Betty (Helmet album)
Betty is the third album by Helmet, released in 1994 on Interscope. The album was highly anticipated by both music critics and fans as a result of the band's success with the previous album, Meantime.
Betty | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 21, 1994 | |||
Recorded | 1993–1994 at Soundtrack, Power Station, and Sound on Sound, New York | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 41:43 | |||
Label | Interscope | |||
Producer | T-Ray, Butch Vig, Helmet | |||
Helmet chronology | ||||
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Singles from Betty | ||||
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Rob Echeverria (guitarist of New York hardcore band Rest In Pieces) replaced Peter Mengede on guitar. It is Helmet's highest charting album in the U.S. After recording and touring in support of the album, Echeverria left Helmet in 1995 to join Biohazard; however, his departure was more amicable than Mengede's.
Prior to Betty's release in June 1994, the album's biggest hit, "Milquetoast", appeared in alternate form on The Crow soundtrack as "Milktoast." Its video was in regular rotation on MTV, and videos for "Wilma's Rainbow" and "Biscuits For Smut" were also released.
Musical style
Usually regarded as Helmet's experimental album, it features a broader approach with forays into jazz and blues. Hamilton said, "Those things were my indulgences. I tried to force the music in different directions. I know a lot of fans were disappointed, but I think it's important to try to grow musically."[5] Helmet's sonic trademarks of crunching riffs and pounding drums still define the album. Betty, along with Meantime and Aftertaste, is considered a definitive influence in post-metal.[6]
Recording and production
Helmet entered the studio in the fall of 1993 with producer T-RAY to record the follow-up to its 1992 record Meantime. Writing and recording sessions took place at Soundtrack, Power Station, and Sound on Sound in New York City.
Release and reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Betty was released on June 21, 1994, and peaked at number 45 on the Billboard 200 album chart, making it Helmet's highest ranking album so far.
Track listing
All tracks are written by Page Hamilton, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Wilma's Rainbow" | 3:53 | |
2. | "I Know" | 3:41 | |
3. | "Biscuits for Smut" | 2:53 | |
4. | "Milquetoast" | 3:53 | |
5. | "Tic" | 3:40 | |
6. | "Rollo" | Bogdan/Hamilton | 2:38 |
7. | "Street Crab" | 3:31 | |
8. | "Clean" | 2:26 | |
9. | "Vaccination" | 3:04 | |
10. | "Beautiful Love" | Gillespie, King, Young and Van Alstyne | 2:03 |
11. | "Speechless" | 2:58 | |
12. | "The Silver Hawaiian" | Bogdan/Hamilton | 2:08 |
13. | "Overrated" | 2:40 | |
14. | "Sam Hell" | 2:09 | |
Total length: | 41:43 |
No. | Title | Length |
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15. | "Pariah" | 2:16 |
Total length: | 43:59 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Sinatra" (live) | 4:46 |
2. | "FBLA II" (live) | 3:29 |
3. | "Tic" (live) | 4:04 |
4. | "Just Another Victim" (live) | 2:19 |
5. | "In the Meantime" (live) | 3:39 |
No. | Title | Length |
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15. | "Flushings" | 2:33 |
16. | "Thick" | 3:05 |
17. | "Pariah" | 2:16 |
18. | "Biscuits for Smut" (Mutt Mix) | 3:07 |
19. | "Biscuits for Smut" (Pooch Mix) | 3:37 |
Amphetamine Reptile track listing
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Wilma's Rainbow" | 3:54 |
2. | "I Know" | 3:40 |
3. | "Biscuits for Smut" | 2:53 |
4. | "Milquetoast" | 3:53 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Tic" | 3:40 |
2. | "Rollo" | 2:38 |
3. | "Street Crab" | 3:31 |
4. | "Flushings" | 2:33 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Clean" | 2:26 |
2. | "Vaccination" | 3:04 |
3. | "Thick" | 3:05 |
4. | "Beautiful Love" | 2:02 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Speechless" | 2:59 |
2. | "Pariah" | 2:16 |
3. | "The Silver Hawaiian" | 2:08 |
4. | "Overrated" | 2:36 |
The album was issued on vinyl (on Amphetamine Reptile Records) in two-disc 10" format; this version included additional tracks "Flushings," "Thick," and "Pariah," and omits "Sam Hell."
A limited edition CD was released with a blue jewel case and five extra live tracks recorded July 30, 1994, in Los Angeles. The live tracks are "Sinatra," "FBLA II," "Tic," "Just Another Victim," and "In the Meantime." (These tracks were released overseas on the Wilma's Rainbow CD EP.)
In 2010 a 19 track digital only reissue of Betty was released. It included the bonus tracks: "Flushings," "Thick," "Pariah," "Biscuits for Smut (Mutt Mix)" and "Biscuits for Smut (Pooch Mix)."
Chart performance
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Personnel
Credits taken from the CD liner notes.
Helmet
- Henry Bogdan - bass guitar
- Rob Echeverria - guitar
- Page Hamilton - lead vocals, guitar
- John Stanier - drums
Production
- Helmet - producer, all songs except "Milquetoast"
- T-Ray - producer, all songs except "Milquetoast"
- Butch Vig - producer, "Milquetoast"
- Anton Pukshansky - engineer, all songs except "Milquetoast"
- Martin Bisi - engineer, all songs except "Milquetoast"
- John Siket - engineer, "Milquetoast"
- Chris Curran, Anthony Gillis, Joe Hogan, Rich Piszker, Chris Albert - assistants
- Andy Wallace - mixer
- Howie Weinberg - mastering
References
- Bienstock, Richard; Bienstock, Richard (February 17, 2015). "Helmet's Page Hamilton Breaks Down 'Betty' Track by Track". Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- "The 10 essential alt-metal albums - Metal Hammer". web.archive.org. December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- Lymangrover, Jason. "Helmet - Seeing Eye Dog". AllMusic. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
- Ford, Chris (November 20, 2014). "Throwback Thursday: And Now, Ladies And Gentlemen, Helmet". Diffuser.fm. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
- "Helmet's riff-heavy, smart sound hits S.L." Deseret News. 1997-07-04. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
- "HELMET Rediscovery". X-Press Online. 2007-03-28. Archived from the original on 2007-08-31. Retrieved 2007-03-31.
Albums such [as] Meantime (1992), Betty (1994) and even Aftertaste (1997) eschewed the traditional concept of heavy music, trademarked the drop-d power-groove in 5/4, and pioneered a whole new trend in music. Even now, these albums stand on their own as definitive texts in post-metal.
- Allmusic Review
- 6/25/94, p.41
- "Rolling Stone Review". Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- Brackett, Nathan (2004). "Helmet". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. pp. 374. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- "Helmet - Betty". SwedishCharts.com. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
- "Helmet - Betty". AustrianCharts.at. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
- "Helmet - Betty". NorwegianCharts.com. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
- "Helmet - Betty". HitParade.ch. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
- "Official Charts Company". Retrieved 2009-08-06., UK charts page for Helmet
- "Helmet album charts [albums]". Billboard. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
- "Helmet - Betty". DutchCharts.nl. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
- "Helmet;– Billboard Singles". billboard.com. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
External links
- Betty (Helmet album) at Discogs (list of releases)