We were talking about Belle & Sebastian in the chat a few days ago.

[Czech]

Why hasn't there been a new album since The Life Pursuit? This is vexing. I wonder if there's anything in the pipeline.

In the meantime, I've decided my favorite songs of the now are
1) "The Fox in the Snow"
2) "Dress Up in You"
3) "Stay Loose"
4) "If She Wants Me"
5) "For the Price of a Cup of Tea"

Currently listening to the Lazy Line Painter Jane EP and trying to get a feel for it. I've heard the title track bandied about as one of their best. Hasn't set in yet. Sure it will.

 

[The Coat Is My Father]

For The Price Of A Cup Of Tea and If She Wants Me? Echh. Two of their worst.

My top five at the moment would look like:

1. White Collar Boy
2. Lazy Line Painter Jane (I agree that this is one of their best)
3. I'm A Cuckoo
4. Like Dylan In The Movies
5. The Blues Are Still Blue

I think that this last decade has seen the best work this band has ever done, contrary to most fan opinion. Dear Catastrophe Waitress is about evenly divided between endless pop fun and embarassing piffle.

 

[Sesquipedaliantique]

All of their albums were delivered to me in the post on Monday in one bundle, as I mentioned in the aforementioned Maff chat. I think The Life Pursuit is their best. Glad to see they've expanded their sound since the lonely acoustic strumming bastard days of yore.

 

[The Coat Is My Father]

I agree that The Life Pursuit is their best. They started off somewhat shaky on Dear Catastophe Waitress integrating all of those textures and songwriting ideas of seventies pop music, but they really brought it all together for TLP.

 

[Kinetic]

Some people I know (it might even have been you people, I don't remember) tried to tell me that the version of "The State I Am In" on the Dog on Wheels EP was better than the Tigermilk version. Total nonsense, I say. That's still probably my favorite song of theirs, and it suggested the band that they would ultimately become morseo than any of their other early material.

"Your Cover's Blown" is another favorite.

 

[Sesquipedaliantique]

I agree with Coat, fwiw. 'White Collar Boy' is their best song.

 

[Beast]

I heard Fox In The Snow on the fake Wes Anderson soundtrack the Perry Bible Fellowship guy made. So good.

 

[Czech]

Yeah, I'm figuring out the "Lazy Line Painter Jane" thing. Nice little tune.

For The Price Of A Cup Of Tea and If She Wants Me? Echh. Two of their worst.

My least favorite song is "Piazza, New York Catcher," has been for some time. Can't justify my love of the former; I love the guitars and keyboards on "If She Wants Me" too much. I don't know what this says about me but

 

[The Coat Is My Father]

Piazza, New York Catcher is one of those embarassing songs I was referring to.

 

[Skywarp!]

I bought "Big John Shaft" from iTunes. That's all I really know from these guys, aside "Step into my Office, Baby," but I like what I've heard.

 

[alkeiper]

Why hasn't there been a new album since The Life Pursuit? This is vexing. I wonder if there's anything in the pipeline.

Frontman Stuart Murdoch is working on some film project. The soundtrack God Help the Girl is already out and is a decent little album, IMO. A couple tracks are up on Youtube.

God Help the Girl - "Come Monday Night" (official video)

God Help The Girl - Funny Little Frog

God Help The Girl - Musicians, Please Take Heed

Belle & Sebastian are one of my favorite bands. I had tickets to see them a few years ago in Philadelphia, but got sick that day. I would have muscled up and went anyway if it weren't a standing show.

 

[Smartly Pretty]

1) Judy and the Dream of Horses
2) Step Into My Office, Baby
3) I'm a Cuckoo
4) White Collar Boy
5) Like Dylan in the Movies

 

[Edwin]

Count me among those who love "For the Price of a Cup of Tea" as well. That whole album is superb. I like the rest of their catalog that I've heard as well, but that was the first album of theirs where it all clicked for me.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

I only have The Life Pursuit which I acquired within the past few months. Some of the songs came up a lot on my custom baroque pop station on Slacker and I dug the shit out of 'em.

 

[Addy]

In no particular order:

1. Like Dylan In The Movies
2. We Rule The School
3. Slow Graffiti
4. Fox In The Snow
5. Judy And The Dream Of Horses

That isn't to say I don't like the later stuff. I went through a six month period where all I listened to was The Life Pursuit. One of my favourite bands, easily.

 

[Byron The Bulb]

"Your Cover's Blown" is another favorite.

That song's the best.

 

[FroGG_NeaL]

... seriously, guys? They look like every English sterotype in one picture.

 

[Sesquipedaliantique]

They're not English. They're from Glasgow.

 

[FroGG_NeaL]

Oh, well then. I was just fuckin around... I've heard alot about these guys, but never actually listened to them.

Tell me 3 songs to listen to.

 

[Sesquipedaliantique]

Quite a few recommendations in this thread already, but 'The State I Am In', 'Lazy Line Painter Jane' and 'White Collar Boy' should be representative of their musical evolution.

 

[FroGG_NeaL]

gotcha. i'll report back tomorrow... is this good music to smoke to?

when im first getting introduced to an artist, im pretty much John Cusack in Hi Fidelity ... i ke tomake it an experience..

 

[Sesquipedaliantique]

Not good music to smoke to at all. Very twee and delicate. Virtually no bombast.

 

[alkeiper]

Belle & Sebastian - Meat & Potatoes