Betti-Cola


Betti-Cola is the debut album by the Canadian band Cub. It was released on October 1, 1993, by Mint Records. The album was remastered and re-released with bonus tracks in 2007.
The album contains tracks taken from various 7-inch EPs as well as a handful of covers. A 12-song double 7-inch EP titled Betti-Cola, with similar cover art, was released at roughly the same time as the CD.
The cover art is by Archie Comics cartoonist Dan DeCarlo.

Recording

Cub recorded Betti-Cola primarily with microphones and a Digital Audio Tape machine. The album was recorded in various locations, including in Olympia, Washington, and at CBC Television.

Reception

"While the band's primitive, sweet formula changes little over the duration of the set," wrote Jason Ankeny in a retrospective review for AllMusic, "the performances grow more assured with each passing track; whether tackling Lisa Marr's own infectious compositions... or well-chosen covers... Cub's naive charm is irresistible." Ira Robbins of Trouser Press likewise found that as a whole, the album captures Cub's "increasing musical strength and confidence." Pitchforks Marc Hogan stated that "like Jonathan Richman post-Modern Lovers, Cub prove that childlike whimsy can be, in the words of Joe Harvard, 'a purer form of rebellion.'"

Track listing

All songs written by Cub, except where indicated.
  1. "Go Fish" – 2:00
  2. "What the Water Gave Me" – 1:14
  3. "Motel 6" – 2:21
  4. "A Party" – 1:18
  5. "Flying Carpet" – 2:38
  6. "My Chinchilla" – 1:23
  7. "Electric Chair" – 2:33
  8. "Nicolas Bragg" – 1:56
  9. "Pretty Pictures" – 1:38
  10. "They Don't" – 1:40
  11. "A Picnic" – 1:24
  12. "It's True" – 1:28
  13. "Someday" – 1:44
  14. "Cast a Shadow" – 2:12
  15. "The Day We Met" – 1:34
  16. "Surfer Girl" – 1:33
  17. "Little Star" – 1:13
  18. "My Assassin" – 1:51
  19. "Tell Me Now" – 3:00
  20. "Lucky 7" – 1:46
  21. "Through My Hoop" – 2:25
  22. "Leapfrog" – 2:10
  23. "Backwoods" – 3:14
  24. "What the Water Gave Me" – 3:45
2007 reissue bonus tracks
  2. "Chico" – 1:15
  3. "Sweet Pea" – 1:24
  4. "Summer Samba" – 1:41
  5. "Hello Kitty" – 1:33
  6. "Wipeout!" – 0:20
Notes
  • Tracks 1–4 and 25 are from the Pep 7-inch EP.
  • Tracks 5–8 and 27 are from the Hot Dog Day 7-inch EP.
  • Tracks 9–13, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23, 26, and 28 are from the Betti-Cola double 7-inch EP.
  • Tracks 14–16, 19, 21, 23, 24, and 29 are unique to the album, though alternate versions of 14, 15, and 21 appeared on the "Volcano" 7-inch single, Pep, and Hot Dog Day, respectively.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.
Cub
Additional musicians
  • Dave Carswell – drums, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel
  • NFA – guest performance
Production
  • Jean Smith – production
  • Cub – production
  • Adam Sloan – engineering, production
  • Nicolas Bragg – production
  • Anthony Hempell – production
  • Pat Maley – production and engineering
  • Dave Carswell – production
  • Kevin Komoda – production
  • Anthony "Fu" Valcic – mastering, assembly
Design