Beatsongs Explained

Beatsongs
Type:Album
Artist:The Blue Aeroplanes
Cover:Beatsongs.jpg
Released:1991
Recorded:February 1991
Studio:Sunset Sound Recorders, Ocean Way Recording
Genre:Alternative rock, electric folk
Label:Ensign/Chrysalis[1]
Producer:Larry Hirsch
Prev Title:Swagger
Prev Year:1990
Next Title:Life Model
Next Year:1994

Beatsongs is an album by the English band the Blue Aeroplanes, released in 1991.[2] [3] Its B-sides were collected on Friendloverplane 2.[4]

The album peaked at No. 33 on the UK Albums Chart.[5]

Production

Recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders and Ocean Way Recording in February 1991, the album was produced by Larry Hirsch.[6] "The Boy in the Bubble" is a cover of the Paul Simon song.[7] Guitar player Rodney Allen sang lead vocal on two tracks. Many guest musicians contributed to Beatsongs.[8]

Critical reception

The Boston Globe wrote: "Intense and dreamy, acoustic and electric, Beatsongs is yet another fine effort from a fringe 'alternative' band, one that deserves a major push and breakthrough"; the paper later listed Beatsongs as one of the best albums of 1991.[9] [10] The Chicago Tribune determined that "it's electric folk with a vaguely psychedelic underpinning—think of 'Eight Miles High'-era Byrds, early Fairport Convention or the Velvet Underground's third album."

The Calgary Herald deemed the album "a trip ripe with poetic lyrics that whisper and implore, with glistening pop-rock jewels, brooding tunes that untie the knot of anxiety, acoustic/electric guitars that soar eight miles high, the sound of the '60s, of now, of forever." The Times praised the "vivid melodic framework and ... wondrous tonal lustre" of the guitars.[11] The Daily Breeze considered Beatsongs to be the seventh best rock album of 1991.[12]

Notes and References

  1. News: Maurstad . Tom . Beatsongs, The Blue Aeroplanes . The Dallas Morning News . September 15, 1991 . 11C.
  2. Price . Simon . Gosh Gerard, You're Right as Usual — Beatsongs by Blue Aeroplanes . Melody Maker . Aug 3, 1991 . 67 . 31 . 29.
  3. Fricke . David . The Year in Records — Beatsongs by The Blues Aeroplanes . Rolling Stone . Dec 12, 1991 . 619/620 . 187.
  4. Web site: Blue Aeroplanes . Trouser Press . 21 January 2023.
  5. Web site: Blue Aeroplanes . Official Charts . 21 January 2023.
  6. Beatsongs by The Blue Aeroplanes . Billboard . Sep 21, 1991 . 103 . 38 . 76.
  7. News: Popkin . Helen . The Blue Aeroplanes Beatsongs . St. Petersburg Times . 1 Nov 1991 . Weekend . 18.
  8. Web site: The Blue Aeroplanes Biography by William Ruhlmann . AllMusic . 21 January 2023.
  9. News: Sullivan . Jim . Blue Aeroplanes Beatsongs . The Boston Globe . 5 Sep 1991 . Calendar . 6.
  10. News: Sullivan . Jim . Top 10 Records of 1991 . The Boston Globe . 19 Dec 1991 . Calendar . 14.
  11. News: Sinclair . David . Fretwork made to sound easy . The Times . August 2, 1991 . Features.
  12. News: Gnerre . Sam . Rock music rolled back into the limelight . Daily Breeze . December 27, 1991 . E13.