Let's talk about how awesome Beat Happening is
 

I've had my Dreamy cassette the longest so I'd say that one is my favorite. You can't go wrong with that one, Me Untamed, Collide, Hot Chocolate Boy, Redhead Walking, cry for a shadow. You turn me on is great. I remember liking Black Candy as well but I broke it a few years ago. How is their debut compared to something like Dreamy?

Anyway, they are so so great. Some of the most beautiful minimalist rock I've ever heard. White stripes dont have shit on them

Yes they are, one of my favorite bands.

I think Black Candy is my favorite Beat Happening record.

i should dig into them then.

Yes. Consistently great. It's hard to pick out a favorite by them. I suppose Jamboree since it's the only one I have on vinyl.

But I hate that they're referred to as twee. For one thing, that's an anachronism, since twee wasn't even a term when Beat Happening was making records. For another, they're not. They're more lo-fi grunge.

Ah twee, schmee. There are all kinds of nonexistant genres out there, and little words people think up when they've had too much to drink. To me, Beat Happening is lo fi minimalist rock.

Pretty much.

Although I pretty much call everything that I like "Art Rock" now. It is a nice all inclusive title.

Beat Happening was very much a covert punk band for having the balls to go on in front of total hardcore crowds and do their charming amatuer sets that reminded everybody that 1) punk was about anybody with the nerve and energy being able to be on stage and in control 2) that it wasn't about fitting into some uniform stereotype cliche and 3) it was supposed to actually be fun!

I saw them pull that off wedged between Nation of Ulysses and Fugazi, and they forever won my respect.

nah, they are proto twee metal.

they are the shit. love their first album.

Well is this not true for a lot of bands/artist that do their own thing no matter what?

This band in and of themselves don't offend me so much, but I will maintain to the grave that influence of their approach and aesthetic has been a toxic presence in the world of underground/independent music through the elevation of wilful amateurism and insufferably cute ineptitude being viewed as "cool."

lets' not and say we did

the real good bands that couldnt play are the ones that inspired, not the ones that were inspired
daniel johnston
the shaggs
half japanese
beat happening...

Sort of true, but then Beat Happening inspired Unwound. I know you don't hear it in the sound of the music, but if you ask any of those guys they'll say it's so. For that matter, Beat Happening were openly vocal about being inspired by the Shaggs and Half Japanese. The thing about being inspired by anyone doing their own thing is to get that you need to do your own thing, not theirs!

i completely agree with you.

i love beat happening. i'm actually quasi-starting a beat happening clone band. not really. but i wanna do something that is inspired only by them. see how that turns out.

s.

I dig them. I like Calvin's voice.

Understandable.

I know a kid who tries to sing like he's Daniel Johnston or something, it is fucking annoying as hell.

beat happening are great. i just consider them a punk band.