March 21, 2006
WHAT ABOUT THE LORNA DOONES?:
Belle and Sebastian pouring out their souls — again (Ross Raihala, 3/21/06, Knight Ridder Newspapers)
When Belle and Sebastian emerged a decade ago, the Scottish seven-piece instantly built a cult following based on what it didn't do. The band didn't conduct interviews, pose for publicity photos or embark on proper tours.Those idiosyncrasies — coupled with leader Stuart Murdoch's insular, wry lyrics — proved to be polarizing. Detractors branded Belle and Sebastian's music as the soundtrack for tea-sipping, poetry-reading shut-ins, while fans passionately declared the band the most important of its ilk since the Smiths.
Those aren't quite polar opposites.
MORE:
-AUDIO: Belle and Sebastian Concert (NPR.org, March 6, 2006)
-Belle and Sebastian (NPR, March 02, 2006, Here and Now)
-Belle and Sebastian: 'Dear Catastrophe Waitress' (Steve Inskeep, October 12, 2003, All Things Considered)
They definitlely got something, this band. The Fox in the Snow is a masterpiece. To me they are a Catholic band, an enigma, an anomalous musical event ... this world shouldn't have been able to produce them, but it did. This artistic absurdity (like the Christ story itself), its fragility and earnestness, and the kick-ass arrangements and performances ... the simplicity of image and texture. Anyhow, consider me a Brother of Brothers Judd and and brother of my brothers and sisters in this combo.
Posted by: Brother Jet at March 21, 2006 11:47 AM