Belle & Sebastian
I was trying to convince a friend to check out Belle and Sebastian’s If You’re Feeling Sinister recently. He tried several times to make it through the album, but couldn’t handle Stuart Murdoch’s vocals. I remembered a similar response the first time I heard them, so for the past couple months I’ve carried this secret suspicion that maybe they’re not really that good. Until yesterday.
Persuaded by the united voice of several critics I respect, I downloaded several tracks from their new EP collection Push Barman To Open Old Wounds. One listen to the opening track “Dog on Wheels,” and any suspicions I had harbored were slaughtered. An instantly memorable melody, colorfully quaint production, great lyrics - these guys are good: real good. Murdoch’s voice (and the whole twee-with-a-dark-underbelly vibe of the band) takes a little getting used to. But it’s worth it. This new 2-CD collection of all the early EP tracks is as a fine place to start. Only If You’re Feeling Sinister and Dear Catastrophe Waitress match the remarkable consistency of these EP tracks.
If you enjoy Stuart’s worldview, his online diary is highly recommended. It’s a consistently fun read because of the ordinariness of his life (if you happen to be a musician living in Glasgow, Scotland), and his ability to find fresh life in the most mundane activities. A recent entry discusses a “neighbors meeting” at his house:
I had sat through the last meeting without opening my trap either. I was sort of fascinated to see my new neighbours in action. They were like a team of superheros. Every household seemed to have sent along a representative with a secret power, amazingly apposite for attendance at a testy meeting with contractors and architects.
A journalist, a property developer, a financial advisor and a lawyer numbered among the ranks. They each spoke up when their expertise was called on. It was like the bridge of the Enterprise, with Captain Kirk calling on them one by one. Sort of.