Editing Something for Kate (section)

===1998–2002: ''Beautiful Sharks''===
After about a year in Something for Kate, Ralph had failed to fit in with the other two,<ref name="kingsmill" /> he was replaced by [[Stephanie Ashworth]] from three-piece indie rockers, Sandpit.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/abc67403-7d68-44e1-967e-5d8585b53e5a Stephanie Ashworth profile, BBC.]</ref> Sandpit had released their own debut album, ''On Second Thought'', in May 1998 but they disbanded – founding drummer Paul Sciacca had left ahead of recording sessions.<ref name="McFarlane"/> Ashworth on bass guitar, keyboards and backing vocals and Brendan Webb, on lead guitar and vocals, had finished that album with their producer, Greg Wales, also on drums.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Abebe">{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/hunting-picture-mw0000932073/credits | title = ''Hunting Picture'' – Sandpit &#124; Credits | last = Abebe | first = Nitsuh | work = AllMusic | access-date = 24 May 2016 }}</ref>

Dempsey felt that his group were going through a "really turbulent period" and "completely de-constructed everything" to rebuild after Ashworth joined.<ref name="kingsmill"/> He continued, "We've just been lucky because we've got this really natural chemistry between the three of us... We've finally got the right combination of people and we're collaborating the way a band should."<ref name="kingsmill"/> By the time Ashworth had joined "she and Dempsey had gone from musical acquaintances to becoming a couple."<ref name="Nimmervoll"/> In June 1998 Something for Kate issued another single, "Roll Credit", which included label mates Jebediah's cover of their song, "Clint" and SFK's cover of Jebediah's "[[Harpoon (EP)|Harpoon]]".<ref name="McFarlane"/> Murmur also issued a split double-7" single/EP with the two versions of "Harpoon" on one disc and both versions of "Clint" on the other.<ref name="McFarlane"/>

During 1998 Dempsey set up a side project, Scared of Horses, to release a solo album ''[[An Empty Flight]]'', in November that year.<ref name="In Media">{{cite news | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/19991206130000/http://www.immedia.com.au/im_m/archive/981201-137/air.html | url = http://www.immedia.com.au/im_m/archive/981201-137/air.html | title = AIR Charts – 1st December 1998 | last = Owens | first = J | work = In Media & Music | issue = 137 | archive-date = 6 December 1999 | date = 30 November 1998 | access-date = 24 May 2016 | via = National Library of Australia }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He co-wrote and performed the tracks with a variety of fellow artists on lead vocals including Ashworth, [[Jamie Hutchings]] of Bluebottle Kiss, [[Laura MacFarlane]] of [[Ninetynine]], Andria Prudente of Arrosa, [[Glenn Richards]] of [[Augie March]] and [[Heinz Riegler]] of [[Not from There]].<ref name="SFK Official">{{cite web | url = http://somethingforkate.com/news/rare-paul-dempsey-scared-of-horses-album-finally-to-become-available-again/ | title = Rare Paul Dempsey ''Scared of Horses'' Album Finally to Become Available Again | date = 11 August 2010 | publisher = Something for Kate Official Website | access-date = 24 May 2016 }}</ref>

In late 1998 the band travelled to [[Toronto]] to rehearse and record their second album, ''[[Beautiful Sharks]]'', again with Paulson as producer.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Holmgren"/> Ashworth and Dempsey co-wrote half of the music for the album.<ref name="Nimmervoll"/> It was released the following June, which reached No.&nbsp;10 on the [[ARIA Charts|ARIA Albums Chart]], and was certified gold status by ARIA for shipment of 35,000 copies, in 2001.<ref name="AusCharts">{{cite web | url = http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Something+For+Kate | title = Discography Something for Kate | publisher = Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung) | last = Hung | first = Steffen | access-date = 24 May 2016 }}</ref><ref name="ARIA Cert 01 Albs">{{Cite certification|region=Australia|type=album|certyear=2001}}</ref><ref name="Mathieson">{{cite book | last = Mathieson | first = Craig | author-link = Craig Mathieson | title = The Sell-In: How the Music Business Seduced Alternative Rock | publisher = Allen & Unwin | year = 2000 | location = Sydney | page = 223| isbn = 1-86508-412-3}}</ref> According to Australian musicologist, [[Ian McFarlane]], "the acclaimed [album] moved beyond the stark instrumentation of the first album into more diverse pastures (for example, the rumbling 'Electricity', the atmospheric 'Beautiful Sharks')".<ref name="McFarlane"/> Dino Scatena, an Australian journalist, opined that "a lot of the beauty in [the album] lies in its understated quality ... so subtle, so perfect, any other songwriter would give his little pinky for a moment of such inspiration, such craftsmanship."<ref name="Lawrence"/>

"Electricity", their next single, appeared ahead of the album in March 1999 and peaked in the ARIA Singles Chart top&nbsp;40.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="AusCharts"/> It was followed by "Hallways" in August, which did not reach the top&nbsp;50.<ref name="McFarlane"/> ''Beautiful Sharks'' was nominated for Best Alternative Release at the [[ARIA Music Awards of 1999]].<ref name="ARIA List"/> The band embarked on a major tour with Powderfinger and had three tracks listed in the [[Triple J Hottest 100, 1999]]: "Electricity" (No.&nbsp;44), "Whatever You Want" (No.&nbsp;70) and "Hallways" (No.&nbsp;72).<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="Triple J 99">{{cite web | url = http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/history/1999.htm | title = Hottest 100 1999 | publisher = Triple J Hottest 100. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) | access-date = 24 May 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121104104600/http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/history/1999.htm | archive-date = 4 November 2012 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> They toured [[Japan]] and the United States in early 2000, where Ashworth received — and rejected — an offer to join [[Courtney Love]]'s rock band, [[Hole (band)|Hole]].<ref name="kingsmill"/>