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Belle and Sebastian


Country of origin:

Scotland

Type of music generally:

Alternative pop

Status:

Most recent release, Days of the Bagnold Summer (2019)

See also:

Belle and Sebastian's site

Wikipedia's entry on Belle and Sebastian

Belle and Sebastian's MySpace page

Comparisons:

Nick Drake, Donovan, The Housemartins, The Beatles, The Smiths

Reminds me of Style Council without the jazz influence. The Jam without the punk. Heck, it might even BE Paul Weller. (Horter3)

Covers/own material:

Own

General comments:

the band BELLE AND SEBASTIAN actually did name themselves after the old cartoon, and got permission from the cartoonist for it. they are fans themselves of the cartoon, and their music is quite wonderful. i have to admit that i have never seen the cartoon and hence have no references for that. but i highly recommend BELLE AND SEBASTIAN for anyone who likes slightly twee, very british sounding, indie pop music. though they do some more experimental spoken wordy things on their albums, the majority of the music is pretty twee britpop sounding music, with quite thoughtprovoking lyrics. they have developed quite a loyal following and were recently nominated (with some controversy) as best newcoming band in the brit awards i do believe.
     i tend to listen to them a lot, and randomly rave about them. they are probably my new drug of choice at the moment. musically they are akin to a mellow version of the HOUSEMARTINS perhaps, but their lyrics are amazingly thoughtprovoking, and so damn catchy. damn fine music. (iflin@speakeasy.net)

they are amazing, folky, '60s pop, Nick Drake, Donovanish. (nnadel@hotmail.com)

Recommended first album:

If You're Feeling Sinister

Recordings:

  • Tigermilk (1996)
  • If You're Feeling Sinister (1996)
  • The Boy with the Arab Strap (1998)
  • Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant (2000)
  • Storytelling (2002)
  • Dear Catastrophe Waitress (2003)
  • Push Barman to Open Old Wounds (2005)
  • The Life Pursuit (2006)
  • Belle and Sebastian Write About Love (2010)
  • Third Eye Centre (2013)
  • Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance (2015)
  • How To Solve Our Human Problems (Part 1) (EP, 2018)
  • How To Solve Our Human Problems (Part 2) (EP, 2018)
  • How To Solve Our Human Problems (Part 3) (EP, 2018)
  • Days of the Bagnold Summer (2019)

Tigermilk

Release info:

1996—Electric Honey; re-released 1999 Jeepster

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Recommended

Group members:

Stuart Murdoch—vocals, guitar
Stuart David—bass
Isobel Campbell—cello
Chris Geddes—keyboards, piano
Richard Colburn—drums
Stevie Jackson—guitar
Mick Cooke—trumpet

Produced by:

Alan Rankine

Comments:

if you haven't discovered this lyrical, melodic, poppy band check this out. (nnadel@hotmail.com)

If You're Feeling Sinister

Release info:

1996—Jeepster (U.K.), Matador (U.S.)

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Recommended

Group members:

Stuart Murdoch—vocals, guitar, piano
Stuart David—bass
Isobel Campbell—cello, vocals, percussion, recorder
Chris Geddes—keyboards, piano
Richard Colburn—drums
Stevie Jackson—guitar, vocals
Sarah Martin—violin, recorder, percussion
Mick Cooke—trumpet

Produced by:

Tony Doogan

Comments:

And I picked up Belle and Sebastian a few weeks ago. I had only heard one of the radio tracks ("like Dylan in the movies") and picked it up after seeing it mentioned on so many top 10 lists locally. Great songwriting. Especially the title track, "If you're feeling sinister." (Horter3)

wonderful melancholic wry songwriting. their album IF YOU'RE FEELING SINISTER is one of my favorite discoveries of this year. (iflin@speakeasy.net)


Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant

Release info:

2000—Jeepster

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Recommended

Group members:

Stuart Murdoch—vocals, guitar, piano
Stuart David—bass
Isobel Campbell—cello, vocals, percussion, recorder
Chris Geddes—keyboards, piano
Richard Colburn—drums
Stevie Jackson—guitar, vocals
Sarah Martin—violin, recorder, percussion, vocals
Mick Cooke—trumpet

Produced by:

Tony Doogan

Comments:

Not their best, (that would be If Your Feeling Sinister) but definitely great and a worthy addition to their impressive disography. Anyone who's not into this band owes it to themselves to check it out. This is what pop music is all about. Nick Drake, Beatles, Smiths, it's all there. (nnadel@hotmail.com)

The Life Pursuit (2006)

Release info:

2006—Rough Trade/Matador

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Recommended

Group members:

Stuart Murdoch—vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, keyboards
Stevie Jackson—vocals, electric and acoustic guitar
Chris Geddes—keyboards
Richard Colburn—drums
Sarah Martin—violin, keyboards, electric and acoustic guitar, vocals
Mick Cooke—trumpet, bass
Bobby Kildea—guitar, bass

Produced by:

Tony Hoffer

Comments:

One of the best of 2006. (lasherboy@gmail.com)

Why the ads?


Artists commented on by
Horter3

11 entries

Click the bullet for speed (drop the menu) or the name for convenience (keep the menu)


>
Belle and Sebastian

>
Emily Bezar

>
Eliza Carthy

>
ani difranco

>
Tanya Donelly

>
Her Majesty the Baby

>
Kristin Hersh

>
Veda Hille

>
Ivy

>
Holly McNarland

>
Mimi


Other Commentators...
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DISCLAIMER: Comments and reviews in the Ectophiles' Guide are excerpted from the ecto mailing list or volunteered by members of the list. They are the opinions of music enthusiasts, not professional music critics.

Entry last updated 2021-11-07 16:03:32.
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