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]

Beatsongs
Studio album by
Released1991
RecordedFebruary 1991
StudioSunset Sound Recorders, Ocean Way Recording
GenreAlternative rock, electric folk
LabelEnsign/Chrysalis[1]
ProducerLarry Hirsch
The Blue Aeroplanes chronology
Swagger
(1990)
Beatsongs
(1991)
Life Model
(1994)

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

Production

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Recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders and Ocean Way Recording in February 1991, the album was produced by Larry Hirsch.[6][7] "The Boy in the Bubble" is a cover of the Paul Simon song.[8] Guitar player Rodney Allen sang lead vocal on two tracks.[9] Many guest musicians contributed to Beatsongs.[10]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [9]
Calgary HeraldB[11]
Chicago Tribune    [12]
Record Collector     [6]

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.[13][14] 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."[12]

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."[11] The Times praised the "vivid melodic framework and ... wondrous tonal lustre" of the guitars.[15] The Daily Breeze considered Beatsongs to be the seventh best rock album of 1991.[16]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Huh!" 
2."Yr Own World" 
3."Angelwords" 
4."Fun" 
5."Cardboard Box" 
6."My Hurricane" 
7."Aeroplane Blues" 
8."Jack Leaves & Back Spring" 
9."Colour Me" 
10."Streamers" 
11."The Boy in the Bubble" 
12."Sixth Continent" 

References

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  1. ^ Maurstad, Tom (September 15, 1991). "Beatsongs, The Blue Aeroplanes". The Dallas Morning News. p. 11C.
  2. ^ Price, Simon (Aug 3, 1991). "Gosh Gerard, You're Right as Usual — Beatsongs by Blue Aeroplanes". Melody Maker. 67 (31): 29.
  3. ^ Fricke, David (Dec 12, 1991). "The Year in Records — Beatsongs by The Blues Aeroplanes". Rolling Stone (619/620): 187.
  4. ^ "Blue Aeroplanes". Trouser Press. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Blue Aeroplanes". Official Charts. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Beatsongs". Record Collector. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Beatsongs by The Blue Aeroplanes". Billboard. 103 (38): 76. Sep 21, 1991.
  8. ^ Popkin, Helen (1 Nov 1991). "The Blue Aeroplanes Beatsongs". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 18.
  9. ^ a b "Beatsongs Review by Ned Raggett". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  10. ^ "The Blue Aeroplanes Biography by William Ruhlmann". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  11. ^ a b Muretich, James (22 Sep 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. E2.
  12. ^ a b Kot, Greg (19 Sep 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  13. ^ Sullivan, Jim (5 Sep 1991). "Blue Aeroplanes Beatsongs". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 6.
  14. ^ Sullivan, Jim (19 Dec 1991). "Top 10 Records of 1991". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 14.
  15. ^ Sinclair, David (August 2, 1991). "Fretwork made to sound easy". Features. The Times.
  16. ^ Gnerre, Sam (December 27, 1991). "Rock music rolled back into the limelight". Daily Breeze. p. E13.