Once upon a time there was an art called Storytelling. Now, Storytelling was once a way of life; it was performed for kings, chieftains, and sultans. One day, Storytelling met a beautiful girl named Music; they were wed and had a beautiful child called Song. Storytelling and Music fell in love and were thought to be inseparable. But as time advanced, so did technology. Music turned toward this new technology and found that it could grow much more powerful than Storytelling ever was or would be. Music allowed Storytelling to follow along out of a once highly revered respect but she knew he was more formality than necessity. Storytelling, the once proud art, had fallen victim to technology, marking Storytelling’s fall from grace.
Then one infamous day, the knight Sir Stuart Murdoch of the Belle and Sebastian clan came to find Storytelling attached to a leash. He was being dragged forward by a whistling, skipping Music. Luckily, Sir Murdoch had a degree in marriage counseling and the knight explained to both Storytelling and Music that the three of them, including Song, could live happily together. Song would only truly be great if she inherited positive attributes from both her parents. Storytelling was revived, Music understood what she had been missing all this time, and Song grew to be an even greater art than either of her parents. And they all lived happily ever after.
I have always been a proponent of meaningful lyrics Some contemporary bands just write a song and throw whatever catchphrase or woesome words they can come up with to lure in impressionable and confused listeners. I hate the logic involved with, “If I sing sad lyrics, maybe sad people will buy my CD.” Yes, sad people will buy sad albums, but it does nothing for the art if those songs inherently mean nothing.
This is where Belle and Sebastian really have excelled. They've taken a stand against "the way things are." For proof, check out their latest, The Life Pursuit.
Article comments
1 - Bob
Trevor Horn does not produce this LP. He produced the bands last album 'Dear Catastrophe Waitress' and that it all he has done with the band.
2 - Ryan C. Seay
You are correct; It was a misreading on my part from matador records website. Trevor Horn is not a part of this one. Thanks for pointing that out.
3 - Scott Butki
Good review. I'm new to this band but I love what I've heard
4 - Scott
This is a GREAT record. Such feel-good music! It puts me in a good mood listening to it. I recommend this for everyone...and I bet we'll see it on some critics year-end lists for 2006.
5 - Scott Butki
I think I'll go buy it now.
Thanks