Brain") The song opens with a bizarre, psychedelic imagery cycle "Is this the legend of a liquid brain? / You're just a turtle spinning in space." By reducing a human being to a "turtle spinning in space," Mason leans into existential dread. The "liquid brain" implies a state of mental melting or overload—someone who has lost their grounding entirely and is looking down at human life as a trivial, cosmic accident. The track shifts focus onto a bleak, decaying planet where humanity is regressing to basic, violent survival instincts: "We never guessed that the world would end / Drinking on the beach and we're driving on the land / How far can a man go / Crawling on his elbows, falling through his windows?" paints a picture of a modern society completely caught off guard by its own downfall because people were too busy distracting themselves ("drinking on the beach"). The visceral image of a man crawling on his elbows and falling through windows symbolizes a total loss of dignity, a chaotic breakdown of a comfortable life, and the desperate struggle to survive in a ruined environment. The emotional climax of the song abandons the abstract metaphors for a stark, repeating question about what happens when the ride is over: "Is it true what they say / About life when you're dead? / 'Cause I'm going away... About the curtains that close when you're going away?" Given that Heroes to Zeros was the final album before the band split up, the phrase "I'm going away" and the metaphor of the "curtains that close" feels incredibly prophetic. It represents an acceptance of finality—whether asking about literal physical death, or looking ahead to the imminent end of The Beta Band as they close the curtain on their career. "Liquid Bird" masterfully bridges its musical origins (the sampled "Painted Bird") with the theme of melting away. The track captures a frantic panic about the end of the world, packaged as a high-energy indie-disco track. 11. "Simple" (3:47) emotional, devastatingly honest emotional peak of Heroes to Zeros. Placed right at the end of the album as the penultimate track, it abandons the band's typical dense metaphors to present a heartbreakingly literal confession about extreme isolation, loneliness, and the bitter cost of choosing artistic independence. The song opens with frontman Steve Mason mapping out a stark, painfully specific scenario of being left behind: "It's a Tuesday night and I can't be / With the people that I love tonight / Left me alone and I can't forgive them / I guess I'll be on my own" Unlike other tracks where the lyrics feel cosmic or surreal, this is a raw, diary-like entry. It captures the heavy resentment of sitting alone in a room on a random weekday night, unable to connect with loved ones, and realizing that a barrier has formed between himself and the rest of society. The song builds toward its most famous, devastatingly insightful lyric—one that music critics often point to as the definitive summary of the band's entire career: "I tried to see it their way, I tried to be alone / I tried to do my own thing / But the trouble with your own thing / Is you end up on your own" This is the ultimate thematic realization of Heroes to Zeros. The Beta Band spent their entire career fiercely doing "their own thing," stubbornly refusing to make easy commercial pop music, alienating music executives, and fighting for absolute creative control. While that made them legendary indie heroes, Mason realizes the dark flipside: absolute independence leads to absolute isolation. By prioritizing their unique vision above all else, they accidentally cut themselves off from everyone else, leaving them physically and emotionally stranded. Mason frantically repeats a single, haunting phrase like a radio transmitter screaming into the dark: "Can you hear me? Can you hear me?" [1] (https://genius.com/The-beta-band-simple-lyrics)It serves as a literal cry for help, a plea to know if anyone out there in the world is actually listening, understanding, or feeling the same pain. "Simple" strips away the complex electronic loops and chaotic samples that defined the rest of the album, opting instead for a straightforward, melancholic acoustic rhythm. It stands as a tragic, beautiful exit interview for a band that knows its insistence on being unique has finally broken them apart 12. "Pure For" (3:55) serves as the understated, atmospheric closer to Heroes to Zeros, functioning as a quiet sigh of relief, a moment of profound gratitude for love, and the ultimate acceptance of the band’s impending end. After all the sonic turbulence, anger, financial despair, and existential panic found across the rest of the album, "Pure For" strips the noise away for a trip-hop-influenced, "gossamer" psych-folk lullaby. A peaceful resolution to a chaotic journey. The song opens with a classic Steve Mason juxtaposition—recognizing that beauty exists even when you are too broken to see it: "Beautiful things it seems to be / Go on all around me / I'm so blind, I can't see / What's going on behind me" Throughout the album, the narrator has been blinded by paranoia, industry cynicism, and depression. Here, he admits his lack of awareness but pivots immediately to salvation, repeating like a mantra: "I'm so blind, I can't see... I'm so glad you found me." It’s an acknowledgment that despite going "round the bend," a stabilizing, loving force stepped in to pull him back to reality. As the track floats along its chill, hypnotic beat, Mason whispers an existential question that ties back to the mental instability explored earlier in the album: "Back of my mind starts to feel / Are these things really real?" When you're dealing with dissociation (as tracked in "Easy" and "Space"), distinguishing between internal panic and external reality is a battle. But the song resolves this doubt in the next verse: "Things are real and saw again / Least I know I got your name / Find the girl that's full of hugs / Calling you the gold dust" Finding this specific person—described beautifully as "the gold dust"—acts as an anchor. Even if everything else in his life (the band, the money, the career) is slipping away to "zero," knowing her name and feeling her presence makes reality safe again. Musically and contextually, "Pure For" is a gorgeous way to close the curtain. It feels like an Elliott Smith-esque delivery about being genuinely grateful for love, no matter how briefly or late it was found. By ending their final studio album not with a chaotic explosion, but with the repeated, peaceful chant of "I'm so glad you found me," The Beta Band leaves the listener on a note of pure, unadulterated comfort. They lost the industry battle, but they saved their sanity through human connection.

Album 313. Heroes to Zeros — The Beta Band (2004) I don't know. It feels shitty and forgettable, but I liked it at the moment — probably my mind was hazy before morning coffee. I'm recalling the album and it's not really good. But not total crap too. I don't want another spin, that much I'm sure of 3/5 Liked: — Space

I forgot this band even existed. Holds up tho! That early 00s sound.

Not bad

Interesting and different. It was original and kind of catchy. I enjoyed the electronica and alternative vibes.

Glad to have heard this.

Actually listened. Despite it's bullshit presentation it wasn't that bad at all. Still though, one of those that raises several questions about this challenge as a whole. Like I actually explored the rest of the Beta Band stuff and they have way better albums, but even with those I feel like I could ignore them for my whole life and not feel like I am missing out. Probably could be three stars or two stars. Perfectly inoffensive. Actually kind of nice at times. Might dock a star because of the worst cover art I've ever seen. 1001 is a big number.

I could tell early on that it wasn't something that I was gonna want to spend time listening to. Not the worst thing ever though

Kaare Andrews is an award winning comic book artist. We all have off days. Dave McCaig, another award winner, designed the logo on one of his off days. Radiohead chose Beta as their support act. Three off days in a row. At least the band were aware of what they were doing and declared one of their earlier recording as “fucking awful” couldn’t have put it better myself.

Pop, Rock, 2004 -> 2

a fun quirky ride through some late 90's style stuff that ended up in the 2000's. Some tunes are too Cold Play-ish. Not sure why this made the 1001 album list

I hate shitty '00s indie rock more than most indie rock.

Are they called The Beta Band because all of their songs sound like beta testing? Favorite Track: "Lion Thief".

It was good. Will have to remember them for a playlist

Some pretty decent tracks but so basic and just meh overall

This doesn't really catch me. Except for a couple of the songs, this is just another album from the pub speakers in the background.

It's just some kind of dull, boring nothing. It's so dreary that I just want to turn it off.

"Heroes to Zeros" is another well-crafted entry on the 1001 Albums list - recognisably well-produced, arranged, and performed, yet it leaves me asking why it holds a place here. Granted, it is a solid record that avoids obvious rock tropes by incorporating a varied blend of sounds, but at no point does it stir the depth of feeling or inspiration that would make it truly essential. Three stars. 1 "Assessment" (3/5) 2 "Space" (3/5) 3 "Lion Thief" (3/5) 4 "Easy" (3/5) 5 "Wonderful" (3/5) 6 "Troubles" (3/5) 7 "Out-Side" (3/5) 8 "Space Beatle" (3/5) 9 "Rhododendron" (3/5) 10 "Liquid Bird" (3/5) 11 "Simple" (3/5) 12 "Pure For" (3/5) Total - 36 Average - 3.0 418/1001 219/418 albums reviewed were new to me.

Hadn't heard this album of theirs. They do a good job of hypnotizing you with an electro lofi rock groove.

My review for this album submitted really quickly. I wonder why?

Not quite three eps but damn fine nonetheless

"Arguably one of the most acclaimed and loved bands of all time..." Arguably indeed. Not horrible, but found it quite boring.

The first thing I heard on this album were echoes of XTC, a band I really like, but less theatrical. It's definitely experimental, but within the confines of indie / pop music, fusioned with Trip-hop. The album cover HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MUSIC. If anything, the album could serve as the soundtrack of the aftermath of that scene.

4/5

Interesting sound had never heard of them before.

The "To Zeros " is an apt description not sure about the Heroes part. Pretty mid overall.

A mix of electronica and gentle rock. It wasn't terrible but wasn't very interesting either. The sound and vibe feel like they have promise but none of the songs hooked me.

Why is this so good

Real nice at the beginning. After that, it gets progressively weird with the love. And after it just gets weird. But after all, it does have some pretty nice uncommon sounds.

7/10 pretty good didnt expect such music from a band thats called the beta band

Opdager ikke nye genrer men gør det kompakt at blande instrumenter og genrer. De forener både hiphop, rock, elektronisk, trip hop alt muligt sammen og hvad end der lige passer dem, men gør det stadig på en måde hvor det er godt at høre på.

A few decent grooves but mostly boring and unadventurous. Largely forgettable. 3/5

Just more BritSlop

This album is bad. Not Duck Stab bad but bad anyway. The most interesting part of it is the album cover art. It sounds super generic, throws in some half assed chiptune, and then seems to be vaguely Pixies-esque? It's also terribly mixed - the vocals get lost often and the bass sounds really muddy. This list includes two albums by this band, while it includes none from: Wayne Shorter J Dilla The Meters Nancy Wilson Louis Armstrong Weezer Chuck Berry Diana Ross Eric B and Rakim Patsy Cline No Doubt Whitney Houston I'm beginning to suspect the authors of the book have never listened to music from outside the UK.

Mid

I'll give it the same score I gave their other album since it's got a similar vibe. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. It took a little bit for this album to find its footing for me. I think “Assessment” is a solid track that shouldn’t have opened the album, as its first half just doesn’t feel like a good tonesetter for the entire thing, and its back half feels a bit jarringly energetic as a result. I think it should’ve gone after ““Space” feels a bit too abstract as a second track, and something about it just didn’t click for me, even with a solid atmosphere. As someone that liked “Hot Shots II”, I had a bit of fear that the lower rating here would be justified, as nothing in the first two tracks had really pulled me in quite the same way. However, much like “Hot Shots II”, this overcomes an awkward tonesetter & really comes into its own. “Lion Thief” should’ve been the opener, as it showcases a lot of the genre-mixing versatility that defines this album. It starts with a normal guitar melody, before dropping into a bit of an ‘80s new wave tone (ala the Human League) blended with a baroque ‘60s guitar & a slight breakbeat. That combination manages to naturally fit together, and it’s complemented with the same sort of hypnotic psychedelic vocals that made “Hot Shots II” a compelling listen. This album subsequently leads into a wider variety of genres that arguably makes it even better than “Hot Shots II”. “Easy” is practically just a Beck track. “Wonderful” captures the mood of a guy stuck in eternal longing with a really solid atmospheric loop. “Troubles” is very Beatles-y in its optimism. “Out-Side” feels like that one Elvis remix in the early 2000s with a slight Britpop lean. “Space Beatle” brings back the repetition of “Hot Shots II”, though with some extra melting involved in the soundscape (& a bassline that’s oddly reminiscent of “Sweet Child O’ Mine”). “Rhododendron” is practically a short ‘70s Eno track. “Liquid Brain” is… jarring as hell with the vibe shift, but once you settle into its wall of sound & movie trailer energy, I think it’s just sonically interesting enough to work. It’s definitely the most out there track though. “Simple” is the most traditionally structured song on the album, with a very slight Oasis meets Sting vibe underneath it; it clicked for me well on account of some straightforward lyrics & well-paced percussion. “Pure For” is a really chill closer, mixing some trip-hop energy with an Elliott Smith-esque delivery about being grateful for love, no matter how briefly it was found. Overall, I think it’s an album that you have to be in a specific mood for; the genre-blending here is done to emphasize a more relaxed vibe that’s meant to contrast with slightly more worried lyrics. The thematic link here is a desire to not lose what he’s gained; in other words, to not go from a hero to a zero. I think for this album to be at its most effective, you do have to have a bit of yearning in the brain. Even then, it’s an album that’ll manage to evoke that yearning if you give it just enough respect to do so. Those first two tracks are probably the reason that this is at a 2.9, as they just don’t set the right tone. However, if you get past them & really hear this out, I think it ends up being pretty good. Hence, for me, it’s a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. I’m glad it’s on the list.

this is a positive 3 stars not an ambivalent 3 stars

I like this album. I don't think it's as good as their second album (Hot Shots II), and I may even still like their "3 EP's" release the most. However, this is a very good album, and I think it's worth a 3.5 or 4 stars.

2 out of 5. Unfortunately the album art was more exciting than the music.

As far as I’m concerned, The Beta Band have one utterly excellent song in “Dry The Rain” but nothing else that is of the same level. I’m still of the same opinion having listened to this. I like the Beta Band. I like the singer’s voice. I like that they were quite experimental. But when I listen to them it just washes over me and becomes background music. It’s fine and I hope to return to them and give them another chance. Maybe one day I’ll get into it. But for the moment… it’s fine.

Really enjoyed this, a nice eclectic mix but its own thing as well.

Some of it was kinda fun but overall not necessary

New band to me! Pretty good. For a long time I was stuck in this 1980’s music rut. It’s been fun finding my way out.

As enticing as a semi-deflated bouncy house.

I guess

Overlong, some interesting stuff

new to me, didn't grab, monotone droning

Didn't expect much from the band name/album cover, but wouldn't you know it, I ended up having a great time. Early aughts rock seems to have a fond place in my heart. 3.75 rounded down to 3. Favorite tracks: Lion Thief ; Troubles

Honestly enjoyed this far more than I thought I would. I see "British" and assume the worst but it seems like by the early 2000s the British learned how to make some actual music. 3.5 rounded to 4.

Blah. One star

sounds like something dads would love

not bad actually

The vibes are great with this one (+1) Listened to it while sitting in rush hour traffic (-1) The album picked up the tempo right as the traffic cleared (+3)!

3/5

. Their other album on this list had more variety. Super bland. Not offensive but remarkably unremarkable.

This was great. For some reason I liked this a lot better than my other Beta Band album. I can't pick any individual song that I would be like, "Yes this song is amazing I'm going to put it on a playlist." However, the album as a whole was a great listen and one that I'd definitely put on again. 8/3/26

ugly ahh album cover but the songs aren't half bad

There’s another Beta Band album here? Kind of surprised. I remember the first being alright, but pretty bland. …What do you know, that applies to this one, too! It’s a little disappointing in that there are good ideas and moments here, but those aren’t indicative of the work as a whole. Favorites: Lion Thief, Wonderful

Very beautiful and relaxing listen

Absolutely gorgeous and unexpected

It’s fine I suppose but it doesn’t really stand out for me among other 2000s indie rock, I may have even seen them live at some point but they’re just not that memorable to me. Absolutely not something that I needed to hear before I die, even if I had died before getting it on this list I would have died not sure if I had heard this before, since it’s so forgettable. Was going to give it a 3 to symbolise how middling it is but all the 5/5 reviews need balance. 5/5, really? One of the best albums you have ever heard? It wasn’t even one of the best albums of the year it was released in, behave yourselves.

I completely missed The Beta Band when they came onto the scene in the late 90s and early 2000s. They’re one of those bands I’ve always been aware of and wanted to properly explore, so I was looking forward to finally giving Heroes to Zeros a listen today. Unfortunately, it turns out I don't think I've missed out on much. I found this album incredibly average. There's nothing particularly bad about it, but there's also very little that grabbed me or made me understand what all the fuss was about. It has that familiar early-2000s indie sound, but rather than feeling distinctive or interesting, much of it came across as quite generic and forgettable. The musicianship is perfectly fine and there are occasional interesting sounds and ideas in the production, but none of them develop into songs that really stick with you. It just seems to drift along at the same level, and by the end I struggled to remember much of what I'd actually listened to. Maybe I need to explore some of their earlier work to understand why The Beta Band were so highly regarded, but based purely on Heroes to Zeros, I'm not particularly inspired to dig much deeper. Very average and not an album I can see myself returning to. Favourite tracks: Nothing really stood out enough for me to pick a favourite. Least favourite tracks: Nothing was offensively bad, but that was almost the problem. Too much of the album blended into one fairly forgettable indie sound. Album artwork: Very cool cover. There's loads going on and plenty to look at.

Not sure this is one of the 1001 best albums ever

Really didn't enjoy this one. Something about the dissonant droning of the vocals just really didn't appeal to me.

Reading about the band, this was their final album because the lead thought it was a failure. It's worth a listen and if I we're into the club scene I'd stop in to listen to them live.

Kooky and cool.

I've never heard of this group before, but they are really fun! I like how they sound big through the use of other "Big Band instruments." It was a lot of fun! They had a lot of diversity in genres/styles in their music which was awesome! They sound really tight as a unit Solid 3 or 3.5 Liked Songs: "Assessment" , "Lion Thief" , "Troubles" , "Out-Side" , "Space Beatle" , "Simple" , "Pure For"

there are some really cool psychedelic moments on here but they are sometimes few and far between and broken up by some very middling atmospheric psych. it's definitely not bad, but i feel like it could have been helped if the band sounded a little less bored.

Nice concept

I have a sneaking suspicion that Dry the Rain is their one decent song.

The songs ‘Out-Side’ and ‘Liquid Bird’ were good and catchy. Rest was decent but not great.

Not groundbreaking stuff, but I did enjoy listening to it. Pleasant tunes. I really liked Out-Side and Space Beatle! Almost enough to take it to 4 stars, but I'll stick with 3.5.

There is nothing about this that makes it stand out as exceptional. I am by no means a music critic, but I have enough self awareness to know when my own emotional connection to something is colouring my opinion. Something it seems the critics informing this list were sorely lacking.

I’ll echo everyone else: why is this on the list? Seems like they’re doing a half-hearted revue of their various influences. Should’ve stuck with at least trying to rock out (“Assessment”, “Out-Side”, maybe “Liquid Bird”).

it wasnt bad i suppose, if it had been Id have remembered. As it was I have totally forgotten it.

This sounds like it has so much potential. There's some cool experimentation in here, nice sounds. It's really boring though and somehow disappointing for a band I've never even heard of.

wel prima, beetje saai en vergeetachtig

I'm listening to this for the first time. What's this, Beach Boys of the Highlands? Not bad but I don't think I'll come back to it again.

Fun, eclectic sound.

# Album Name: Heroes to Zeros # Artist: Beta Band # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Just alright. Shouldnt be on the list. # Top Tunes: Assessment / Space Beetle # Would I listen to it again? No

I liked some of the weirdness but it got to be a bit too much after a while

Listens: 3 I, like seemingly everyone else, had also never heard of this band, and while I'm still skeptical of this album's inclusion on any iteration of this list, it is a fun and interesting album I'm glad to have had come my way. While decidedly clunky and not entirely cohesive, it sounds on the whole like a strange mix of Britpop and amateurish indietronica. If this had come out a decade earlier I'd have said it was ahead of its time, but this was 2004, several years after the Notwist album Neon Golden that Heroes to Zeroes feels like it's trying to forge a path to. I love an album that's all over the place sonically, but something about this album feels like they're not sure where they stand. Perhaps it's that the pure-Britpop "Assessment" starts off the album on the wrong foot, a good song but a poor indication of what's to come. Perhaps it's the fact that the disparate elements don't always cohere, though sometimes (on "Lion Thief", for instance, or "Liquid Bird") I find this charming, intimate. Or perhaps it's the nagging feeling that, whatever they're doing, The Notwist (or Pulp et al.) already did it better. Ultimately it's hit-or-miss for me, but the hits are pretty great, if not spectacular. The misses drag the album down (the insipid vocals of "Wonderful", the oops-don't-forget-we-still-like-Britpop "Out-Side") but there's enough to like besides that'll keep this album in rotation for me a bit longer.

This band has some songs I enjoy, like “Out-Side” on this album. The rest is ok and I wouldn’t necessarily choose to listen, which is fine; I can give it a 3* and move on. But how can this obscure (at best) band have 2 albums on this list? Does anyone list them as an influence? This is baffling

Once beta band album was all I could muster.

I was one of those people who ran out to get The Beta Band's first album after watching that awesome scene in High Fidelity. My memory of that album was disappointment, as the rest of the album wasn't as awesome as that one song. I was uncertain how this listen would be today, given that and the fact that I never listened to that album again. Initially I was quite optimistic. I liked Assessment and Space. But then there was a long stretch of songs I didn't care for at all. The only other song I liked was Simple. I came to the conclusion that I liked the songs that reminded me of Flaming Lips, which is cool but isn't really a compliment in the end. Not a huge disappointment, but not what I hoped with a strong start. But now at least I'm feeling the same way I already had about The Beta Band.

Great album. The Beta Band loves make creepy and weird music, and I’m all for it. The first couple songs really caught me off guard. I was hoping the rest of the album would be as consistent, but it was all still good.

i liked 'lion thief' and 'rhododendron'

can i stop getting the most boring indie records whenever i get one? like this is so painfully mid and boring to me. i feel like half the issue is the production is just really bad on this, if the guitars were higher up in the mix i could see this being quite a bit more enjoyable but idk. 2/5, really unimpressive and boring

Rarí, no me parece terrible pero tampoco me gusta la onda

наконец-то ОС годы! ну кроме известной мне остальные без близкого знакомства кажутся повторяющимися. хот чип напомнило в их меланхоличные времена

I was so so in the first song, “Assessment,”but I liked “Space.” The album snuck up on me. I enjoyed it. Just enough interesting music and beats it made soothing sounding voice of Steven Mason stand out rather than fading into the background. Rhododendron was charming little musical bit. “Pure For” was a lovely ending to the album.

6/10

not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue

This is one of the biggest "if" albums I have ever heard. It has some really cool ideas and has all the pieces to be a good album theoretically, but it just comes out boring and bland. All of these ideas have been done better by others who came before and after.

Baby Radiohead with a solid effort. What I love about this album is is easy to enjoy and it’s interesting.

More zero here

Could have been zero

There are good ideas here, but I don’t think the band commits hard enough to selling them. Not a big fan of the vocalist either. I liked the song Out-Side.

8/10

Yeah

This is my 4th album from the 2000s in a row and unfortunately they have all been mid. Even better, this is from another British band that has two albums on this list despite not really needing to have any. It was fine idk. Favorite track: Easy

la verdad me gusto mucho. lo disfrute todos los temas, me lo guardo al disco. es un 3.5

I forgot I was listening to it.

It just all sounded the same and I am not sure why it's on this list tbh.

Not a song. Not one song will be remotely remembered from this album. This is a record full of attempts to make popular, catchy, memorable music. Every attempt is a failure. A bad case of Pink Floyd influence translated into 2000’s pop rock on “Troubles” and “Out-Side” sealed the deal for me. I would never wish anyone such struggles, but this band having disbanded due to owing their label money after lack of success makes all the sense in the world to me. There isn’t an admirable or even notable quality to this project. It’s just a shortcoming. 1/5

I've complained before that there are too many British bands on this list ... and there are. But somehow I don't mind so much with this album. The Beta Band's sound owes a lot to the 60s, which worked for me, and there are some really nice melodies throughout this album.

This wasn’t bad. A few weird songs in here, but overall a typical three star album for me.

Pretty good. Deserves a closer relisten.

I liked this more than I thought I would. The songs were laid-back, but never boring. Once I got on a similar wavelength the songs were pretty thoughtful and enjoyable. Space Beatle stood out the most on the first listen. I might throw this on more in the future.

Not bad

Sounds like the Beasties on Quaaludes.

Not bad

Hup outta dat yah boyos

Vergetenswaardig

Did all early 00s indie bands really sound the same? I spent the entire album wondering if I had heard of these before but came to the conclusion I hadn’t and it was just a hybrid of other bands I have listened to for example the likes of Elbow and Snow Patrol amongst others. The album passed by easily and musically had moments of great and some moments of meh but other all was just very generic of the era. Favourite song - ‘liquid bird’ Worst track- ‘wonderful’ Generic- however what I enjoy and my era of getting into music so sounded like a lot of what I enjoy- 8.5/10

Beta Band - Heroes to Zeros A very British album. Threads of celtic prog/folk too me back to that Incredible String Band album this list threw at us. Take a trip from there via John Cale and Super Furry Animals, drop in a sprinkle of George Harrison and it should be a winner. But it never grabbed me unfortunately. I like the 'twinkly tracks' more then the rocky tracks. So Lion Thief, Wonderful, Simple, Pure For & Troubles were the ones I enjoyed the most. Particularly the last of those. Space Beatle, on the other hand, was a bit of a drag. And the rest. Just a bit meh. 6/10 - disappointed as I'd read so much great stuff about Beta Band.

Pleasant enough but nothing really stood out that much and by the end I couldn’t really tell if I’d particularly liked any of the songs. Nothing bad but equally nothing exceptional.

I have always liked the vibe of the The Beta Band but only really enjoyed the 3 songs ep. Not sure if I ever listened to this album before but it was an enjoyable experience, very chilled, very cool. Not sure many of the individual songs will stick with me but definitely worth further listening.

They are a great band, especially live. Is this their best album, no. For me there was always an innovative sparkiness even in their more mellow hours. The mellow songs here are perhaps just a bit too bland. That being said there are some high points. It feels like what it was really, and end of an era. Scrapes a 4.

This was good. Not amazing though. Some bangers and some misses. 3/5

Another album that I’m not sure why it was included. Left no impression on me at all

Nothing special

I knew this was music for nerds before I even looked at the album cover. This is music for nerds. Impossible to overcome. Rounding up because I suppose it’s not their fault necessarily

I have such low expectations for this. Ok, so that first track wasn't half bad. The ones after that either. But nothing so far has left a mark. This is pretty inoffensive music, with some interesting developments here or there, but nothing that sticks out as great, or worthy of the name of this list. The vocals get old after a while. I quite like Space Beatle though! I also didn't get the whole superhero thing? Possibly (and probably) due to the fact that I did not that much attention to the lyrics, but the whole thing flew over my head. Oh well. For most of the album, while I wasn't outright disliking what I was listening to, I wasn't also enjoying it either. It was mostly just happening. Again, not bad, but not that good either. Just meh. I can see why someone would like this. That someone is just not me.

I _think_ I've heard _of_ this band, but I'm not sure I've heard any of their music. So this is definitely my first time listening to this album and I'm going into it mostly blind. I don't know, is there something I'm not understanding here? Why is this album on this list? It's not very good. And it really feels like it drags on towards the end and overstays its welcome.

I listened to the Beta Band and every song was about you.

Really sweet ❤️"Space Beetle", "Rhododendron", "Simple", and "Pure For" ❤️❤️❤️ Thank you for finding me... ❤️

Never heard of this band before and now I know why. This was so uneventful and boring. Definitely not an album I needed to listen to before I die. Nigel Godrich should stick to producing Radiohead albums. 5/10

It's fine. The longer it went on the less I liked it.

Another very mediocre British pop album. The experimental sound is reminiscent of the Super Furry Animals, but these guys seem unable to write any compelling songs to match it.

I love it. Don't know whether it's nostalgia or something else, but I always felt like they were a band trying to (somewhat successfully) appeal to ME.

a Scottish band that dabbled in folk, trip hop, electronic, rock, and psychedelica that produced a total of 3 albums, this is the final album produced by the band before financial difficulties forced the band to break up in 2024. Groovy drum machine parts mixed with folk-influenced guitar and lyrical progression mixed with unexpected introduction of other instruments that create a groovy atmosphere.

Aight

This was all over the place sonically. Felt like they were trying a bunch of different shit and it got convoluted. Still great at some parts but in totality it was some mid.

This is drinking a warm, flat soda on a hot day.

Doesn't do a lot for me. There are a few interesting moments here and there, and nothing is truly off-putting about it. It's just not something I'd ever see myself reaching for to listen to.

Wow did this album surprise me. My first thought when I saw it was, oh no more Britpop but I was happily incorrect. It’s jampacked with ideas, way too many, the ones that land are gorgeous. Some of the songs will start out all over the place, not sure where they’re going and then all of a sudden it shifts to some some fantastic hook or melodic orchestration.

forgettable

Really liked this one.

I feel like when I started this list, that Friday's always produced a classic or new discovery. I feel like I haven't had a good Friday in a long time. Not even halfway through this list, and the overwhelming amount of bad albums is wearing on me. The positive part, is now I can see if there are multiple albums on the list by a particular artist. Not a shocker when they put one bad album on here, there is always another. So my plan going forward, is to just get as many of these soso albums out of the way. So I listened to both of the albums on this list and it just makes me question why even one made it, and completely baffled why two make the list. I am not sure what I am listening to anymore, but there have been too many of these post-90s bands that really aren't doing anything new, what I am now calling scrapyard albums, that just pick up whatever pieces from the past they can to throw on to an album.

An interesting collision of styles

J’avoue gros jugement sur la couverture mais écouter cet album au réveil c’est merveilleux ! Il bouge tout en restant doux, c’est une belle découverte !

Never heard of this group or album but loved it! Once again like nothing I've ever heard. Pure for wonderful and lion thief were all stand outs for me

The band split 4 months after this Album. That's everything you need to know...

I've listened to this album twice, and tried to find something redeeming to write about it. It's boring. It is likely the blandest alt-rock album to come out of the 90's. I remember none of it, and hope to never hear anything by the Beta Band again, but I know I will. Zeros is right. If I could only give this album zero stars. But I can't, so.... My Rating: 1/5

from the movie "High Fidelity" starring John Cusak...... Rob: I will now sell five copies of the 3 E.P.s by The Beta Band. Dick: Go for it. [Rob plays the record] Customer: Who is this? Rob: The Beta Band. Customer: It's good. Rob: I know. it's an OK album. there's some good tunes but some that just is background music.

This was a fun listen! Every song was unique and interesting. His voice wasn't great and got monotonous after a while, but kept me entertained.

Liked it. Fast moving. Loved the alblum art. The music lived up to the alblum art. Would not be surprised if another Beta Band alblum was on the list. Very solid 3.

Really enjoyed this album. They reminded me of another band that I like, but I cannot put my fingers on it.

I'm positively surprised by this album as a moody alternative rock album with some shoegaze and psychdelic elements.

I should like this more, but it's only so-so

First tracks were fun but I don’t know…

can see why they are the beta band.

Not great

I describe so many of these albums as boring and forgettable that I feel like my reviews are boring and forgettable.

Sounds like a band you would hear busking in the park. You might think, good for them, and move on with your life.

As an avid listener of alternative music growing up, I always get nervous when I've never even heard of a band. Some times its because of my ignorance, but I'd like to consider myself well versed in the alternative world. This album was completely unremarkable in every way. I cannot figure out what is influential about it, but maybe it will take a few listens.

No me he guardado ninguna canción. No suena mal, pero creo que no llega a ser algo distintivo. En vista a que he subido el rating le daré 3 estrellas, pero es un 2,5.

Not so note worthy, I somehow ended up reading some comments beforehand and I kind of agree with them now. The ones with an interesting vibe were Lion Thief, Space and Liquid Bird. The rest is pretty ambience for a coffee shop.

I've always enjoyed the Beta Band for their scruffy, tuneful electronica-folk rock sound. They've got a pleasing amiable vibe about them and this is probably their most accessible album. It kicks off with one of their best and most rollicking songs, "Asessment." Some of the songs start to blend into one another but it's a fun and diverse ride. They called it a day after this album but they went out on a high note. Adding a half star for a fantastic album cover.

[second album received by The Beta Band] Again, this band feels like it could have been created by an algorithm. Like Hot Shots II, it is quirky, enjoyable enough, and interesting. However, it doesn't have a soul. After the first few songs, it all sort of blanded together. Again, not horrible, yet only remarkable in its generic tone. The band remains a beta for me.

High quality, if unexciting, enjoyable indie rock.

British, more accurate Scottish 90s indie rock in the 2000s. All relevant 60s influences present, add some pseudo PF prog. An ok enough listen, well made and produced if somewhat, no completely not essential. Just another in a long list of bands that are a pastiche. And as a pastiche doesn't exclude it. Songs don't have punch enough to be remembered so no idea why needed to hear, though as said it's ok, but there are a 100 albums each year that are ok, do nothing to move the dial and don't need to be on this list. 2.5 Star

It’s ok

The Brit slant to this entire list is overwhelming now, I can't tell you how many weak ass tiny albums from Suffolk, Cotswold, Essex, Dinglebury and the rest of the Shire that I've had to suffer through already. Beta Band has a couple good songs ("Dry The Rain"), but they're not on this album. They're not bad, they're just average. Nothing about this album is ground breaking, not a single hit song, barely moves the needle for listener counts, and much of it sounds the same. The guitar work and groove of "Space" is easily the coolest thing on the album. "Wonderful" was not wonderful. "Space Beatle" was boring. I oddly enjoyed "Pure For", just a nice song and it fits their sound. This album gives off the vibe of a movie soundtrack that's playing during a scene you're interested in, but the music in the background is an afterthought ("Troubles") and you don't really pay attention to it. Great cover, a bit misleading as it's way cooler than the album is. Try "The Three EP's" or "Hot Shots II" for a better intro to The Beta Band. I like being introduced to bands I don't know but the list is becoming a joke. What was the author hearing that the rest of us don't? This album has merit but it's not a 5 star listen or a must-hear before you die kinda release. I'm going to give it 3 stars, just too vanilla for more than that.

Really interesting. I'll listen again!

Some examples: Elvis Presley, Bill Cosby, and Michael Jackson.

I guess it’s fine. Very middle of the road. Nothing really stands out or makes me want to listen again

Some very cheap-looking cover art. The music is better-produced than the cover suggests, but it's very boring, slightly ethereal, indie pop rock. Like another recent offering from this list from the very same year, The Libertines, I feel that this music has mainly been written and performed to get the band laid, but the strategy this time is to show off their sensitive souls. I can only hope it worked, because I am not getting much out of this, and the best I can say is that it did not actually offend me.

Honk shoo miimiimiimii

yet another potential saviour of rock and roll. not sure wether they could live up to the name… also this isn’t even a number one album on the uk charts. anyway. some of the ideas are nice but it made me lost some times. 3/5.

Pretty alright, interesting to see how the band describe their album on Wikipedia. Lion Thief was my favorite, but it sounded the same throughout to me. 5.5/10

I don't know why but I just don' tlike it

It's as though they aren't capable of pushing songs beyond the 1 interesting idea that they started with. Pretty much every song sounded kinda interesting at first, but then just kept repeating the same thing over & over without going anywhere else. Kinda fits the album title, I suppose. A fairly forgettable listen, but not terrible.

Strong album. Maybe their most commercial sounding ‘rock’ album. Not their best. But still enough going on to make it stand out from the crowd. Talented guys. Must look into some of Steve Mason’s solo stuff. Looking forward to seeing them live next month. So will be listening again. 3.8.

Jolly enough after the trauma of The Residents, if a little forgettable / samey. Probably needs more listens to be honest.

It's not quite the 3 EPs, but there are enough glimpses of it (Wonderful, Simple..) to push this into 4* territory for me.

I’d not paid enough attention to these guys going into this album, and came out knowing I’d be exploring more. Lovely chilled vibes throughout. Interesting soundscapes. I think we are looking at a late morning slot at the mythical Café Kelvinos.

Piatto e ripetitivo. Non mi ha detto niente

Really see what people say about this list having a lot of "generic, boring British music." I think I just kind of like this type of music! And I really loved this album - I think I honestly will add it to my rotation, it just has great vibes. I might just be in a really good mood today, who knows and who cares!

Boring. Not impressed.

Was going to go on a diatribe about the amount of albums on this list that don’t seem to have a point of difference to other better known artists doing essentially the same thing, but then realised it’s Sunday and I’m probably just salty about going to work tomorrow. Anyway this album is fine, it’s rock from 2000’s and it doesn’t suck, but I could probably scratch that itch by listening to Kasabian or Franz Ferdinand

Has kind of a cool psychedlic sound to start the album off. That carries on through the album. I like this one, I'll go back to it. 4/5

**Heroes to Zeros** (2004) is the third and final studio album by Scottish avant-indie collective **The Beta Band**, released on Regal Recordings and later included in the book *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die* . Produced by the band themselves and mixed by Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck), it represents both a consolidation of their eclectic sound and a frustrated attempt at commercial breakthrough before their eventual dissolution. Here is an in-depth review across all requested dimensions. --- ### Music & Production The album marks a deliberate pivot toward **song-based rock structures** while retaining the band’s signature sonic patchwork. Where earlier work like *The 3 EPs* (1998) reveled in meandering lo-fi dub and *Hot Shots II* (2001) leaned on breakbeat loops, *Heroes to Zeros* cranks up the guitars and introduces tighter arrangements . **Key sonic elements:** - **"Assessment"** opens with an insistent, buzzing guitar riff and deep rolling bass before exploding into a three-part horn-led wig-out, earning comparisons to the best of Ian Brown’s solo work . - **"Space"** layers squelching synth bass against dreamy, counterpointed vocals with a krautrock rhythmic clatter . - **"Out-Side"** (titled "Pot Pissin'" in the lyric sheet) is uncharacteristically aggressive, verging on mosh-worthy rock dynamics . - **"Liquid Bird"** samples Siouxsie and the Banshees’ "Painted Bird" and filters it through a hectic, disco-inflected pulse . - **"Wonderful"** and **"Troubles"** retreat into the stoned, swelling psychedelic balladry the band excelled at, reminiscent of Spiritualized . The production is notably **dense and echoey**. Nigel Godrich’s mixing touch—while technically proficient—has been criticized for lending a strangely unemotional, mid-period Pink Floyd sheen to the multi-tracked vocals, occasionally smothering the band’s organic quirks . Frontman Steve Mason later expressed regret over the band self-producing, stating, *"We shouldn't have produced it ourselves, and if you think we did a bad job of producing it, we made an even worse job mixing it"* before the label handed the masters to Godrich . --- ### Lyrics & Themes The album title itself—**Heroes to Zeros**—signals a central anxiety: the fear of irrelevance, of fading from cultural memory. This is visually reinforced by the Kaare Andrews cover art, which depicts the band as cartoon superheroes on the front, while the reverse shows four piles of clothes on a beach, discarded *Reggie Perrin*-style—a longing to shed identity and escape expectation . **Lyrical preoccupations include:** - **Alienation and self-doubt**: Mason’s lyrics often explore isolation, though they are frequently delivered with such deliberate affectlessness that emotional connection becomes oblique. - **Escape and reinvention**: The tension between the heroic front-cover persona and the abandoned-clothes narrative suggests a band uncomfortable with their own myth. - **Psychedelic introspection**: Tracks like "Space" and "Wonderful" drift between inner and outer space, less narrative than atmospheric. The vocal approach is crucial here. Mason’s voice is almost always double or triple-tracked, filtered, or masked—deliberately **without strong personality**, which Paste Magazine argued is a virtue: *"His voice is almost entirely without affectation... that absence of vocal personality really makes the whole Beta Band sound work"* . This creates an emotional evenness—detached yet strangely moving. --- ### Influence & Legacy *Heroes to Zeros* sits at an awkward historical intersection. It was the band’s **swansong**—they broke up shortly after its release, with Mason going on to form King Biscuit Time and later releasing solo material. The album’s commercial underperformance (despite inclusion in *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die*) cemented The Beta Band as a **cult act** rather than the mainstream force some predicted after *High Fidelity* (2000) famously featured "Dry the Rain" . **Influence on subsequent artists:** - The album’s **genre-hybridity**—merging folk, electronica, krautrock, and indie rock—prefigured the 2010s wave of indie-electronica acts. Reviewers have noted The Beta Band as an evolutionary bridge between Britpop (Blur) and later art-pop (Alt-J) . - Its **"more is more"** eclecticism, while sometimes criticized as unfocused, demonstrated that sustained aesthetic discontinuity could work outside the Beatles framework . --- ### Pros | Strength | Evidence | |----------|----------| | **Eclectic inventiveness** | Constantly shifting instrumentation—horns, strings, clavinet, samples—keeps the listener engaged without feeling random | | **Standout tracks** | "Assessment," "Wonderful," and "Liquid Bird" represent the band at their most focused and melodic | | **Sonic ambition** | The move toward rock dynamics while retaining electronic textures showed genuine evolution | | **Atmospheric cohesion** | Despite genre-hopping, an emotional evenness and detachment holds the record together | | **Cultural footprint** | Inclusion in *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die* and the *High Fidelity* connection ensure lasting curiosity | --- ### Cons | Weakness | Evidence | |----------|----------| | **Overproduction / muddy mixing** | Godrich’s echo-heavy touch and the band’s self-production regrets left some tracks sounding smothered rather than expansive | | **Aimless mid-section** | Tracks like "Lion Thief" and "Easy" meander without the fascinating production tricks or structural ingenuity of earlier work | | **Emotional distance** | The deliberate vocal flatness, while artistically coherent, can prevent genuine connection—some listeners find it "boring" or "forgettable" | | **Patchy quality control** | For every "Assessment" or "Wonderful," there is a "Troubles" that feels like an underdeveloped sketch or an overproduced snip of an idea | | **Commercial failure / band breakup** | The album failed to convert critical respect into sales, leading to the band’s dissolution shortly after release | --- ### Verdict *Heroes to Zeros* is a **frustrated near-masterpiece**—an album of genuine ambition and sporadic brilliance that ultimately demonstrates why The Beta Band remained cult heroes rather than conquering stars. It is tighter and more song-focused than their earlier work, yet the very act of tightening seems to have cost them some of the spontaneous magic that made *The 3 EPs* and *Hot Shots II* so beloved. The production, while professional, lacks the warmth and clarity the material needed, and the lyrical themes of fading relevance proved prophetically self-fulfilling. For fans of eclectic, boundary-pushing indie music, it remains essential listening—a fascinating document of a band trying to evolve while simultaneously dismantling their own mythology. For newcomers, it is perhaps best approached after *The 3 EPs*, with adjusted expectations: this is not the heroic breakthrough it wanted to be, but it is far from zero.

Sorprendida La pasé re bien muy bueno

My enjoyment of the album waned as it continued playing. It’s fine.

Frustrating, some great ideas poorly executed

Started off middling and got progressively worse as it moved into more of a dream sound. Bottomed out with Space Beatle

I want to give this album a second listen. I don't think it'll affect my rating only it will isolate the tunes I really enjoyed.

6/10 Buen album, nada llamativo pero nada malo tampoco

This is so Beta!

naprosto odvratan omot! u top 3 najlošijih među omotima albumâ koje sam dosad slušao (uz »illinoise« sufjana stevensa i onaj glupi album nekog afrikanca). najgore je što uopće ne odgovara glazbi (mislio sam da će ovo biti neki anime sauntrek ili nešto slično), no zato je dobro što je album znatno bolji od dvaju spomenutih! više nego solidan alternativni rok s folk i elektroničnim momentima. kratko traje, ugodno se sluša i bilo mi je žao kad je završio! tako da je zaslužio jednu finu četvorku, unatoč ogavnom omotu svim cviliteljima koji na ovoj stranici bacaju hejt poručio bih da mnogo serendaju te da su nebitni dečkići puni goričine

Never listened to them but think I’ve heard the name. Started off pretty good but sort of blurred together after a while.

I like their sound very dreamish of it! And i like their vocals!

Felt like the kind of songs you’d see a band come up with for their GCSE group compositions

How is the genre of this 'electronic'? It's very obviously Britslop, which makes it an easy 1 for me. This was fucking boring shite.

Honestly kind of loved it … great mix of folk rock / electronic. Some upbeat music with chill vocals. Had no idea these guys existed or that I had another liked song from them. Really solid listen. 4

We now need negative stars. Ugh.

dit album is echt slecht het is echt random

de cover s gwn niet mooi en past niet bij wat ik dacht dat het zou zijn? het s beetje goofy goober rock maar eig wel funny

Sounds a little like Ween. Except it's a little boring, whereas Ween rules.

Meh ?

Me pareció realmente mediocre. Nada especial, menos para el 2004. No entiendo qué hace acá este álbum. 2/10

I feel like that one clip of Kanye talking about the Lady Gaga Polaroid collab. “I like some of The Beta Band EPs, but why the fuck do I have to hear their last album before I die?”

Surprised to see this one, would have thought 3 EPs would have made if anything by Beta Band. Its sort of psychedelic, indie pop, drum machiney, kinda sound that was popular in the mid 2000s. Basically trying to combine electronic dance music with indie/post punk.

This is fine. Generic indie rock.

It isn't bad but it sure is forgettable.

Another instance where I feel they could have chosen a better album. The three eps album is just so much better and while this album wasn’t bad when you have another masterpiece to compare it to this one just falls short

More zero than hero. I tuned out pretty much immediately.

Pretty uneven. Some real bangers and some derivative slog

Light 3

It's charming, albeit a little tatty at the edges. The album ticked along pleasantly enough, then Liquid Bird kind of came out of nowhere. That's a bit of a banger of a track, that.

I’ve listened to the whole album, but I don’t think the music is very good. It’s not terrible either, so 2 stars...

Ugh, yet another British band. There were a couple of songs that were alright, but several songs were whiny and annoying and I had to skip. (2.5)

Removed

A nice discovery! Great album with interesting arrangements and melodies.

Interesting. I can’t say that I’ve heard of them before this.

Not bad at all. Cool rock music at the turn of the century.

Mitä

I was not previously with this artist or album. It's a sort of rock with indie influences. There's nothing particularly objectionable here and it has its catchy moments, but there's nothing truly intriguing either. I could take it or leave it.

I don’t hate it!

You can fart into a walkie-talkie and if you're from the UK, you'll get on this list.

Decent psychedelic indie rock. Vocals were fine. There were some strange instrumental compositions that were interesting, but they didn't lead to anything more, and ended up feeling gimmicky as a result. 2.5 stars.

Not as good on a re-listen. The first time around I forgave it for being boring as hell, but I can't forgive it the second time around.

Enjoyed this more than the other album! :)

Starts fine then gets annoying, didn't finish

I'm not entirely sure why we need this on the list. It's on my shelves, but seldom played. Mostly unremarkable. They've done better. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ ★★★☆☆ (6/10) Total reviewed : 318 Already owned : 71 Purchased : 15 To buy : 4 Nope : 228

This had a kinda 80’s vibe. It was solid.

Interesting and enjoyable, but probably requires at least a few listens to not feel kind of all over the place. But might be worth a return!

First listen: 3 stars: neat, enjoyed, but nothing stood out to me and I was ready to listen to something else at the end.

WOW…I love listening to a new band (to me) and totally digging their sound, songs and album. Great discovery for me with this band and album. This album hit mark of 1001 albums to listen to!

3.5

Not nearly as bad as I expected after reading the reviews. While the music didn't exactly blow me away, it didn't bother me in the least either. That said, I don't really feel the urge to listen to the album again. 3/5

Didn’t care for this. Sound was nothing great

Generic indie rock

I was honestly surprised by how good Heroes to Zeros was. Apparently this was produced by the band themselves which they think that they did a terrible job at it and an even worse job mixing it to the point where their mixes weren't even used which if they aren't exaggerating was the right call since the poor mixing probably would have brought my opinion of this album down. I did end up enjoying it though, the songs had that nice creative edge to them which made a lot of them really stick out in the best possible ways. I also think i like this more than the last album i did by them due to the lack of flow issues. It's not perfect but it was shockingly very good. Best Song: Space Worst Song: Wonderful

boring

59/100. A laid back electronic rock record. The production is one of its strongest aspects, where they bring in some genuinely interesting instrumentation. At the same time, the pacing can hold it back.

Wasn't bad. Interesting genre

I was a little frightened about this when I skimmed the reviews -- turns out it is perfectly fine, and it follows a trend on this list where British albums get flack by uncultured whingers. I love The Beta Band, and I thank John Cusack for getting me into them. oh, and the production is excellent too.

You know the bit in the film high fidelity when John Cusack puts on Dry the Rain by the beta band and the shop nod their heads along to the quietly building groove. That was my first experience of the beta band and few things bring me as much joy as the bit when the horns come in on dry the rain. This album isn’t as good as that, but opener assessment has a similarly wonderful horn line. The rest of the album alternates between steadily building grooves and meandering songs that don’t quite go anywhere in a really purposeful manner. It’s not an album in a rush to get anywhere

Average if a little forgettable. Realized I owed this album but forgot all about it and that pretty much described it.

I need to get a copy of this book because I want to know why there are two Beta Band albums on this list. They’re certainly not bad, they are just not very interesting.

I'd always known of them but never got around to knowingly listening to any of their albums. I enjoyed this - I wouldn't necessarily want to listen to it repeatedly but I did enjoy the experience.

Nice sounds, ok songs. There's some great guitar work and creative genre combinations but the album kinda blends in. It's solid but not much I would return to.

5/10

Based on the reviews I thought I'd absolutely hate this one, but eh, it's not even that horrible. Extremely forgettable though, and not something I'd ever feel inclined to revisit.

i probably would have liked this if i first listened to it in middle/high school. sounds like so much stuff from that era. fine

Hmm... I'm not sure what to make of this. Compared to the other albums we've had thus far from the 00s, this is by far one of the most listenable (low bar, I know), but I just can't seem to get completely comfortable with it. Maybe my hang-up is the abrupt jumping in and out of the dreamscape-like atmosphere they create? For example, 'Troubles' and 'Rhododendron' are rather ethereal tracks with tranquil fadeouts. They're then followed up by the 'Suicide Blonde' intro of 'Out-Side' and the choppy dissonance of 'Liquid Bird', respectively. These rough transitions are unsettling and counterproductive (i.e. the calm bits now feel boring, and the upbeat bits annoying). 'Space Beatle' is a good example of a single song doing this back-and-forth energy thing. There are some genuinely good ideas here, but I'm struggling to think of a situation where I'd be able to fully enjoy this caffeinated lavender tea in its entirety.

This was fine. Nothing particularly offensive or noteworthy. I’d consider that more of a zero than a hero so I guess I’m going to round down.

I had well and truly never heard of this band before this list gave me this album. I had never read a single word about them in any publication, any website, and had not seen a single trace of any of their CDs in any of the record shops I visited. Truly, I thought the 1001 Albums list had made this whole Beta Band, Heroes to Zeroes thing up. And yet, this album, supposedly the last one released by the Beta Band before their initial breakup, is a surprisingly comprehensive document of 2000s British alt and indie rock. There's the post-punk-influenced shine of "Assessment," the bouncing jaunt of "Easy," the almost medieval folk of "Lion Thief," the electronic buzzing of "Liquid Bird," the sharp punk edges of "Out-Side," and the spacey Beck tribute of "Space." There's everything and more included on this thing. While I could stand here and tell you that this band is just aping the sound of other bands who did each of these myriad sounds better (which is true,) there's also a distinct charm to albums this eclectic that make an honest effort at every genre they attempt. And Heroes to Zeroes is an album that pulls almost all of these styles off fairly convincingly. The album's major fault certainly isn't its eclecticism or its songwriting. Rather, it's the boring, flat production that are this album's outdoing. Seriously, this album is mixed way too low (and it came out DURING the loudness war!) It sounds like they're playing all of these songs late at night and are trying not to wake anyone up. Only the punk songs are mixed the way they should be. It's a real shame because it drags down a lot of these songs since they sound so muted as a result. Production aside, the songs might not hold up compared to the genuine article(s) but you can count of them to get the job done in the absence of said genuine article(s.) I guess what I'm trying to get at is that this is a fine album to just put on and sample the many sounds of 2000s alternative. It won't blow your mind or anything, but you might leave it with a song or 2 that you genuinely like. Key Tracks: Assessment, Lion Thief, Out-Side, Liquid Bird

It wasn't horrible, but I thought a lot of their songs they seemed to be singing very quietly and softly, which I do not like.

This isn't usually my bag, but this was a pretty interesting listen. Its a nice mix of electronica and rock, they have a pretty distinct sound that gives a cool sci fi vibe to their music. This kept my interest the whole way through, and while I probably wont revisit this, I wouldnt mind hearing more from them to see how their other albums stack up. It's got this strange dreamlike fantasy quality to it that keeps it from being nailed down stylistically, and maybe thats the point? I dunno, whatever it is I liked it.

It was fine! I dig the Beta Bands sound and this was a good example of that. This list better have The Three E.P’s though otherwise I will be revising this rating down one star

Definitely interesting. It's kinda a blend of indie rock/folk with some electronic elements. Cool, but yet somehow kind-of boring.

Pretty good but idk when i would listen to this

Not sure anyone needs to hear this before they die, but it was OK.

Kinda mediocre. Almost went 2/5.

this album don’t do anything for me

Very good, but brighter and more alert than anything else I heard from Beta Band and I'm having a hard time accepting that.

Fun to get another Beta Band album in the collection, and while fewer of the tracks here made it to the "Best of the Beta Band" compilation, it's still a very solid album, and sadly the last from a talented band that couldn't quite stick it out together. My favorites are probably "Assessment" (with a fun video), "Lion Thief" and "Easy", and "Simple" (with a sad but well-done video). I also liked the homage to Siouxsie and the Banshees in "Liquid bird" (and way more homages packed into the somewhat-too-clever video for "Out-side"). A shame they went their separate ways after this, as they could have made several more good albums.

So much better than Hot Shots--I'd actually recommend this album. They got out of their repetition repetition repetition box and have some good sound, nice variety. Made me like them again!

I love it it`s so cool

Yoo they made another album

Enjoyed it. Nice sound, different to the music that was being released alongside it. Really liked the vocals and the laid back feel. Very enjoyable listen. However, didn’t flow too well for me.

very very cool sound kind of dragged down by shapeless songs, the baffling inclusion of this over their actual most acclaimed release, and the fakest album cover of all time. by far the strongest reaction i had about this was the sheer bafflement of seeing it pop up in front of me for the first time. far from bad tho!

De todo mi gusto este nuevo descubrimiento, perfecto para una buena tarde

I got bored rather quickly

wasn't terrible i suppose

3.9 3x not as good as it was when i first was getting into this when it came out (was probably my favorite album at the time).

I dunno man... I actually quite enjoyed it on my first listen, but then just found it a bit dull on any subsequent listens. It's not offensively bad, but doesn't provide much for me to get excited by, and I found myself getting a bit annoyed by the lead vocals, like he kinda sounds like Matt Watson singing in My Two Lovely Uncles. Another questionable addition to the 1001. Favourite Track: 3 - Lion Thief Best Three Track Run: 6, 7, 8

Wasn't the biggest fan. It has its moments (1 min mark of Easy is phenomenal), but overall wasn't able get into it 6/10

Fun and engaging

Hmmm the omega shit band huh? Album title change petition: Zeros to zeros

Very chill

Boaring

I have no idea what this album is doing here. It isn't that it's bad, it's just mostly unremarkable. It starts off well enough, but then the neo-psychedelia just becomes too much and none of the songs feel like they go anywhere in the middle part.

Experimenty indie rock with a sleepy tone to most of it, it's interesting and it has some good things to offer, the music's just missing a little something to make it come to life

1. azzezment - 0 2. zpace - 0 3. lion - 1 4. eazy - 0 5. uuonderful - 2 6. troublez - 0 7. outzide - 0 8. beatle -1 9. rodendron - 0 10. bird - 1 11. zimple - 0 12. pure - 1

Better than the album cover would have you think. I listened on my bike so didn’t hear very clearly, it might be better than that.

I enjoyed this type of pop rock. I wasn’t keeping an eye on the songs but I enjoyed this.

Okay, but no more than that.

another not really sure why album

Good album. Makes me want to listen to the other albums from this band and Steve Masons solo projects. It’s musically broad feeling, meaning that it’s almost operatic in its scope at times and movement. Overall probably a 3.5 for me. Not sure it hits 4 stars quite.

Chill listen. 3.5/5

Harmonica! Synth! Dog barks, seagulls, and sleigh bells on the same track! Quirky indie rock for white men in their forties who are a respectful amount of perverted. The slower songs (Wonderful, Troubles) make me feel like I’m dozing off in the late afternoon with a fever (not sure if this is complimentary or not).

Very very dull. I genuinely can't think of much more to say about this, it just slid off my brain like a fried egg on a new teflon pan

jammy, trippy, funky, great vibes very cool sound desing and glitchy grooves feels like a mix between king gizzard and pink floyd, lots of very enjoyable moments but nothing too memorable

This group was fine, but kind of boring. Nothing really stood out to me and it all kind of blended together. Just a big meh from me.

This is bland. There's a brief glimmer of hope that the whole album won't be boring white people music, but that is pretty quickly dashed. And then it also quickly devolves into bad music. Man, listening to this album sucks, because there's moments where you think they might actually be good, like "Space Beatle", but then there's also songs like "Wonderful" or "Out-Side" that just blow chunks. I think the biggest issue with this is the lyrics; they're pretty darn cringy. Because I think the music is actually pretty solid? It's at least vibey and gives a little bit of a space feel to it, which is something I personally like. The album as a whole never ends up being good, though. I'll add my favorite to my liked songs, which isn't something I do with a lot of songs from these albums, but this one was very nice. Favorite Song(s): Space Beatle