Most casual fans wanted Meantime II . Instead, they got a song about a dog (“Wilma’s Rainbow”) and a cover of a 1949 country standard (“I Know”). In FLAC, Betty is revelatory. Hamilton’s jazz background shines. Listen to “Biscuits for Smut” – the guitar solo isn’t noise; it’s bebop phraseology distorted to hell. The FLAC codec handles the complex cymbal work of Stanier without the “swishy” artifacting that plagues 320kbps MP3s.

| Album (Year) | FLAC Source | Audiophile Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Strap It On (1990) | 2016 Amphetamine Reptile Reissue (24/96) | Original mix is dry; reissue adds punch. FLAC reveals tape hiss on quiet intros (e.g., “Repetition”). | | Meantime (1992) | Interscope / Universal Japan SHM-CD (16/44.1) | The gold standard. The Japanese SHM-CD rip exposes the gated reverb on Stanier’s snare. Beware of the loud 1990s CD master; seek the 2009 remaster. | | Betty (1994) | Original European CD (16/44.1) | Dynamic range scores (DR) average 12-14. The FLAC version of “Biscuits For Smut” reveals a buried bass melody lost in MP3. | | Aftertaste (1997) | Atlantic/Warner FLAC download | A problematic master (loudness war). FLAC reveals clipping on “Like I Care.” Only useful for archival completeness. | | Dead to the World (2016) | Bandcamp (24/48) | Native FLAC. The best modern example; produced by Hamilton himself. Dynamic range preserved. |

: This is a premier choice for supporting the band directly. Their latest album, Left (2023) , is available in 16-bit/48kHz FLAC . Bandcamp typically includes unlimited streaming via their app alongside the lossless download.