A hundred summer days bottled up inside one guitar! Beat Happening?s classic debut album has been reissued on compact disc, with lots of extra material from 1983-85, the time during which the first album was originally rec... more »orded and released. Bret, Heather and Calvin made music that was hot & bothered, and the world listened with trepidation. As the first album ever to be released on K, Beat Happening set a mood of irresistibility that has endured for twenty years. The refurbished Beat Happening includes the original Greg Sage (The Wipers)- produced sessions that comprised most of the original album as well as the first single ("Our Secret"/"What?s Important"). Five of the songs were recorded while Beat Happening was living in Japan, and then released on the Three Tea Breakfast cassette. There are also several songs that were originally included on various cassette compilations long out of print. Originally a 1985 K release, Beat Happening was released in England by Rough Trade in 1986 and reissued in 2002 as a part of the Crashing Through box set, which includes all five of the Beat Happening albums (Beat Happening, Jamboree, Black Candy, Dreamy, You Turn Me On) plus the compilation Music To Climb The Apple Tree By.« less
A hundred summer days bottled up inside one guitar! Beat Happening?s classic debut album has been reissued on compact disc, with lots of extra material from 1983-85, the time during which the first album was originally recorded and released. Bret, Heather and Calvin made music that was hot & bothered, and the world listened with trepidation. As the first album ever to be released on K, Beat Happening set a mood of irresistibility that has endured for twenty years. The refurbished Beat Happening includes the original Greg Sage (The Wipers)- produced sessions that comprised most of the original album as well as the first single ("Our Secret"/"What?s Important"). Five of the songs were recorded while Beat Happening was living in Japan, and then released on the Three Tea Breakfast cassette. There are also several songs that were originally included on various cassette compilations long out of print. Originally a 1985 K release, Beat Happening was released in England by Rough Trade in 1986 and reissued in 2002 as a part of the Crashing Through box set, which includes all five of the Beat Happening albums (Beat Happening, Jamboree, Black Candy, Dreamy, You Turn Me On) plus the compilation Music To Climb The Apple Tree By.
"The best thing about Beat Happening is the way they can accomplish so much with so little. Give them a mic and something to bang on, and they'll give you an incredibly catchy, sweet, and wacky tune about whatever (probably a cutesy love song). Be Warned: This is classic lo-fi (but I'm sure you already knew that). The songs on this record are not glossed over with expensive production, in fact a few of them might even be considered no-fi.If you're a fan of honest, raw, sweet, hella catchy rockn'roll, buy this record. Indie-rock law mandates it."
Charming, unpretentious, seminal... essential!
Martin J Flanagan | Wantagh, NY USA | 03/29/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Essentially a rerelease of the '83-85' Beat Happening compilation CD which includes all the tracks from their first single, first album, first 2 EP's, plus a few compilation cuts & rarities...Be warned, Beat Happening is an acquired taste: the musicianship is rudimentary at best, the singers (to quote a Rolling Stone review) "can't carry a tune in a bucket" and the sound quality is, well it's called lo-fi for a reason!That said, you really need to hear this stuff; you may not instantly fall in love with the performances but the songs themselves (simple as they are) are relentlessly catchy (Hole, Yo La Tengo, Velocity Girl, Teenage Fanclub, Spectrum, Seaweed and many others others have covered BH tunes), and there's a good chance Beat Happening WILL win you over & you'll kick yourself for not investigating this band sooner.All of their albums are worthy purchases but this one's probably the best place to start. There are a few clunkers here & there but most of these songs have become underground classics. The influence of this band cannot be overstated; a fair amount of 80's (and early 90's) alt-rock bands either directly or indirectly owe Calvin, Bret & Heather a tip-of-the-hat. Here's where you find out why."
Calvin's off-key vocals make me sweat!
Julie Riley (jujubeats@hotmail.com) | Huntington Beach, California USA | 11/07/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I would call this album garage pop at it's finest. It's sort-of twangy (not country), simple, and off-key in a good way. If you are a perfectionist and want nothing but super-produced songs...sadly, this in not the album for you. Their 3 chord songs tell stories about being in love-- but without the intense, undicypherable lyrics that so many bands thrive on. They definitely have created a style of their own. I would maybe even go as far to say that it's the "punk rock" of pop. A sort-of thrown together, but ingenious, mixture of light heartedness and grit. Calvin's voice is deeper than the sea, and Heather's voice is refreshing because it's anything but dreamy-- which I can appreciate. Many of the songs on this album have a similar taste of each other. "Don't Mix the Colors", "Foggy Eyes", "The Secret" and "The Fall" are my favourites on this album. This Beat Happening record is a staple in my collection. I first got hooked on Beat Happening through a friend, when he played me Cub's version of "Cast a Shadow" (which is unfortunately not on this album)."
The beat is happening
Hippie Smell | Brooklyn | 01/17/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I own the box set, and would encourage everyone that is interested to make the investment. The reason why I'm writing this review is to stick up for an album that I believe to be worthy of five stars. This album will show you how diverse and ahead of their time Beat Happening really was. With out a doubt my favorite album by Beat Happening and you'll see that even though it has a rough sound there really is a lot going on here."
Essential to the rockstars of the future
Hippie Smell | 11/10/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Beat Happening is one of those bands you may know but not realise you know it. Calvin from B.H. has an album out with Beck... Luna covers Indian Summer, a fantastic cover of a fantastic song. Most of their stuff seems to be somewhat improvised with simple five note melodies played over two or three chords that will charm your socks off. Sort of reminiscent of Johnathan Richman in spirit. The whole thing is ultra sincere, and so intimate you'll think the band's in your bedroom. This is an essential to children of the new york punk scene. eg. The Talking Heads, The modern lovers, Galaxie 500..."