Belle & Sebastian: For Folks Who Love Flutes, Cellos, and Violins in their Pop
Written: Sep 21 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Beautiful, entertaining, intelligent, funny...
Cons: Some folks might think they are pretentious...
The Bottom Line: Dog on Wheels was the first of three Belle & Sebastian EPs released in 1997. Fans should definitely check it out.
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| lambchops's Full Review: Dog on Wheels - Belle & Sebastian Movies |
Dog on Wheels barely whets my appetite for Belle & Sebastian. The twee/chamber-pop musical experiment from Glasgow, Scotland has been making great music now for a decade. They have released six studio albums in addition to plenty of singles and EPs positively full of treasures to be unearthed.
Beautiful and gentle, Belle & Sebastian has carved out a special niche for themselves in pop culture. Their sound is emotional at the same time the storytelling is coy and quaint. I can see how some people may be annoyed or confused by the light-sounding band, but if you can handle great melody and creative flair then Belle & Sebastian has something very special in store for you.
Following the release of If You’re Feeling Sinister in 1996, the world became their oyster. People wanted to hear their music and most of all wanted to know that the brilliance displayed on both Sinister and the earlier Tigermilk was not a fluke. Boasting a sound that is equal parts Simon and Garfunkel, Donovan, and The Velvet Underground they are one of the most truly original acts in music today. This fact is only further illuminated by the seven-piece outfit’s ability to craft a cohesive and lovely EP limited to four songs.
As always, Stuart Murdoch is the clear force at the helm with his gentle and listless voice. He is an eloquent singer and lyricist able to convey so much with his voice and words. It is a timeless sort of music. Organic, gorgeous, and wildly emotional Dog on Wheels is but one small offering of Belle & Sebastian’s truly fantastic music. In addition to Murdoch’s voice and guitar, the band’s genius is rounded out by violinist Sarah Martin, guitarist Stevie Jackson, cellist Isobel Campbell, drummer Richard Colburn, keyboardist Chris Geddes, and bassist Stuart David. Each member gives so much to the band and without the cello or the keyboard or the violin there would be a distinct piece missing from the puzzle.
At first, Belle & Sebastian’s success was very underground. When Dog on Wheels was released in 1997 they had only begun to grace the indie charts and had yet to dent mainstream listeners or media. They purposefully wanted to keep Belle & Sebastian small but soon enough people started buying their records. The inevitable happened today they are still making albums that garner rave reviews. Yet, in 1997 the band had not yet broken. That year, they released three EPs to support If You’re Feeling Sinister of which the first was Dog on Wheels.
There are four songs here—all of which are outstanding even if they are short. I am particularly drawn to the first two songs (Dog on Wheels and classic The State I Am In). The thing that really appeals to me about them is that they offer up catchy pop tunes but don’t sacrifice quality for quantity or filler. Belle & Sebastian seem to revel in the knowledge that they are different. They could easily be construed as pretentious but in the case of this band I think quirky is a better descriptor. I’m drawn in by the majesty of these songs but made to listen by the intelligent and humorous lyrics. Here’s a quick sample from The State I Am In:
I was surprised, I was happy for a day in 1975
I was puzzled by a dream, stayed with me all day in 1995
My brother had confessed that he was gay
It took the heat off me for a while
He stood up with a sailor friend
Made it known upon my sisters wedding day
String Bean Jean is an upbeat and wistful track. I like how the band blends their light sound with slightly louder drums, vocal harmonies, and (at least in the beginning) a oddly plucked guitar. It works nicely and leaves me with a summery, “surf rock” sort of feel. The final song, Belle & Sebastian is also a pleasant surprise. A flute is one of the most important instruments alongside the acoustic guitars, strings, and drums. The band sounds outstanding here when stripped to their core.
Dog on Wheels consists of three songs only available on this EP, the Lazy Line Painter Jane EP box set (which includes this EP), or the on the more recent Push Barman to Open Old Wounds collection. My only minor qualm is that it isn’t entirely representative of the band; then again I suppose no EP is intended to cover all the bases. Besides that, I can’t see any reason why Belle & Sebastian fans wouldn’t want to own it. Despite the EPs brevity it is still a fantastic release well worth owning.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Dog on Wheels
02. The State I Am In
03. String Bean Jean
04. Belle & Sebastian
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Related Reviews
Tigermilk (1996)
http://www.epinions.com/content_74608971396
If You’re Feeling Sinister
http://www.epinions.com/content_106480045700
The Boy With the Arab Strap
http://www.epinions.com/content_61482765956
Recommended:
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lambchops
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