Belle and Sebastian's next album is going to be called "The Goalkeeper's Revenge"

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After the only book they could get 11 year old boys to read back in '75, no doubt (the actual revenge was saving 3 penalties at the town fair).

Producer is Beck/Air/Fischerspooner producer dude Tony Hoffer.

From Pitchfork:

The Goalkeeper’s Revenge: complicated soccer maneuver, tawdry murder-mystery… or the name of Belle and Sebastian’s forthcoming album? Surprisingly, it’s the latter. It seems the Scottish popsters have abandoned their penchant for awkward, confusing album titles in favor of the straightforward for their new full-length, due in January 2006. RollingStone.com reports that Stuart Murdoch, Stevie Jackson, Sarah Martin, Bobby Kildea, Richard Colburn, Mick Cooke and Chris Geddes have been chillin’ in L.A.’s Sunset Sound studios with producer Tony Hoffer for the past few months, cooking up a disc that “takes inspiration from soul, pop and a little-known electronic four-piece from Manchester, England.”

...tracks feature titles like “Song for Sunshine,” “Sukie in the Graveyard,” “Another Sunny Day,” “Act of the Apostle Part I” and “Funny Little Frog.” Guess nobody’s going to stop calling them twee any time soon.

Another Sunny Day?

― everything, Thursday, 25 August 2005 18:38 (twenty years ago)

this'll be great

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 25 August 2005 18:40 (twenty years ago)

I know.

― everything, Thursday, 25 August 2005 18:41 (twenty years ago)

I hope there will be a "funny little frog" ringtone

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 25 August 2005 18:46 (twenty years ago)

a little-known electronic four-piece from Manchester, England

I was wondering why LTM was rereleasing Northside.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 25 August 2005 18:46 (twenty years ago)

I used to love The Goalkeeper's Revenge as a kid.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 25 August 2005 18:47 (twenty years ago)

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0435121111.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 25 August 2005 18:48 (twenty years ago)

Trevor Horn nowhere to be found.

― Confounded (Confounded), Thursday, 25 August 2005 19:29 (twenty years ago)

The B&S bio sez that although the band and Mr. Horn liked working together, he also worked at a very reduced rate for them, and so they doubted that they would work together in the future.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 25 August 2005 19:32 (twenty years ago)

Ah, that makes good sense. It certainly was an interesting match-up.

― Confounded (Confounded), Thursday, 25 August 2005 19:34 (twenty years ago)

Bill Naughton = the guy that wrote "Alfie"?

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 25 August 2005 19:37 (twenty years ago)

They don't mention any of the dozen or so songs that B&S have done for radio sessions over the last few years, many of which are excellent - "Shoot the Sexual Athlete," "Meat and Potatoes," etc. I wonder if they'll end up on e.p.s down the road, or otherwise recorded? Or do you think they got them out of their systems on the radio sessions/live circuit?

― Legroom at the Vista (Bent Over at the Arclight), Thursday, 25 August 2005 20:18 (twenty years ago)

The B&S bio sez that although the band and Mr. Horn liked working together, he also worked at a very reduced rate for them, and so they doubted that they would work together in the future.

That's true; his kids liked them, so he cut the price as I understand it.

― KeefW (kmw), Thursday, 25 August 2005 20:25 (twenty years ago)

This title restores my faith in everything.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Friday, 26 August 2005 08:00 (twenty years ago)

It's like all their other titles

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Friday, 26 August 2005 09:37 (twenty years ago)

No doubt the Sinister list will come up with some sort of irritating corruption. TGR - tigerpaws?

― Mippy (Mippy), Friday, 26 August 2005 09:39 (twenty years ago)

B&S are going to ruin my life, next year.

Oh well.

― Ally C (Ally C), Friday, 26 August 2005 10:28 (twenty years ago)

It is only like the name of the band.

Why, Ally C?

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Friday, 26 August 2005 10:33 (twenty years ago)

They will steal our drummer to go on tour.

I hate them.

― Ally C (Ally C), Friday, 26 August 2005 10:35 (twenty years ago)

So January 2006 now has/had new Strokes, Radiohead and now B&S albums slated? Wasn't there one more big name act that had a "Jan 2006" scheduled release?

― Cunga (Cunga), Saturday, 27 August 2005 04:15 (twenty years ago)

This really makes me want to name an album "The Kid From Tomkinsville" or "Young Razzle" or maybe "The Kid Who Only Hit Homers"

― Hurting (Hurting), Saturday, 27 August 2005 04:21 (twenty years ago)

They will steal our drummer to go on tour.

In which case you should go on tour with them, and your drummer could play a half for each team, like Aiden McGeady did at Jackie McNamara's testimonial. Or you could arrange a loan deal for Colburn.

I cannot read the name "Sukie in the Graveyard" without singing those words to the tune of "Dylan in the Movies". I fear these songs are going to be shit.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 27 August 2005 08:28 (twenty years ago)

Ally, they have a drummer... Why do they want yours? For a monkey butler?

― KeefW (kmw), Saturday, 27 August 2005 09:29 (twenty years ago)

Possibly inspired by this I had a very strange dream last night in which it was the norm for babies to be professional goalies. Because they were babies they were forgiven for the sort of howlers that would normally end a career.

Towards the end of the dream Ricky Gervais did a stand-up routine - "babies in goal - what is all that about, eh?" - and his audience lapped it up like they'd never before considered the absurdity. "So, let me get this straight - you've got big, strapping David James at one end of the park and someone one-tenth the size who can't even sit up unaided between the sticks at the other end..." (Gales of laughter)

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Saturday, 27 August 2005 11:34 (twenty years ago)

three weeks pass...

stuart murdoch is rubbish in goal

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 20 September 2005 16:01 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

Tracklisting for 'The Life Pursuit', released in the UK/Europe on Feb 6th by Rough Trade Records:

Act Of The Apostle Part 1
Another Sunny Day
White Collar Boy
The Blues Are Still Blue
Dress Up In You
Sukie In The Graveyard
We Are The Sleepyheads
Song For Sunshine
Funny Little Frog
To Be Myself Completely
Act Of The Apostle Part 2
For The Price Of A Cup Of A Tea
Mornington Crescent

'Funny Little Frog' is the single, so expect it in shops and on iTunes three weeks before the album on January 16.

Even better is the news that it'll be released on Spunk in Australia. Titter ye not: http://www.belleandsebastian.com/newsstory.php?id=260

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Friday, 18 November 2005 01:09 (twenty years ago)

I've heard quite a few of the songs live, and most of them were pretty boring. Although I'm one of those dicks who hasn't thought a great deal of anything post If You're Feeling Sinister.

― Merdeyeux Merdeyeux Merdeyeux (Merdeyeux Merdeyeux Merdeyeux), Friday, 18 November 2005 01:19 (twenty years ago)

Haha!

Stuart Murdoch is still stewing about Ken C's goal.

― Hairy Asshurt (Toaster), Friday, 18 November 2005 01:27 (twenty years ago)

I got a good feeling about this.

― andy dale (andy dale), Friday, 18 November 2005 06:21 (twenty years ago)

We Are The Sleepyheads

This must be the album's "rocker".

― Cunga (Cunga), Friday, 18 November 2005 06:44 (twenty years ago)

Mornington Crescent

It's taken them ten years to call a song this?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 November 2005 10:50 (twenty years ago)

Another Sunny Day

haha! sue them for plagiarism harvey!

― zappi (joni), Friday, 18 November 2005 10:54 (twenty years ago)

What happened to "The Goalkeeper's Revenge"? A much better album title.

― Oh No, It's Dadaismus (and His Endless Stupid Jokes) (Dada), Friday, 18 November 2005 10:59 (twenty years ago)

Oh No, It's Dadaismus (and His Endless Stupid Jokes) is correct, it was a much better title. Perhaps they were threatened with legal action again. The Life Pursuit sounds a bit Alannis Morrisette.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Friday, 18 November 2005 13:14 (twenty years ago)

it's a comment on capitalism:

"the life purse oot"

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 18 November 2005 13:25 (twenty years ago)

I like the sound of Where's the Graveyard, Sukie?

(I reckon I'm only the 17th person worldwide to make that joke, including each member of the band and their friend).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 18 November 2005 15:15 (twenty years ago)

Sigh. Another album whose original title is about ten billion times cooler than the eventual one.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Friday, 18 November 2005 15:20 (twenty years ago)

Someday they'll say that "The Goalkeeper's Revenge" was Belle & Sebastian's own "Don't Be a Faggot."

― Mugged Outside the Jabberjaw, 1993 (Bent Over at the Arclight), Friday, 18 November 2005 21:14 (twenty years ago)

This bit was included in the last newsletter they sent out:

"Cryptic last bit: There will actually be another B&S album (of sorts) released before "The Life Pursuit". In three weeks in fact. But we can't say what it is for a couple of days."

Any idea what that's about (I'm hoping it's a collection of Peel sessions maybe?)?

― Mugged Outside the Jabberjaw, 1993 (Bent Over at the Arclight), Friday, 18 November 2005 21:16 (twenty years ago)

It could be the collection of childrens' songs that B&S were curating/involved in; the one which Momus' contributions were considered too outré for.

― acb (acb), Friday, 18 November 2005 21:30 (twenty years ago)

It's taken them ten years to call a song this?

I have a song called taht on the album I'm doing right now! fuck it, better think of something else.

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 18 November 2005 21:30 (twenty years ago)

album is sinister live.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 18 November 2005 21:33 (twenty years ago)

ie:

The "surprise" album, alluded to in our previous mail, is "If You're Feeling Sinister: Live At The Barbican". This download-only album, which pisses all over any bit torrents you may have heard, will be available exclusively from iTunes on December 6th. As a further incentive to follow the path of righteousness, all proceeds will be donated to the DEC's Asia Quake Appeal.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 18 November 2005 21:39 (twenty years ago)

Hmm, I never got the follow-up newsletter. Fuck, though, I assume it'll only be on iTunes UK?

― Mugged Outside the Jabberjaw, 1993 (Bent Over at the Arclight), Friday, 18 November 2005 21:42 (twenty years ago)

no idea.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 18 November 2005 22:17 (twenty years ago)

I have a song called that on the album I'm doing right now! fuck it, better think of something else.

I did one in 2003.

― acb (acb), Saturday, 19 November 2005 01:39 (twenty years ago)

I am holding a copy of The Life Pursuit in my hand - which is making it quite hard to type...

ARGH!

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 10:49 (twenty years ago)

initial reaction: GLAM ROCK!

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 11:13 (twenty years ago)

more reactions: Spencer Davis, Pizzicato Five, Orange Juice, "Listen To The Flower People", "Jonathan David", Scott Engel, Denim...

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 11:30 (twenty years ago)

I'm actually *anticipating* this now.

First play of new single on Radcliffe R2 tonight.

― robster (robster), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 11:55 (twenty years ago)

One song from the album is here. It's very Bowie.

Can one of you bastards just leak the damn thing already?

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 11:58 (twenty years ago)

matthew, is that your real email?

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 12:22 (twenty years ago)

Well, yeah, but I never check that one. I check the perpetua @gmail.com one all the time though.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 12:25 (twenty years ago)

Meanwhile, Stuart David has made half a million squid in royalties!

― Mädchen (Madchen), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 13:03 (twenty years ago)

http://www.matadorrecords.com/mpeg/belle_and_sebastian/belle_another_sunny_day.mp3

― Simon H. (Simon H.), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

Has anyone bothered with the live sinister album? Is there anything amazing unexpected on it, or literally just live performances of sinister??

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 14:19 (twenty years ago)

This leaked.

― Hairy Asshurt (Toaster), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 16:10 (twenty years ago)

Wow this is really great.

― Hairy Asshurt (Toaster), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 16:40 (twenty years ago)

it is. on third listen, it glistens.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 17:02 (twenty years ago)

http://i13.ebayimg.com/03/i/04/fa/b6/bb_1_b.JPG

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 18:10 (twenty years ago)

If this has leaked, why is it virtually impossible to find on slsk? Hints, please!

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 18:19 (twenty years ago)

I've only found it on oink, but you might find this useful...

http://s39.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2J9G7VPCJSNXF1ISCBZA9DU89G

Hurry up, it'll be gone soon.

― Simon H. (Simon H.), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 18:21 (twenty years ago)

a little-known electronic four-piece from Manchester, England
I was wondering why LTM was rereleasing Northside.

-- Ned Raggett (ne...), August 25th, 2005 3:46 PM.

Man you weren't kidding - listen to MADCHESTER "Sukie In The Graveyard". the organ and the bass made me think of seeing a double bill of the charlatans and the inspirals within weeks of lovegod-era soupies

― rentboy (rentboy), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 22:55 (twenty years ago)

So yeah I would guess that Matthew P will love this and me, on first listen, I hate it. "Song for Sunshine" basically makes me wish that Belle & Sebastian would break up. I had such high hopes after Dear Catastrophe Waitress but it looks like the band is not gonna ever top Sinister, after all.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 23:10 (twenty years ago)

In spite of myself, I can't help liking "Another Sunny Day." Just an irresistible chord progression. And the angelic back vox when they kick in, and the "football" / "fuck-all" rhyme.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 23:11 (twenty years ago)

Yeah I hate "Song For Sunshine" a lot
i just keep thinking of the Brady Kids, and not in a good, kistchy way either. in the bad, this is really awful, why are they still doing this sorta way

but i love "sleepyheads", and "sukie" is good too

― rentboy (rentboy), Tuesday, 29 November 2005 23:36 (twenty years ago)

Thanks for the YSI link, Simon H!

Unfortunately, after a couple of listens, I'm hating this a lot. Loved Dear Catastrophe Waitress, thought they would be on fire for this one. What a crushing disappointment! What rotten songs!

Off to listen to their Peel Acres Xmas broadcast from a few years back.. That's sure to put a grin back on my jaded, curmudgeonly face.

― retort pouch (retort pouch), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 01:26 (twenty years ago)

I quite like most of it, actually.

― Simon H. (Simon H.), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 02:13 (twenty years ago)

I'm really enjoying "Sukie in the Graveyard"

'Arseholes' (around 52 seconds) sounds great....

― Tape Store (Tape Store), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 03:24 (twenty years ago)

I like this very much too, its been playing all night.

― brokenfuses (brokenfuses), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 03:26 (twenty years ago)

I'm at track 5 and rapidly losing interest...

― giboyeux (skowly), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 03:54 (twenty years ago)

I've got it- It's good, but Dear Catastrophe Waitress is better...

― cdwill, Wednesday, 30 November 2005 03:59 (twenty years ago)

I'm at track 5 and relishing in my virgin listen.
I imagine that it's a grower for sure.
However, I am still feeling this one on first listen.
Step back. Let things go. Be mindful. It's Belle and Sebastian damnit!
(If i could have a second skin, I'd probably dress up in you.)
I'm in love. They work for me.
I hope it gets better and better. I'll report fellow ILMers!

― marybeth, Wednesday, 30 November 2005 04:01 (twenty years ago)

Really. All I can say is
a summer record released in the winter. Strange, no?
Also, if you slowed it down slightly, I think it would work. Right now, for me, it's moving too quickly *trying too hard?

― gerardmonchichi, Wednesday, 30 November 2005 04:19 (twenty years ago)

Gerard. I hear what you are saying. On track number ten, and not certain that when the vocals are handed over to the auxiliary staff that things don't suffer. Still feeling it, btw. Just wondering if Stevie will grow on me. Pace? Perhaps. Is it a whole album experience too complex for this girlie girl. I mean I'm still in my 20s and they're in their 30s right? Wisdom and all. It'll come to me. Especially as I'm snuggling into track number 11!

― marybeth, Wednesday, 30 November 2005 04:28 (twenty years ago)

"the sad pasty kid's revenge"

― oooOoOoOOoOoOOoOoOooo (dr g), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 04:38 (twenty years ago)

hall and oates

― cutty (mcutt), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 04:44 (twenty years ago)

Damnit, Murdoch! I don't know what to think. I'm left feeling bittersweet after first listen. Is this a "transitional album'? a "concept album" I'll discover on repeated listens? I mean, c'mon, "you're covers blown" was brilliant!!! Really. It moved me.
I know I'm going to listen again. I'm perplexed. I did feel high highs, but I'm wondering...can you sustain it? I luv u stuart m. I even wrote your name encapsulated by tiny hearts. Don't dissapoint me. A grower, right?

― marybeth, Wednesday, 30 November 2005 04:45 (twenty years ago)

hall an oates? explain...
is that really the sound you think they're after? interesting....
I'd like you to elaborate. i'm trying to figure out the sound too.

― gerardmonchichi, Wednesday, 30 November 2005 04:47 (twenty years ago)

the crying and the recriminations begin

(the next album title)

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 04:49 (twenty years ago)

a summer record released in the winter. Strange, no?
I think it's actually supposed to be released in spring '06. It seems to have leaked very, very early.

Listened to it a few more times now. It's really dreadful. Ah well.

the crying and the recriminations begin

aah, but, aaahhh, I'd already written them off! The last album had got my hopes up again though. Bah!

― retort pouch (retort pouch), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 05:02 (twenty years ago)

I think it's actually supposed to be released in spring '06.

february 7, 2006 in the us.

It seems to have leaked very, very early.

yes, and thank you very much.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 05:04 (twenty years ago)

hall an oates? explain...
is that really the sound you think they're after? interesting....
I'd like you to elaborate. i'm trying to figure out the sound too.

there isn't much to explain. early 70s hall and oates.

― cutty (mcutt), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 05:05 (twenty years ago)

you leaked it??

i downloaded this but for some reason don't want to listen to it just yet.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 05:06 (twenty years ago)

i do not think he is saying that he leaked it.

― cutty (mcutt), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 05:08 (twenty years ago)

no, dummy, i didn't leak it. i don't even have a copy to leak yet, even if i wanted to (i don't, that shit's for impatient turdburglers).

xpost - yes, cutty is tres correct.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 05:09 (twenty years ago)

i know, just teasing.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 05:11 (twenty years ago)

right.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 05:13 (twenty years ago)

:-)

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 05:18 (twenty years ago)

Fucking FANTAZMO! The best one yet! Move over Rachel Stevens, we've got a NEW ALBUM OF THE YEAR.

― Mr. Snrub, Wednesday, 30 November 2005 05:21 (twenty years ago)

Enuf of the bs. So. Is this album worth seeking out or not?

― richardg, Wednesday, 30 November 2005 05:38 (twenty years ago)

it's worth buying.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 05:39 (twenty years ago)

if you like them, i mean.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 05:40 (twenty years ago)

hstencil, ur a riot my friend. Ill buy it but not certain if i like this one.

― gerardmonchichi, Wednesday, 30 November 2005 07:26 (twenty years ago)

P-FUNK

― John Cocktolstoy (John Cocktolstoy), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 07:38 (twenty years ago)

"I've got it- It's good, but Dear Catastrophe Waitress is better... "

i sure hope it's better than dear catastophe waitress, cause that pile o' dung stunk like sheeit. they had to have been hopped up when they did that one.

― corey c (shock of daylight), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 08:55 (twenty years ago)

it isn't

― John Cocktolstoy (John Cocktolstoy), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 08:59 (twenty years ago)

My first thought was 'Hall and Oates'

― Hairy Asshurt (Toaster), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 10:26 (twenty years ago)

I love it as well. More precisely, I love the T. Rexiness of some of it. Also track 7, which sounds like a B&S song over Orange Juice guitar.

― Smetric, Wednesday, 30 November 2005 10:33 (twenty years ago)

"Song For Sunshine" is definitely my favorite!

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 12:18 (twenty years ago)

There's a bunch of songs that I'm not that into yet, but that stretch from "Sukie" up through "To Be Myself Completely" is fantastic!

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 12:21 (twenty years ago)

sukie is fantastic.
so is another sunny day (harvey too).
i can't wait to listen to the whole album!

― joan vich (joan vich), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 12:31 (twenty years ago)

Has this been released, or leaked?

God, I am out of the loop.

― Roxymuzak, Mrs. Carbohydrate (roxymuzak), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 15:17 (twenty years ago)

february 7, 2006 in the us, roxy.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 15:20 (twenty years ago)

sweet

― Roxymuzak, Mrs. Carbohydrate (roxymuzak), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 18:54 (twenty years ago)

i sure hope it's better than dear catastophe waitress, cause that pile o' dung stunk like sheeit. they had to have been hopped up when they did that one.

Except for the fact that it's their best album.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 19:18 (twenty years ago)

I don't really think Belle & Sebastian have a "best album" - all of them have at least a couple duds, and a relatively equal number of gems. They definitely have a worst album, though - Fold Your Hands.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 19:20 (twenty years ago)

Fold Your Hands gets hated on too much. There's a couple clunkers, but there's also some really good stuff on that album.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 19:25 (twenty years ago)

When I say that Dear Catastrophe Waitress is their best album, I think part of what I mean is that it's their most fully realized album.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 19:26 (twenty years ago)

Are we not counting "Storytelling" in that?

― Mugged Outside the Jabberjaw, 1993 (Bent Over at the Arclight), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 19:27 (twenty years ago)

I agree that Dear Catastrophe Waitress is like the ultimate B&S album.

I'm not saying there aren't some gems on Fold Your Hands - I mean that it's got more duds, and the duds are probably the worst in the entire catalog.

I don't count Storytelling as a proper B&S album since it's a soundtrack. It's more of a "miscellaneous" sort of thing, like their Yellow Submarine or something.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 19:30 (twenty years ago)

downloaded it (from an mp3 blog which is on elbo.ws, just do a search there). listened to the first six songs. deleted everything. it's not really bad but i don't need to listen to that kind of music anymore. it says nothing to me about my life...

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 19:32 (twenty years ago)

Personally, I think that "Women's Realm," "Don't Leave The Light On, Baby" and "The Chalet Lines" are all better than most of the songs on If You're Feeling Sinister, but Sinister is the most consistently listenable, which is pretty much the entire reason why it generally gets called the classic.

Alex, in fairness, side b is where all the best songs are with the new album!

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 19:34 (twenty years ago)

There's a great song on Fold Your Hands - towards the end. Not Woman's Realm... God what was it?

― dog latin (dog latin), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 19:35 (twenty years ago)

"There's Too Much Love", that's it. Love the piano chords and guitar lick.

Haven't heard the new album but I hope B&S are continuing in the direction they've been going with on tracks like "Your Cover's Blown", "Legal Man" and the weirder ones on Catastrophe Waitress.

― dog latin (dog latin), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 19:39 (twenty years ago)

I think that "Women's Realm," "Don't Leave The Light On, Baby" and "The Chalet Lines"

You've been reading that Paul Whitelaw book too much. It's so odd to me that he considered "The Chalet Lines" to be the stand-out; I always cringed at that one.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 19:42 (twenty years ago)

I cringe everytime at the opening line of "Chalet Lines."

― Mugged Outside the Jabberjaw, 1993 (Bent Over at the Arclight), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 19:44 (twenty years ago)

My first thought after hearing Life Pursuit is that it's very much in line with the up-with-people 60s showtune feel they started to explore on Waitress. Phil Spector is also a good comparison, perhaps.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 19:46 (twenty years ago)

i beg to differ, matthew but song for sunshine (from the recycle bin where it will go again in a sec) is absolutely awful. so b&s have jumped the retro train as well. and what a lame unfunky 80s synthie train that is. murdoch's vocals are without any expression as well.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 19:48 (twenty years ago)

I've held the same opinion of "The Chalet Lines" since when I first got that album!

"Women's Realm" is one of their three or four best songs, you're all nuts!

Isn't "Song For Sunshine" more about the harmonies, keyboards melodies, and the drums than the expressiveness of the vocals? I think that's a pretty beautiful recording. It references funk music, but I really don't think it's meant to be an actual funk track, Alex!

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 19:57 (twenty years ago)

Phil Spector, reallllly? I'm thinking more of Andrew Lloyd Webber, jaymc!

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 19:58 (twenty years ago)

A collaboration, then? There's lots of real reverb-y sunshine-pop on here.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 20:05 (twenty years ago)

I just hope that Belle & Sebastian fulfill their destiny and have some kind of a Movin' Out/Mamma Mia-like Broadway show in the future featuring a loose storyline about a lonely kid at school who goes off to work in an office. It's already written, more or less!

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 20:11 (twenty years ago)

Matthew, you might be interested in this blog post I made two years ago.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 20:13 (twenty years ago)

I was listening to Mi and L'au and settling in for a long winter's nap. This B & S album has me looking for my beach towel. I'm enjoying it so far. Sukie in the Graveyard rules.

― Maria :D (Maria D.), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 20:19 (twenty years ago)

Hey jaymc: there's a post SOMEwhere on these boards that outlines a musical based entirely on the music of the Smiths (Wolk did it, I think). It's SPECTACULAR. B&S could def get the same treatment.

― giboyeux (skowly), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 20:23 (twenty years ago)

That sounds familiar ...

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 20:27 (twenty years ago)

This has been posted before, but:

Here's the prospectus for HATFUL!

Our hero, William, is a young Aryan student type with suspect "nationalist" tendencies and a thing about anonymous rough trade. As the curtain rises, his head is sticking out of the back window of a car on a hillside desolate, and he is singing ecstatically ("This Charming Man"); a chorus of bicyclists joins in. As he finishes his song, his companion pops out of the car; it is a young, suspiciously high-voiced young man named Sandy. William tells Sandy gratefully that, having recently gotten engaged, he was afraid that the anonymous-pickup part of his life might be coming to an end. De nada, says Sandy ("William, It Was Really Nothing"), but a man like you shouldn't be engaged. They exchange phone numbers. In the next scene, we see who William is engaged to: an older woman named Jeane, a petty criminal. William is pretty drained at this point and just wants to do his schoolwork, but Jeane has other ideas ("Handsome Devil"). William gets all sulky ("Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now") and realizes he has to see Sandy again. "There's a club, if you'd like to go," Sandy offers. They meet there, and Sandy (backed by a chorus of dancers) offers himself sexually in any way William desires ("Ask"). William suggests they adjourn to a nearby disused railway line, where it is dramatically revealed that Sandy is actually a young woman, Sandie, and what's more, she's been obsessed with William for years and figured that this masquerade was the only way to win his affections (the duet "Half A Person"). At this point, William has no idea _what_ his desires are, and announces that not only is he celibate now but that he has been for years. He packs his things to move out, confronts Jeane and rejects her dramatically ("Jeane"). Jeane, distraught, invites over a quartet of her best women-friends who have also recently been rejected by men they thought they could change, and for Act I's closer, they sing "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side," each attempting to top the others' high notes.

For the big Act II opener, William returns in despair to his old friends, now in the National Front, who suggest a little mayhem to pick up his mood. They burn a disco and lynch the DJ while performing an ensemble song-and-dance number ("Panic"). Jeane returns pathetically to William ("Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want"), who snidely rejects her affections and her lifestyle but sleeps with her anyway ("What Difference Does It Make?"). Meanwhile, Sandie bewails her lonely fate ("Unloveable"). Fortunately, the triangle is resolved when Jeane goes to visit her friend Stephen, who tells her that William loves Sandie as he could never love her ("You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby"). Jeane wanders out into the street and is hit by a double-decker bus. William, distraught, goes to visit her in the hospital ("Girlfriend In A Coma"). Jeane sits feebly up in bed, sings her final tragic ballad ("Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me"), and expires. William, at last, realizes that he didn't especially love Jeane in the first place, and heads over to Sandie's apartment to throw stones at the window. Sandie lets him in, and the lovers embrace as they sing a duet reprise of "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want". As the sun rises, the entire cast returns to the stage, links hands, sways, and joins voices in glorious choral song ("That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore"). Curtain. They'll be going out into the streets whistling "I've seen this happen in other people's lives/And now it's happening in mine," I tell you.

--Douglas Wolk

(alright, music geeks, let's get one these slapped together with B&S songs!)

― giboyeux (skowly), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 20:27 (twenty years ago)

Awesome. I love the detail about Jeane getting hit by a double-decker bus, even though "There is a Light..." isn't among the songs!

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 20:32 (twenty years ago)

Please just make sure that "Legal Man" is the big setpiece, okay? Because it just has to be.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 20:33 (twenty years ago)

Like Dylan in the Movies would be good, too: META.

― giboyeux (skowly), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 20:34 (twenty years ago)

"Just a Modern Rock Song" as opener!

― Eppy (Eppy), Wednesday, 30 November 2005 20:55 (twenty years ago)

so yeah...is this on soulseek or what?seems like people either despise it or love it.i'm very curious.so,soulseek?anyone know?

― dipforadap, Wednesday, 30 November 2005 23:28 (twenty years ago)

A B&S musical would be glorious.

― Nathaniel (Horbgorbling Slubberdegullion), Thursday, 1 December 2005 02:51 (twenty years ago)

hard to tell if i like the polar opinions expressed here since i don't neatly align with anyone making judgements. sometimes on here a negative reaction by some sorts is an instant recommendation but i don't really know anyone's taste here. dear catastrophe doesn't have any duds. i think i might want a new modesty blaise cd more.

― keyth (keyth), Thursday, 1 December 2005 05:08 (twenty years ago)

I like it, but I think I yearn for a "Piazza New York Catcher" or something to give me breathing room. It feels very dense.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 1 December 2005 05:36 (twenty years ago)

I'm not really understanding some of the hate upthread and elsewhere. I'll admit to being out the B&S loop (I stopped paying close attention after the "I'm Waking Up to Us" single), but this record is pretty enjoyable. I can see how some of the stylistic touches here and there may grate (there's definitely tracks I skip), but there's enough straight forward B&S pop to compensate I would think. Or maybe that's the problem?

Has anyone mentioned the guitar lead on "Sleepyheads"? Do you think that's Stevie or some session palyer (it was recorded in LA, afterall)?

― D. Bachyrycz, Thursday, 1 December 2005 05:52 (twenty years ago)

Listening to the new record now, and have to say I am enjoying it a great deal.

― BlastsOfStatic (BlastsofStatic), Thursday, 1 December 2005 14:34 (twenty years ago)

I never really liked Piazza, New York Catcher... It's a bit of a dirge compared to the rest of the album.

― dog latin (dog latin), Thursday, 1 December 2005 14:37 (twenty years ago)

No, it was one of the few blips on an otherwise great record

― mms (mms), Thursday, 1 December 2005 16:00 (twenty years ago)

"Sleepyheads" is the def. highlight of this record for me right now.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 1 December 2005 16:39 (twenty years ago)

Has anyone mentioned the guitar lead on "Sleepyheads"? Do you think that's Stevie or some session palyer (it was recorded in LA, afterall)?

Yeah, the intro to "Another Sunny Day" is also suspiciously chopsy.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Thursday, 1 December 2005 16:44 (twenty years ago)

"White Collar Boy" is one of my favorites at the moment...

― Tape Store (Tape Store), Thursday, 1 December 2005 22:35 (twenty years ago)

"I never really liked Piazza, New York Catcher... It's a bit of a dirge compared to the rest of the album."

Huh. I've always felt "Piazza..." was the album's best track by a large margin.

― Nathaniel (Horbgorbling Slubberdegullion), Friday, 2 December 2005 04:13 (twenty years ago)

I still haven't listened to the last four tracks yet (i want there to be some surprises when i buy it), but so far "White Collar Boy" is probably my favorite with "Sukie" behind it...then "Sleepyheads"

― Tape Store (Tape Store), Friday, 2 December 2005 04:16 (twenty years ago)

Dress Me Up In You and Sleepyheads are the best songs so far. Even if the former is Murdoch by numbers it's still one of his best songs.

― Carl Handwriting (dog latin), Friday, 2 December 2005 15:13 (twenty years ago)

Just listened to it once. I don't know; I need to give it some more listens.

― mike a, Friday, 2 December 2005 15:51 (twenty years ago)

(note that this was not my reaction after my first listen to DCW - there, it was, "OMG, this album is amazing!")

― mike a, Friday, 2 December 2005 15:52 (twenty years ago)

i'm starting to come around to the fact that b&s are becoming one of my favourite ever bands. Considering I didn't check em out till early this year, I think they've epitomised 2005 for me, along with Animal Collective of course.

― Carl Handwriting (dog latin), Friday, 2 December 2005 20:06 (twenty years ago)

"We Are The Sleepyheads" sounds so Christmas-y to me! I'm really into it right now.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Monday, 5 December 2005 19:27 (twenty years ago)

yay!

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 5 December 2005 19:36 (twenty years ago)

i'm enjoying this album

― s1ocki (slutsky), Monday, 5 December 2005 19:39 (twenty years ago)

I'm also way into "The Blues Are Still Blue."

At this point, I think about 75% of this album ranks among their best music ever. The ones I'm not really into are "Another Sunny Day," "Mornington Crescent," "To Be Myself Completely" and "For The Price..."

"Another Sunny Day" isn't bad or anything, but I feel like they've written that song several times before, and this isn't very special.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Monday, 5 December 2005 19:40 (twenty years ago)

The thing I don't get about B&S is why the main guy lets those other people write songs sometimes.

― Roxymuzak, Mrs. Carbohydrate (roxymuzak), Monday, 5 December 2005 19:41 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I agree. It certainly didn't get me excited about the album when I first heard it on the Matador site.

Did someone already mention the T. Rex sound on the verses of "The Blues Are Still Blue"? T. Rex! (Jeepster: ah yes, it all comes back.)

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 5 December 2005 19:42 (twenty years ago)

Well, I like having Stevie Jackson as a foil for Stuart. He's good with only one song on the record, I can get behind that. Everything else is Murdoch on this one.

I get the feeling that Matador went with "Another Sunny Day" as the mp3 preview because it's pretty much more-of-the-same and wouldn't be alienating to the people who just want B&S Classic. It's unfortunate, cos "Sukie," "Sleepyheads," "Blues Are Still Blue," "Song For Sunshine," "Blue Collar Boy" and "Funny Little Frog" would all be excellent singles.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Monday, 5 December 2005 19:48 (twenty years ago)

Funny Little Frog is the single..

― duncky, Saturday, 10 December 2005 22:05 (twenty years ago)

I'm pretty disappointed by this record. I loved the last one.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Saturday, 10 December 2005 22:09 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I know "Funny Little Frog" is the single. In the UK. But the advance official mp3 is "Another Sunny Day," which makes it the de facto pre-release single in the US.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Sunday, 11 December 2005 14:20 (twenty years ago)

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000BM2OUQ.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Friday, 23 December 2005 01:07 (twenty years ago)

that's a lame cover.

― Christopher Costello (CGC), Friday, 23 December 2005 02:07 (twenty years ago)

http://www.annagnr.com/images/buckethead%2003.jpg

― buckethead, Friday, 23 December 2005 02:24 (twenty years ago)

the love/ hate bi-polarity on this thread is hillarious!

did we do a rank the belles/ OPO ever?

i'm LOVING at least 5 trax on here. same as on every one of theirs except 'fold yr hands' which made me a bit ill first listen.

― piscesboy, Thursday, 5 January 2006 02:18 (twenty years ago)

Does the opening few bars of funny little frog remind anyone of the theme song from minder?

there's a few tracks on there striking me immediately as clunkers. but mostly mornington crescent - maybe it'll grow on me. i could see myself liking song for sunshine on a summer evening after a bottle of gin and a dangerous barbeque in the park, but it's not time yet.

all in all i quite like it though. it is a very conscious thrust in one direction - with so many different people in a band i suppose it has to be a conscious choice of direction... making music more organically has to be easier with one or two people. stevie's q&a responses seem to confirm that.

for all i like it, i must say i'm looking forward to the 'reaction against it for the next one' he talks about.

― c_po, Thursday, 5 January 2006 22:58 (twenty years ago)

This is so great! I think it could be one of their very best. Anyone got the "Funny Little Frog" single? It had a sticker on saying you can buy all three formats for £5, but Virgin only had a DVD and a CD single. Don't know what the third format was or what was on it?

What do people think of "Meat & Potatoes" and "I Took A Long Hard Look"? What about the video (I thought it was a bit boring, although I like the clunkiness of it all).

I've been trying not to listen to the album until it's out properly, but really the only track I'm not too keen on is Funny Little Frog itself. Mornington Crescent is quite nice. I really like Act of the Apstle 1 & 2 and We Are The Sleepyheads, oh and of course Dress Up In You..

― Louis Giomblechett and his kerayzy friends (dog latin), Thursday, 19 January 2006 11:56 (nineteen years ago)

What does "Another Sunny Day" remind me of? It sounds so familiar.

― Louis Giomblechett and his kerayzy friends (dog latin), Thursday, 19 January 2006 11:56 (nineteen years ago)

The Littlest Hobo, that's it!

― Louis Giomblechett and his kerayzy friends (dog latin), Thursday, 19 January 2006 11:58 (nineteen years ago)

Third format is seven-inch single.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Thursday, 19 January 2006 12:05 (nineteen years ago)

The fact that my favourite song on this is (by far) "Dress Up In You" makes me sad.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Thursday, 19 January 2006 12:34 (nineteen years ago)

The sets for the gigs are looking good!

2 nights ago at Glasgow:

Setlist:-

The Stars Of Track And Field
Another Sunny Day
Funny Little Frog
My Wandering Days Are Over
Sukie In The Graveyard
Electronic Renaissance
The Loneliness Of A Middle Distance Runner
To Be Myself Completely
Dress Up In You
The Fox In The Snow
Dog On Wheels
Your Covers Blown
The State I Am In
I'm A Cuckoo
The Wrong Girl
White Collar Boy
If You Find Yourself Caught In Love

― piscesboy, Thursday, 19 January 2006 12:46 (nineteen years ago)

it grew on me FAST, in maybe five listens

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Thursday, 19 January 2006 12:49 (nineteen years ago)

I was at that Sunday show in Glasgow.

Stuart was still reading some of the new lyrics off of the LP. (And he had to ask for help with some of the old ones.)

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Thursday, 19 January 2006 12:59 (nineteen years ago)

The fact that my favourite song on this is (by far) "Dress Up In You" makes me sad

It's the most traditional B&S song on there. It was the first one that I got into but it works well.

― Louis Giomblechett and his kerayzy friends (dog latin), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:31 (nineteen years ago)

Exactly. It underlines the fact that no matter their successes on Waitress, it's still the old B and S who I most love, and whose music I immediately gravitate towards.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:34 (nineteen years ago)

never thought I'd see the day they'd be playing electronic renaissance regularly

I wonder how bad it sounds

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:36 (nineteen years ago)

it sounds pretty good, actually, updated for their new synthdancy vibe.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:39 (nineteen years ago)

updated for their new synthdancy vibe????

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:41 (nineteen years ago)

I am electro boy...

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:48 (nineteen years ago)

well, not really synthdancey. not like, uh, Girls Aloud. pop-rock-dancey, say.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:50 (nineteen years ago)

hmm

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:51 (nineteen years ago)

have you heard the new album?

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:53 (nineteen years ago)

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 19 January 2006 13:54 (nineteen years ago)

i'm still wandering whether my copy of tigermilk is broken at the point electronic renaissance comes on or if they meant it to sound like that. b&s relaly ought to release electronic renaissance 2006 on a b-side or soemthing.

― Louis Giomblechett and his kerayzy friends (dog latin), Thursday, 19 January 2006 14:47 (nineteen years ago)

That wasn't the set list from Glasgow two nights ago (Tuesday). Not in any particular order, they played:

The Stars Of Track And Field
Another Sunny Day
Funny Little Frog
Sukie In The Graveyard
Electronic Renaissance
The Loneliness Of A Middle Distance Runner
We Are The Sleepyheads
Mayfly
Fox In The Snow
Seeing Other People
Dog On Wheels
Your Cover's Blown
I'm A Cuckoo
White Collar Boy
There's Too Much Love
Sleep The Clock Around
She's Losing It
Me And The Major

That seems like quite a lot, and I'm sure I've forgotten something.

B-side of the 7" single is "The Eighth Station of the Cross Kebab House" which was the track they contributed for Warchild.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:20 (nineteen years ago)

i don't hear any real departure from early b & s on first impressions, i greatly prefer it the last one, the blues are still blue is pure denim stomp! actually the whole thing reminds me very much of tiger milk

― cw (cww), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:27 (nineteen years ago)

I think I'd mentioned earlier I'd like to see an album that's chocka with stuff like Legal Man/Your Cover's Blown/Stay Loose kinda stuff. Murdoch does pastiche a lot better than most.

― Louis Giomblechett and his kerayzy friends (dog latin), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:44 (nineteen years ago)

i'm still wandering whether my copy of tigermilk is broken at the point electronic renaissance comes on or if they meant it to sound like that.

Haha, DL, are you being serious, there are still people around who think that Electronic Renaissance shouldn't sound like that and there must be something wrong with their copy of it?

"The Blues Are Still Blues" is brilliant! I think it might be my favourite album since ...Sinister

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:44 (nineteen years ago)

My biggest surprise from the gig on Sunday was how great a frontman Stevie was (I think I was enjoying him more than Stuart). I've never (before) been a fan of his songs, and the last time I saw the band - around Storytelling I think, in Montreal, - I loathed the guy's every tic. But he as so giving, earnest and playful, this week, compared to Stuart's somehow frigid friendliness.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:49 (nineteen years ago)

Haha, DL, are you being serious, there are still people around who think that Electronic Renaissance shouldn't sound like that and there must be something wrong with their copy of it?

I'm relatively new to the band compared to most fans. Didn't realise this was a common misconception.

― Louis Giomblechett and his kerayzy friends (dog latin), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:51 (nineteen years ago)

The live video of Lazy Linepainter Jane with the new single is nice!

― Louis Giomblechett and his kerayzy friends (dog latin), Thursday, 19 January 2006 15:53 (nineteen years ago)

"Funny Little Frog" looks like being their first top 10 single as well.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 19 January 2006 16:28 (nineteen years ago)

Really? Have they never gone top ten before?

― Louis Giomblechett and his kerayzy friends (dog latin), Thursday, 19 January 2006 16:35 (nineteen years ago)

Didn't "Legal Man"?

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Thursday, 19 January 2006 16:41 (nineteen years ago)

i know that's their biggest hit. I'm surprised "I'm A Cuckoo" didn't hit the top ten.

― Louis Giomblechett and his kerayzy friends (dog latin), Thursday, 19 January 2006 16:42 (nineteen years ago)

32 Belle And Sebastian 3 6 9 Seconds Of Light EP (featuring A Century of Fakers) Oct 1997
15 Belle And Sebastian Legal Man Jun 2000
31 Belle And Sebastian Jonathan David Jun 2001
39 Belle And Sebastian I'm Waking Up To Us Dec 2001
32 Belle And Sebastian Step Into My Office Baby Nov 2003
14 Belle And Sebastian I'm A Cuckcoo Feb 2004
20 Belle And Sebastian Books Jul 2004

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 19 January 2006 16:54 (nineteen years ago)

And "Sukie In The Graveyard" may be one of the five best B&S tracks to date. This album really has grown on me a lot since first listen.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 19 January 2006 16:54 (nineteen years ago)

"The Blues Are Still Blue" should go Top 5, if they release that as a single in the UK. It's the catchiest, stupidest, most wonderful chorus I've heard in ages.

According to Paul Whitelaw's B&S book, Electronic Renaissance was recorded off the radio by Stuart - and that's the version you hear on Tigermilk.

― Rick Spence (spencerman), Thursday, 19 January 2006 18:59 (nineteen years ago)

I have only good things to say about "The Blues Are Still Blue". The blues themselves have done pretty OK for us, too.

― marc h. (marc h.), Thursday, 19 January 2006 19:17 (nineteen years ago)

I'm not so sure about Sukie personally. I reckon they have to release Sleepyheads as a single.

― Louis Giomblechett and his kerayzy friends (dog latin), Friday, 20 January 2006 19:20 (nineteen years ago)

I'm sure I've forgotten something. from the Glasgow Tuesday setlist. I did. They played Dress Up In You as well, I think.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 26 January 2006 23:30 (nineteen years ago)

Still really really good. Hurry up and release it! January's turning out to be one long-assed pain in the arse.

New favourite bit - the build into the final reprise of Act Of The Apostle II. Also, the Stevie Wonderness of Song For Sunshine and also To Be Myself Completeley, which harks back to some of the better tracks on Fold Yr Hands.

― Louis Giomblechett and his kerayzy friends (dog latin), Thursday, 26 January 2006 23:40 (nineteen years ago)

Also, the more I listen to "The Blues Are Still Blues", the more I think it's the greatest thing ever. Especially the line "I got a letter from my mother which my stupid dog has ate", for some reason. It (the album) has had me grinning like a fool and skipping along the street* for weeks and it just keeps getting better. I'm frightened I'm going to start signing along on the subway on the way into work every morning to the amusement/horror of fellow passengers between Govan and Buchanan Street.

*I am not twee though

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 26 January 2006 23:47 (nineteen years ago)

This album is easily my favorite album released in the last few years.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Thursday, 26 January 2006 23:50 (nineteen years ago)

signing = singing, obv.

This is the first of their albums since Tigermilk that hasn't had a song I would sacrifice to make it a better album. I mean, there are better songs on other albums, but there's no clunker/filler like all the others have had. I'm really stupidly obsessed with it, together with the Johnny Boy album.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 26 January 2006 23:56 (nineteen years ago)

Just got back from seeing them in Brum. They were, I'm fairly surprised to say, very good indeed. The crowd however were a bunch of stupid, ignorant fuckwits.
But Stuart Murdoch was really enjoying himself.

― Merryweather (scarlet), Friday, 27 January 2006 00:42 (nineteen years ago)

I am so curious to see if they will share any stage time with The New Pornographers on the US tour... both bands love covers... the mind boggles...

― T/S: Pinks/Oki Dog/Scoobys/Tail o' the Pup (Bent Over at the Arclight), Friday, 27 January 2006 00:48 (nineteen years ago)

The only B&S album i can listen to all the way through is "boy with the arab strap" or whatever that one's called. don't get me wrong, i really like some of their other stuff. but their albums always seem bloated to me. especially this new one.

― Christopher Costello (CGC), Friday, 27 January 2006 01:12 (nineteen years ago)

And for me it is the first one that seems like a cohesive album since Sinister, and I wouldn't change anything about it.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Friday, 27 January 2006 01:14 (nineteen years ago)

yeh, it's got a good "vibe" to it, whereas the last bunch have been good but more a collection of songs.

― Louis Giomblechett and his kerayzy friends (dog latin), Friday, 27 January 2006 01:16 (nineteen years ago)

I saw them tonight, they were utterly fantastic, they just get better and better live. The highlight was 'Your Cover's Blown', off the Books EP, but all the new stuff they played ('Another Sunny Day', 'Funny Little Frog', 'Dress Up In You', 'To Be Myself Completely' and 'White Collar Boy') was fantastic too.

'TBWTAS' never really did anything for me.

― beaux knee (boney), Friday, 27 January 2006 02:22 (nineteen years ago)

I really really really hope that they start playing "The Blues Are Still Blue" and "Song For Sunshine" by the time they get to the two NYC shows. I'd like to see them do "Meat and Potatoes" too.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Friday, 27 January 2006 02:36 (nineteen years ago)

What was wrong with the crowd, Merryweather? Just out of interest, like. I'm not going to leap to their defence or act all indignant.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Friday, 27 January 2006 08:39 (nineteen years ago)

To be honest I get to listen to so much music these days that I really jump around a lot in my listening from one album to another and some don't get heard more than once but much like DCW I have listened to this *lots* and it's brilliant. Especially loving the Isley Brothers solo on Sleepyheads right now though Song For Sunshine is all kinds of aceness too.

Most surprising for me is the lack of filler, it starts off so well I would have expected a sag at some point from half way on but if anything it just gets better. Definitely buying on day of release.

― mms (mms), Friday, 27 January 2006 09:05 (nineteen years ago)

The crowd was odd in Glasgow too, PJ. They got a bunch of kids from the front up on the stage for "There's Too Much Love" and not one of them looked like they had the faintest idea who they were on stage with or what they were clapping along to (apart from the one who kept trying to flirt with Belfast Bob). They all looked like they were auditioning for some shitty reality TV show. Also the biggest cheer of the night was for "I'm A Cuckoo". Me and Madchen stood muttering about how it's not like it was when we were young, old gits, grumble grumble. But at least Keef and Mistopher Chris were there - some things were still the same.

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 27 January 2006 19:08 (nineteen years ago)

Do you think Scottish people are just kinda jaded with the band now? I can't imagine people in NYC being so blase about them given that them playing here is still a pretty novel thing.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Friday, 27 January 2006 19:19 (nineteen years ago)

At my Glasgow show, the kids were all really into it - dancin' and groovin'. They invited someone up from the crowd to "help with the lyrics if i get stuck" but instead he just sang the whole thing, showboatin' even. The crowd definitely didn't have the near-insane level of effervescent "omigod!" that permeated the gig I saw in Montreal, a few years ago, yeah possibly because they see members of the band around town (and they did play a gig a few months ago, for instance)... but people definitely didn't look "jaded".

the throng right in front of the stage was all really young, which was weird. definitely younger than me. 17-20ish.

the biggest cheer for us was probably also "cuckoo", but probably because it was by far the best performance of the set.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Friday, 27 January 2006 19:31 (nineteen years ago)

If they don't play "The Blues Are Still Blue" in NYC on March 3rd, I may actually have to hurt myself. Although maybe Isobel will play a breathy, jazzed-up cover of it at Southpaw a few days later??

― Rick Spence (spencerman), Friday, 27 January 2006 20:01 (nineteen years ago)

Seeing the band around town is not the same as seeing them play a gig. The big cheer for "I'm a Cuckoo" on the Tuesday was nothing to do with the quality of performance as it was at the start. Intro --> cheers. Like it was the song they'd been waiting to hear all along. I just thought it was odd - it's not a great song, but it's the big radio hit.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 28 January 2006 10:50 (nineteen years ago)

aw, it is a good song though - the end with all the trumpets makes me think of breakfast TV. I agree it's not their very best though. I had no idea I'm A Cuckoo was that popular thoguh.

― Louis Giomblechett and his kerayzy friends (dog latin), Saturday, 28 January 2006 17:24 (nineteen years ago)

Prior to "Funny Little Frog", "I'm A Cuckoo" was B&S' biggest hit, for what it's worth.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 28 January 2006 17:29 (nineteen years ago)

fans in cheering louder for pop group's biggest hit shockah

― marc h. (marc h.), Saturday, 28 January 2006 18:06 (nineteen years ago)

loudest, even

― marc h. (marc h.), Saturday, 28 January 2006 18:06 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, but Belle and Sebastian's shows tended not to be full of people there to hear "the hit". They seem to have found a whole new, and different, fanbase. Less reverent. Shit, I sound like I should be back on s*n*st*r again. Sorry.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 28 January 2006 18:43 (nineteen years ago)

Was anyone at Newcastle on Sat? After the setlist! Thought it was great! Even if we were a "sh!t crowd"!

― georgie porgie, Monday, 30 January 2006 16:17 (nineteen years ago)

The crowd at Somerset House was mature*, which I put down to the hundreds of media types who were there on freebies.

*except Ken C and his giant pint.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 30 January 2006 21:39 (nineteen years ago)

they need to write more songs like 'if she wants me', more songs that sound like edwin moses cause edwin moses is too slow to release another record.

― keyth (keyth), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 01:33 (nineteen years ago)

have listened to this a couple of times and still can't match up favourite tracks to song titles. which probably means something.

have also just listened to Sinister at the Barbican and it's slightly annoying that after nearly 10 years people still forget about the false ending to Mayfly. grrr.

― koogs (koogs), Thursday, 2 February 2006 16:59 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, shit! The support act for the B&S show at the Hammersmith Apollo tomorrow night is Go-Kart Mozart!

― real rod hull, Thursday, 2 February 2006 19:07 (nineteen years ago)

do you mean next friday, the 10th?

― koogs (koogs), Friday, 3 February 2006 18:05 (nineteen years ago)

I'm A Cuckoo is one of their best songs.

― Alba (Alba), Friday, 3 February 2006 18:39 (nineteen years ago)

So it's out - 'course I bought it! And it comes with a free live DVD and a really nice booklet. So even if you download all the music you hear this year, make sure you buy this one!

― Vintage Latin (dog latin), Monday, 6 February 2006 15:07 (nineteen years ago)

They sounded very good on Radcliffe's show last Monday.

Their track didn't sound very good on Ken's show this morning.

― the bellefox, Monday, 6 February 2006 15:19 (nineteen years ago)

Go-Kart Mozart!

/Me dies.

Better fucking get in now.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 6 February 2006 15:23 (nineteen years ago)

: O

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 6 February 2006 16:22 (nineteen years ago)

i just saw the BBC Scotland live special show and it was great to see them play these songs so well! only mornington crescent was a little disappointing/boring, the rest of the tracks were magnificent.

― joan vich (joan vich), Monday, 6 February 2006 16:42 (nineteen years ago)

my excitement re go jkart mozart has already evaporated, to the extent thast i think i would prefer to go home and have an early night.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 6 February 2006 17:58 (nineteen years ago)

anybody see k.sanneh's valentine?

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Monday, 6 February 2006 18:58 (nineteen years ago)

I dislike the packaging of this limited edition edition.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Tuesday, 7 February 2006 08:14 (nineteen years ago)

Would anybody be willing to post the funny little frog B-sides? I haven't found a place in America where I can get them w/out having to place a special order :(
Any help is appreciated and thanks! :)

― dividingcanaan, Tuesday, 7 February 2006 09:23 (nineteen years ago)

The album is at #2 in the midweeks!

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 7 February 2006 12:31 (nineteen years ago)

It's not midweek yet. Is it?

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Tuesday, 7 February 2006 12:32 (nineteen years ago)

Well, in the "what was done sold on Monday" weeks, then.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 7 February 2006 12:37 (nineteen years ago)

How high has Funny Little Frog gotten in the end?

― Vintage Latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 7 February 2006 15:59 (nineteen years ago)

#13.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 7 February 2006 16:07 (nineteen years ago)

> anybody see k.sanneh's valentine?

it's subscription only. care to paste the text?

― koogs (koogs), Tuesday, 7 February 2006 16:12 (nineteen years ago)

What's on the live DVD?

― D. Bachyrycz, Tuesday, 7 February 2006 16:42 (nineteen years ago)

I see my question is answered on another thread. Sorry!

― D. Bachyrycz, Tuesday, 7 February 2006 16:44 (nineteen years ago)

I saw them tonight and they played 6 songs off The Life Pursuit - Another Sunny Day, The Blues are Still Blue, Dress Up In You, Sukie In The Graveyard, Funny Little Frog and To Be Myself Completely. Disappointingly, we only got 2 each off Sinister and Waitress and nothing from Arab Strap. These are the only 4 albums I own, meaning I didn't know the majority of what they played, but I can't blame them for me not having heard everything. It was a good gig anyway, and Stuart was charm itself.

― Cracks (Crackity), Wednesday, 8 February 2006 00:13 (nineteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

Great EP:
"Blues Are Still Blue"
"Sukie In The Graveyard" (this is basically Me & The Major pt. 2)
"We Are The Sleepyheads" (the beginning of this is a rip-off of a fIREHOSE song that I can't place)
"For The Price Of A Cup Of Tea"

The rest is wearing a little thin for me already.

"Song For Sunshine" reminds me so much of The Tyde, it's no wonder that Darren Rademaker (and Ann "R."? Where's Doomie!) is thanked in the liners, he should have got a proper songwriting credit for that song. When I was visiting hstencil @ the M@t@d0r offices, N!ck pointed out that "caucasian-funk" bass playing in the 2nd verse which he's right, it's a cringe!

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Friday, 24 February 2006 16:39 (nineteen years ago)

can't remember if "we are the sleepyheads" is the one that's the led zep ripoff?

it was so nice to see you in new york, mr. steve shasta, legendary wakeboarder.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 24 February 2006 17:02 (nineteen years ago)

What Zep song? "Song For Sunshine" has some elements of "Carouselambra" in the proggy bridge.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Friday, 24 February 2006 17:06 (nineteen years ago)

that bassline always makes me think of the moon safari track they used to use on a l'oreal commercial

led zep rip?!!

― marc h. (marc h.), Friday, 24 February 2006 17:08 (nineteen years ago)

one of 'em sounds like "the song remains the same," except maybe in a minor key, and not nearly as good? something like that?

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 24 February 2006 17:12 (nineteen years ago)

That's "We Are The Sleepy Heads" but I perhaps it's maj7 instead of minor. I hear that whole intro as edfROMOHIO & Watt.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Friday, 24 February 2006 17:13 (nineteen years ago)

that makes sense, too - tho no watt-like bass? structurally it reminds me of "song," esp. the beginning ie. arpeggiated one-chord guitar intro with those drum hits at the end of the bar?

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 24 February 2006 17:21 (nineteen years ago)

THE LIFE PURSUIT IS HET BESTE ALBUM VAN 2006

― Redd Harvest (Ken L), Monday, 27 February 2006 19:39 (nineteen years ago)

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