Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Belle & Sebastian

Two pieces of news from the Scottish Kings of Tweedom, Belle & Sebastian:

The first is that on Dec 6th, they will be releasing a live album called If You're Feeling Sinister: Live At The Barbican. The album is a recording of their September performance at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival where bands were asked to play classic albums the whole way through. The release will only be available via iTunes as a download and the proceeds will go to the Asia Quake Appeal.

I can still remember walking into a record store in Hoboken, hearing If You Are Feeling Sinister for the first time blaring over the store's sound system and tracking down a clerk to tell me what it was that I was hearing. I think I bought the album at the same time I bought Lambchop's How I Quit Smoking. I then spent the next few months spinning those two CDs over and over again. Two of my favorite albums of the 90's in one trip to the record store. I wish all trips to record stores were that successful. Suffice to say that I'll be downloading the album early next Tuesday morning.

The other B&S news is that on Feb 7th, they'll be releasing a new full album of original material. The album will be called The Life Pursuit. Matador Records has posted a track from the album on their site called "Another Sunny Day". I haven't enjoyed their last few albums from B&S as I did the first three albums and EPs. However, if this track is any indication, The Life Pursuit may be a great revival of their earlier sound.

Belle & Sebastian - Another Sunny Day

UPDATE: The blog, Daily Refill, has another track from The Life Pursuit available.

Belle & Sebastian - Sukie in the Graveyard

2 comments:

Jim said...

I've always liked Dear Catastrophe Waitress quite a bit. I could listen to "Piazza, New York Catcher" and "If She Wants Me" in perpetuity.

Flatlander said...

I like "If She Wants Me" too but overall that album, along with Storytelling and Fold Your Hands have been disappointments for me. So far, this album sounds much better to me.