Beautiful Place by Ryan Adams: Live Bootleg. Here is Ryan in Sweden from around the time of Post Heartbreaker/Pre-Gold. He delivers a great set alternating between guitar and piano. He tells stories and jokes with the crowd showing his personality and he also pokes fun at himself: “Do you want to hear a sad song or a pitifully sad song?” he asks. “Cos this guy don’t write no happy songs,” he concludes. He does write happy songs, it’s just the sad ones are much, much better. A great soundboard recording and a great example of when this man was once on fire, though it is fairly difficult to get hold of. Good luck. TWH: Dear Anne; To Be Young; The Bar Is A Beautiful Place.

Grade: A

Beautiful Freak by Eels: Alt-Rock. Eels’ debut though not E’s. The songs are poppy and also distinctly 90’s American alt-rock. Some classic songs on here and though some fade into the background the quality is always pretty high. The sounds that would become Eels trademarks are all present and correct; poppy melodies; dark lyrics and great guitar tones. Good, though they were going to get better…and darker. TWH: Novocaine For The Soul; Susan’s House; My Beloved Monster

Grade: C

Beatles For Sale by The Beatles: Rock/Pop. This album is the product of the hangover of Beatlemania. Late ’64 and the fabs were starting to get tired of a punishing working schedule and the fact they couldn’t go anywhere without getting mobbed. The songs all have dark undertones; people cheating on you while you stalk them; your girlfriend’s dressed in black because you’re dead (or maybe she is); you’re a loser etc. There is also a slightly country feel to this album, though their previous album had contained only material written by John and Paul, this album had some covers on it again. TWH: I’m A Loser; Baby’s In Black; I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party

Grade: A*

Beast Rest Forth Mouth by Bear In Heaven: Indie/Experimental Rock. The songs are massive but compact. They are guitar driven but there is the use of tom toms throughout with electronic bubbling occasionally popping to the surface. Though it sounds like prog rock the fact that they condensed it into 3 - 4 minute pocket symphonies is a feat in itself. The vocals are the sort of high pitched ones you would expect from this kind of indie music and the guitars are shoegazey. Good stuff. TWH: Bear In Peace; You Do You; Casual Goodbye

Grade: B

Be Seeing You by Dr. Feelgood: Pub Rock. It is certainly of its time. Imagine your dad has formed a pub band and is singing songs based around blues and rock and roll riffs. This is that band. The songs have some great guitar parts and they stomp along with the best of them, though the lyrics leave a little bit to be desired, but that just adds to the charm. TWH: Ninety-Nine and a Half; That’s It I Quit; She’s A Windup

Grade: D

Be Here Now by Oasis: Indie/Rock. Overblown, cocaine infused, ego driven rock? Of course, but what would you expect from the hype that surrounded this album, which is one if the fastest selling EVER! Don’t listen to the critics (including the Gallaghers) this album may have 10 or 20 too many guitar tracks but there is a quality in the songs that shine through, proving the Noel could really be completely off his tits and still write songs millions of people thought ‘Why didn’t I think of that!?’. Love it…mostly. Probably could’ve trimmed a couple of songs. TWH: Stand By Me; I Hope I Think I Know; Don’t Go Away

Grade: A

Battle For Los Angeles by Rage Against The Machine: Metal. On their third album, the closet capitalists do more of the same: preaching screaming vocals, pounding and catchy riffs and not much else. It’s a formula that works for them and their audience. TWH: Sleep Now In The Fire; Testify; Voice of the Voiceless

Grade: B