Beta Band - The Three EP's

"The band were pivotal for me in terms of my own musical journey, in that they represented a gateway back into indie guitar music, which I'd basically given up since becoming obsessed with rave and acid house. Everyone should have the Beta Band albums and EPs in their collection. It still kind of annoys me — in fact, it bugs the shit out of me — that most of them don't." – Irvine Welsh

With reference points literally all across the map, the Beta Band still managed a sound that was startlingly fresh, broadly appealing to fans of jam bands, indie rock, electronica, and Brit-pop, which is no small feat in and of itself. The songs display an off-the-cuff charm which is as refreshing as it is unforced, revealing a natural progression by the band from humble folk/indie rock beginnings ('Dry the Rain,' made famous in a brilliant scene in 2000's High Fidelity) to full-out psychedelic pop endings ('Needles in My Eye'). Although much of the album's popularity stemmed from its contrast with the tedious state of music upon its release, The 3 E.P.'s indeed transcends on many levels. Only a band without anything to lose or gain could create music like this, and in the end eclecticism has and will rarely sound better.