If Youre Feeling Sinister - Belle & Sebastian

Belle and Sebastian's startling second album arrived at the perfect time. Britpop had taken the charts by storm and indie music was beginning to infiltrate the mainstream. IYFS sounded so completely different, full of folk fuelled moments, insightful lyrics and sleevenotes that tickle the funny bone. Quite simply IYFS dwarfed most albums released in 1996 and offered a delightful alternative to the Oasis rock and roll beast. Add to this, an aura not too dissimilar to the one held by The Stone Roses a few years earlier and cult type things start happening. Scant interviews, dodgy half-lit photographs (it was next to impossible to find out what they looked ...  Read the complete review

Belle-amissimo The second album from Belle and Sebastian, and I think their best and most accessible - you're more likely to end up singing along to this one than to their other albums. Much as I like their others, especially "The Boy with the Arab strap", this one is more immediately likeable. And yes, there is something sinister about it all, somehow - I don't know whether it's the odd mix of instruments, and the undeniably strange lyrics? but if it wasn't for this 'sinister' (call it what you will) element, the music of Belle and Sebastian would actually sound very close to easy listening, in a way. Because many of the ...  Read the complete review

Then perhaps you could play this album....(;-) On the whole the album is filled with uplifting tunes and beats and a wide variety of musical instruments are used throughout, ranging from piano, harmonica and xylophone through to the more typical guitar and drum thing. For me, the real outstanding points of this album, are the lyrics and the easy listening style in which it is presented. It is not an album that I would play when getting ready for a night out but more one that you would play whilst washing the dishes as it does lift your spirits and put a spring in your step. The opening track 'Stars of Track and Field' starts off slowly and ...  Read the complete review

a poll that i viewed on the official fansite indicated that this album tends to be the favourite of most belle and sebastian fans. and it could well be argued that this is their most typical album yet. I think it was the 2nd, but at the time, few people would have heard Tigermilk due to it having been released in very small numbers. There is great beauty in this album, musically and lyrically but it is by no means consistent and at times, stuart's technically poor but pleasantly unique voice can go off on one a bit. 1. Stars of Track and Field a nice opener with a good steady build to a dramatic change of pace halfway through and some very twee ...  Read the complete review

Released in 1996 I only just got around to buying it in a sale at Virgin. A bargain at a tenner, and well worth the money spent. I remember when Belle and Sebastian was being played on the radio loads and I thought "Hmm I should buy their album" but I never do get around to doing that most of the time. As you can see it's taken me ages to buy my first Belle and Sebastian album. Anyway - on to the description. Belle and Sebastian are a scottish 7-piece whose style is mellow acoustic/light electric rock. The lead singer has a slight lisp and far from detracting from the music it makes it all the much better. Track listing: ...  Read the complete review