I started this for last Monday. Stopped when I was thinking I should do something local instead. Stopped again when i realized I bitch about the RIAA and majors consistently and yet, this album is connected to EMI. Fuck - I hate when that happens. BUT - I have really been enjoying this album. So I am calling out my own hypocritical nature on this one and continuing to enjoy the Aliens.

OK so I discovered the Beta Band because of the scene from High Fidelity - but thank the powers that be for that. As I discovered a band that never bored me. They also reminded me of the equivalent of Modest Mouse’s even quirkier little brother. So - good in my books.

So I was disappointed to hear about the Beta Band calling it quits when they did.

Thankfully they have returned in a manner of sorts as The Aliens.

First thing I heard from them was their EP last year.
That is now being following by a full length, Astronomy For Dogs, out next week, tomorrow [the 19th] in the UK, in June in the US and later elsewhere. Of course is online right now.

There is SO MUCH HAPPENING ON THIS ALBUM.
Go to their myspace page. Look at the albums they list as their influences. You can hear all of that on this album. And even when you hear something that clearly comes from album X it never sounds like they’re ripping off that artist because there’s a million other things happening.

The best way I can summarize this album, outside being one of the funniest most interesting listens I’ve heard in a while is as follows:
Imagine, um, well Aliens came to earth and either via downloading or stealing someone’s multi gigabyte iPod heard all the variety of music noted above and then decided a) they needed to start a band [velvet underground is listed as an influence so it only makes sense aliens would be so inclined to start a band as well after hearing them], b) thought that a band needed to sound like all of that. And they had the advance alien intelligence to pull it off.

Another quick attempt at summarizing the album: they had the skills to make a serious album Cake never made in their shared genre jumping traits but still managed to keep it fun.

There’s psychedelic, country, blues, 60s pop, rock, dance, craziness abounds.

There’s a thread running through most of the songs [concept album-ish almost], and there’s also another post-Beta Band project Black Affair that perhaps should all be mentioned, so considered it mentioned and now go find this music. [Hint: Start here].

Recommended to fans of Beck, Cake, fun, music, Modest Mouse and of course the Beta Band.

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