Beta Band - Hot Shots 2

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Free Music Notes for Hot Shots 2

Free Music Review: Best Album Of 2001 Without A Doubt
Hit: 5 Stars

There seems to be a widely held view that the best tracks are the first and last, namely 'Squares' and 'Eclipse'. These were the two tracks I liked the least! 'Squares' is plodding and sounds too much like I Monster, and 'Eclipse' has its moments but is generally a bad attempt at an epic with a message. It's overlong by far and the lyrics (mostly bad ones) don't fit the melody.

However, all the remaining tracks are superb. The highlights for me were the chorus and guitar burst finale of 'Human Being', the intro and lightning-quick piano interlude of 'Dragon' and the lovely ending to 'Alleged' when a distant acoustic guitar is strummed and the band croon 'Oh, I love you, how does it feel without me?'

Hot Shots II is different to the previous Beta Band material, such as The 3 EPs where they would lay down a catchy melody on acoustic and build it up to a dense, funky beat with bass, piano and percussion. This album is different as there is more structure to the songs and they tend to last for far less time. For example, you wouldn't have heard such a simple song as 'Gone' on anything that went before, as if they're not afraid to be simple. That said, you can tell it's the Beta Band, and not just because of Steve Mason's distinctive chanting vocals. The great choruses are retained, in part at least. It is my opinion that The 3 EPs is better, but this album is almost as good and far outstrips the two or three good songs of their eponymous album. It does take time, but that's part of its charm. Probably the moments most remeniscent of old Beta Band are 'Al Sharp', the twinkly single 'Broke' and 'Quiet', as they all have big shout-along choruses, as do 'Human Being' and 'Dragon'.

Hot Shots II is the most dashingly inventive album of 2001, and the most enjoyable (even outdoing the Avalanches!) for me at least. It was my album of 2001, no mean feat considering new offerings from Radiohead, R.E.M., Super Furry Animals (admittedly all under-par), The Avalanches and The Strokes. If you loved the 3 EPs, I urge you to give this album a go, and another one. It really is fantastic. Go Beta!

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