Belle & Sebastian
Encyclopedia
Belle and Sebastian are an indie pop
band formed in Glasgow
in January 1996. Belle and Sebastian are often compared with influential indie
bands such as The Smiths
, as well as classic acts such as Love
, Bob Dylan
and Nick Drake
. The name Belle & Sebastian comes from Belle et Sébastien
, a 1965 children's book by French writer Cécile Aubry
, later adapted for television and an anime
. Though consistently lauded by critics, Belle & Sebastian's "wistful pop" has enjoyed only limited commercial success.
After releasing a number of albums and EPs on Jeepster Records
, they are now signed to Rough Trade Records
in the United Kingdom and Matador Records
in the United States.
and Stuart David
. Together they recorded some demos with Stow College
music professor Alan Rankine
, which were picked up by the college's Music Business course that produces and releases one single each year on the college's label, Electric Honey
. As the band had a number of songs already and the label was extremely impressed with the demos, Belle and Sebastian were allowed to record a full-length album, which was named Tigermilk
. Murdoch once described the band as a "product of botched capitalism".
Tigermilk was recorded in three days and originally only one thousand copies were pressed on vinyl
. These original copies now sell for up to £400. The warm reception the album received inspired Murdoch and David to turn the band into a full-time project, recruiting Stevie Jackson
(guitar and vocals), Isobel Campbell
(cello/vocals), Chris Geddes
(keys) and Richard Colburn
(drums) to fill out the group.
After the success of the debut album, Belle and Sebastian were signed to Jeepster Records
in August 1996 and If You're Feeling Sinister
, their second album, was released on 18 November. The album was named by Spin
as one of the 100 greatest albums between 1985 and 2005, and is widely considered the band's masterpiece. Just before the recording of Sinister, Sarah Martin
(violin/vocals) joined the band. Following this a series of EPs were released in 1997. The first of these was Dog on Wheels
, which contained four demo tracks recorded before the real formation of the band. In fact, the only long-term band members to play on the songs were Murdoch, David, and Mick Cooke
, who played trumpet on the EP but would not officially join the band until a few years later. It charted at #59 in the UK singles chart.
The Lazy Line Painter Jane
EP followed in July. The track was recorded in the church where Murdoch lived and features vocals from Monica Queen
. The EP narrowly missed out of the UK top 40, peaking at #41. The last of the 1997 EPs was October's 3.. 6.. 9 Seconds of Light
. The EP was made Single of the Week in both the NME
and Melody Maker
and reached #32 in the charts, thus becoming the band's first top 40 single.
in 1998, and it reached #12 in the UK charts. While often cited by critics as the band's best album, Arab Strap has nonetheless had its detractors. Pitchfork Media
gave the album a particularly poor review, calling it a "parody" of their earlier work. In spite of this, the album garnered positive reviews from Rolling Stone
, and the Village Voice, among others. During the recording of the album long time studio trumpet-player Mick Cooke was asked to join the band as a full member. The This Is Just a Modern Rock Song
EP followed later that year.
In 1999 the band were awarded with Best Newcomer (for their third album) at the BRIT Awards
, upsetting the much better known acts Steps and 5ive. That same year, the band hosted their own festival, the Bowlie Weekender
. Tigermilk
was also given a full release by Jeepster
before the band started work on their next LP. The result was Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant
, which became the band's first top 10 album in the UK. A stand-alone single, "Legal Man
", reached #15 and gave them their first appearance on Top of the Pops
.
As the band's popularity and recognition was growing worldwide, their music began appearing in films and on television. The 2000 film High Fidelity
mentions the band and features a clip from the song "Seymour Stein
" from The Boy with the Arab Strap. Also, the title track from Arab Strap was played over the end credits of the UK television series Teachers
.
Stuart David soon left the band to concentrate on his side-project, Looper, and his book writing, which included his The Idle Thoughts of a Daydreamer. He was replaced by Bobby Kildea
of V-Twin. The "Jonathan David
" single – sung by Stevie Jackson – was released in June 2001 and was followed by "I'm Waking Up to Us
" in November. "I'm Waking Up to Us" saw the band use an outside producer (Mike Hurst
) for the first time. Most of 2002 was spent touring and recording a soundtrack album, Storytelling (for Storytelling
by Todd Solondz
, a movie which The New York Times
has called one of the best 1,000 movies ever made). Campbell left the band in the spring of 2002, in the middle of the band's North American tour.
. Their first album for Rough Trade, Dear Catastrophe Waitress
, was released in 2003, and was produced by Trevor Horn
. The album showed a markedly more 'produced' sound compared to their first four LPs, as the band was making a concerted effort to produce more "radio-friendly" music. In spite of this, the album was warmly received, and is credited with returning the band's "indie cred". The album also marked the return of Murdoch as the group's primary songwriter following the poorly-received Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant and Storytelling, both of which were more collaborative than the band's early work. A documentary DVD, Fans Only
, was released by Jeepster in October 2003, featuring promotional videos, live clips and unreleased footage. A single from the album, "Step into My Office, Baby
" followed in November 2003 – it would be their first single taken from an album.
The Thin Lizzy
-inspired "I'm a Cuckoo
" was the second single from the album. It achieved their highest chart position yet, reaching #14 in the UK. The Books
EP followed, a double A-side single lead by "Wrapped Up in Books" from Dear Catastrophe Waitress and the new Your Cover's Blown. This EP became the band's third top 20 UK release and the band went on to be nominated for both the Mercury Music Prize and an Ivor Novello Award. In January 2005, B&S was voted Scotland's greatest band in a poll by The List, beating Simple Minds
, Idlewild
, Travis
, Franz Ferdinand
, and The Proclaimers
, among others.
In April 2005, members of the band visited Israel
and the Palestinian territories
with the UK charity War on Want
; the group subsequently recorded a song inspired by the trip titled "The Eighth Station of the Cross Kebab House", which would later be released as a B-side on 2006's "Funny Little Frog
" single. Push Barman to Open Old Wounds
, a compilation of the Jeepster singles and EPs, was released in May 2005 while the band were recording their seventh album in California. The result of the sessions was The Life Pursuit
, produced by Tony Hoffer
. The album, originally intended to be a double album, became their band's highest charting release to date upon its release in February 2006, peaking at #8 in the UK and #65 on the US Billboard 200
. "Funny Little Frog", which preceded it, also proved to be their highest charting single, debuting at #13.
On 6 July 2006, the band played a historic show with the Los Angeles Philharmonic
at the Hollywood Bowl
. The opening act at the 18,000 seat sell-out concert was The Shins
. The members of the band see this as a landmark event, with Stevie Jackson saying, "This is the biggest thrill of my entire life". In October 2006, members of the band helped put together a CD collection of new songs for children titled Colours Are Brighter
, with the involvement of major bands such as Franz Ferdinand
and The Flaming Lips
.
On 18 November 2008 the band released The BBC Sessions
, which features songs from the period of 1996–2001 (including the last recordings featuring Isobel Campbell before she left the band), along with a second disc featuring a recording of a live performance in Belfast
from Christmas 2001.
During the downtime, Murdoch has initiated the film and music project God Help the Girl
, while Jackson and Kildea have toured with the reformed Vaselines.
In May 2010, the band stated on their website that they were "back in the studio working on some new songs" and later revealed that they were "in the final stages of recording the [new] album". Sarah Martin later stated in the Q&A section of their website that it would be a 14 track album.
On 17 July 2010, the band performed their first UK gig in almost four years to a crowd of around 30,000 at Latitude Festival
in Henham Park, Southwold. They performed two new songs, 'I Didn't See It Coming' and 'I'm Not Living In The Real World'.
In a news update to the official website on 11 August 2010, it was revealed that their eighth studio album would be titled Belle & Sebastian Write About Love
. The first single from the album, as well as the record's title track "Write About Love", was released in the US on 7 September 2010. The UK and international release was 25 September 2010.
In December 2010 Belle & Sebastian curated the sequel to the Bowlie Weekender in the form of Bowlie 2 presented by All Tomorrow's Parties
.
Past members:
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band formed in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in January 1996. Belle and Sebastian are often compared with influential indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
bands such as The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, as well as classic acts such as Love
Love (band)
Love was an American rock group of the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were led by singer/songwriter Arthur Lee and lead guitarist Johnny Echols...
, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
and Nick Drake
Nick Drake
Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone...
. The name Belle & Sebastian comes from Belle et Sébastien
Belle et Sébastien
Belle et Sébastien is a novel by Cécile Aubry about a six-year-old boy named Sébastien and his dog Belle, a Pyrenean Mountain Dog, who live in a small French Alps Mountain village on the French side of the border between France and Italy...
, a 1965 children's book by French writer Cécile Aubry
Cécile Aubry
Cécile Aubry was a French film actress, author, television screenwriter and director.Born Anne-José Madeleine Henriette Bénard, Aubry began her career as a dancer...
, later adapted for television and an anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
. Though consistently lauded by critics, Belle & Sebastian's "wistful pop" has enjoyed only limited commercial success.
After releasing a number of albums and EPs on Jeepster Records
Jeepster Records
Jeepster Records is a London, England-based independent record label which is currently the home of bands Parka and SixNationState. The label is noted for having been the home of critically acclaimed artists Belle and Sebastian and Snow Patrol....
, they are now signed to Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
in the United Kingdom and Matador Records
Matador Records
Matador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have...
in the United States.
Formation and early years (1996–1997)
Belle and Sebastian were formed in Glasgow in 1996 by Stuart MurdochStuart Murdoch (musician)
Stuart Lee Murdoch is a Scottish musician, and the lead singer and songwriter for the indie pop band Belle & Sebastian. The majority of his childhood was spent a stone's throw from the birthplace of Robert Burns in Alloway, Ayr until he left school and attended university in...
and Stuart David
Stuart David
Stuart David is a Scottish musician, who formerly was a bassist with Belle & Sebastian and then went on to front Looper . He is the author of the novels Nalda Said and The Peacock Manifesto published by I.M.P. Fiction in 1999 and 2001...
. Together they recorded some demos with Stow College
Stow College
-History:The college is named after David Stow, whose primary teaching seminary was founded close to the college at Dundasvale. Stow was the first purpose-built Further Education college in Glasgow, celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2009....
music professor Alan Rankine
Alan Rankine
Alan Rankine played keyboards, and guitars, for the rock band, Associates, which he co-founded with Billy Mackenzie in the late 1970s....
, which were picked up by the college's Music Business course that produces and releases one single each year on the college's label, Electric Honey
Electric Honey (label)
Electric Honey is a record label run by students studying the HNC and HND in Music Business course, as well as students studying the Advanced Diploma in Music Industry Management & Marketing course at Stow College in Glasgow, Scotland...
. As the band had a number of songs already and the label was extremely impressed with the demos, Belle and Sebastian were allowed to record a full-length album, which was named Tigermilk
Tigermilk
Tigermilk is the 1996 debut album from Scottish pop group Belle & Sebastian. Originally given a limited release by Electric Honey, the album was subsequently re-released in 1999 by Jeepster Records...
. Murdoch once described the band as a "product of botched capitalism".
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
. These original copies now sell for up to £400. The warm reception the album received inspired Murdoch and David to turn the band into a full-time project, recruiting Stevie Jackson
Stevie Jackson
Stevie Jackson is a Scottish musician and songwriter. He plays lead guitar and sings in the Glasgow based indie band Belle & Sebastian. Jackson's guitar playing is distinctively retrogressive and melodic, with a heavy use of reverb and minimal effects...
(guitar and vocals), Isobel Campbell
Isobel Campbell
Isobel Campbell is a Scottish singer, cellist and composer in the indie and rock genres.-History:Campbell was a member of Belle & Sebastian from their formation in Glasgow in 1996 until 2002, when she departed the band for personal reasons. She played cello and keyboards with the band, and sang...
(cello/vocals), Chris Geddes
Chris Geddes
Chris Geddes is the keyboardist for and a founding member of the Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian. He is a Communist and a vegetarian, the latter earning him the nickname of "Beans". He attended the University of Glasgow and regularly visits Tchai-Ovna Southside. He also likes going to...
(keys) and Richard Colburn
Richard Colburn
Richard Colburn is the drummer of the Scottish indie band Belle & Sebastian. Before he joined Belle & Sebastian, he used to sell pies on match days outside Celtic Park and study Music Business at Stow College. He was also a semi-professional Snooker player. His nickname is "Rico" and he also...
(drums) to fill out the group.
After the success of the debut album, Belle and Sebastian were signed to Jeepster Records
Jeepster Records
Jeepster Records is a London, England-based independent record label which is currently the home of bands Parka and SixNationState. The label is noted for having been the home of critically acclaimed artists Belle and Sebastian and Snow Patrol....
in August 1996 and If You're Feeling Sinister
If You're Feeling Sinister
If You're Feeling Sinister is the second album by Scottish pop group Belle & Sebastian, released on the independent label Jeepster Records in the United Kingdom and Matador Records in the United States...
, their second album, was released on 18 November. The album was named by Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
as one of the 100 greatest albums between 1985 and 2005, and is widely considered the band's masterpiece. Just before the recording of Sinister, Sarah Martin
Sarah Martin (musician)
Sarah Martin is the violin player and one of the primary vocalists in the Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian. Besides violin, Martin plays recorder, stylophone, melodica, guitar and flute...
(violin/vocals) joined the band. Following this a series of EPs were released in 1997. The first of these was Dog on Wheels
Dog on Wheels
Dog on Wheels is an EP by Belle & Sebastian, released in 1997 on Jeepster Records. The four recordings on the EP actually pre-date the band's debut album, Tigermilk, and Stuart Murdoch, Stuart David and Richard Colburn are the only long-term band members to play on the songs. The front cover...
, which contained four demo tracks recorded before the real formation of the band. In fact, the only long-term band members to play on the songs were Murdoch, David, and Mick Cooke
Mick Cooke
Mick Cooke is the trumpet player of the Scottish indie band Belle & Sebastian. Besides trumpet, Cooke plays other brass instruments, including the French horn, and occasionally plays electric guitar and bass live...
, who played trumpet on the EP but would not officially join the band until a few years later. It charted at #59 in the UK singles chart.
The Lazy Line Painter Jane
Lazy Line Painter Jane
Lazy Line Painter Jane was Belle & Sebastian's second EP, released in 1997 on Jeepster Records. The title track features guest vocalist Monica Queen and was recorded in a church hall. "A Century of Elvis" features bassist Stuart David reading out a story he had written, over music by the band. The...
EP followed in July. The track was recorded in the church where Murdoch lived and features vocals from Monica Queen
Monica Queen
Monica Queen is a singer from Glasgow, Scotland who has collaborated with Belle & Sebastian , Chris Coco, James Grant and Jim White, among others...
. The EP narrowly missed out of the UK top 40, peaking at #41. The last of the 1997 EPs was October's 3.. 6.. 9 Seconds of Light
3.. 6.. 9 Seconds of Light
3.. 6.. 9 Seconds of Light was Belle & Sebastian's third EP, released in 1997 on Jeepster Records. The lead track on the EP, "A Century of Fakers," uses the same backing track as "A Century of Elvis" from Lazy Line Painter Jane...
. The EP was made Single of the Week in both the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
and Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
and reached #32 in the charts, thus becoming the band's first top 40 single.
The Boy With the Arab Strap and critical acclaim (1998–2002)
The band released their third LP, The Boy with the Arab StrapThe Boy with the Arab Strap
The Boy with the Arab Strap is the third album from the Scottish band Belle & Sebastian. The inspiration for the album's name came from the band Arab Strap, who are also from Scotland and briefly toured with Belle & Sebastian. An Arab strap is a sexual device for retaining an erection.Arab Strap...
in 1998, and it reached #12 in the UK charts. While often cited by critics as the band's best album, Arab Strap has nonetheless had its detractors. Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
gave the album a particularly poor review, calling it a "parody" of their earlier work. In spite of this, the album garnered positive reviews from Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, and the Village Voice, among others. During the recording of the album long time studio trumpet-player Mick Cooke was asked to join the band as a full member. The This Is Just a Modern Rock Song
This Is Just a Modern Rock Song
This Is Just a Modern Rock Song was Belle & Sebastian's fourth EP, released in 1998 on Jeepster Records. The front cover features Alan Horne, founder of Postcard Records. It is the only Belle & Sebastian release never to be issued in North America, although all four tracks from the EP were later...
EP followed later that year.
In 1999 the band were awarded with Best Newcomer (for their third album) at the BRIT Awards
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
, upsetting the much better known acts Steps and 5ive. That same year, the band hosted their own festival, the Bowlie Weekender
Bowlie Weekender
The Bowlie Weekender was a music festival curated by Belle & Sebastian at the Pontin's Holiday camp in Camber Sands, Sussex between Friday 23rd and Sunday 25 April 1999....
. Tigermilk
Tigermilk
Tigermilk is the 1996 debut album from Scottish pop group Belle & Sebastian. Originally given a limited release by Electric Honey, the album was subsequently re-released in 1999 by Jeepster Records...
was also given a full release by Jeepster
Jeepster Records
Jeepster Records is a London, England-based independent record label which is currently the home of bands Parka and SixNationState. The label is noted for having been the home of critically acclaimed artists Belle and Sebastian and Snow Patrol....
before the band started work on their next LP. The result was Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant
Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant
Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant is the fourth album from the Scottish group Belle & Sebastian. The album was released to generally favourable reviews....
, which became the band's first top 10 album in the UK. A stand-alone single, "Legal Man
Legal Man
"Legal Man" is a single released by Belle & Sebastian on Jeepster Records in 2000. The title track also features Jonny Quinn and Rozanne Suarez of The Maisonettes on congas and vocals, respectively. The cover features band members Stevie Jackson and Isobel Campbell along with Adrienne Payne and...
", reached #15 and gave them their first appearance on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
.
High Fidelity (film)
High Fidelity is a 2000 American comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears and starring John Cusack and the Danish actress Iben Hjejle. The film is based on the 1995 British novel of the same name by Nick Hornby, with the setting moved from London to Chicago and the name of the lead character...
mentions the band and features a clip from the song "Seymour Stein
Seymour Stein
Seymour Stein is an entrepreneur in the music industry who has been a part of the business since getting his first job as a clerk for Billboard magazine in 1958. Stein is a vice president of Warner Bros...
" from The Boy with the Arab Strap. Also, the title track from Arab Strap was played over the end credits of the UK television series Teachers
Teachers (UK TV series)
Teachers is a British television sitcom, originally shown on Channel 4. The series follows a group of secondary school teachers in their daily lives....
.
Stuart David soon left the band to concentrate on his side-project, Looper, and his book writing, which included his The Idle Thoughts of a Daydreamer. He was replaced by Bobby Kildea
Bobby Kildea
Bobby Kildea is a musician from Northern Ireland. He currently plays bass and guitar in the Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian, after joining in 2001 to replace departing bassist Stuart David, and had previously been in V-Twin...
of V-Twin. The "Jonathan David
Jonathan David
"Jonathan David" is a single released by Belle & Sebastian on Jeepster in 2001. The lead track gets its name from the biblical duo of Jonathan and David, while "The Loneliness of a Middle Distance Runner" is a reference to Alan Sillitoe's short story "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner."...
" single – sung by Stevie Jackson – was released in June 2001 and was followed by "I'm Waking Up to Us
I'm Waking Up to Us
"I'm Waking Up to Us" is a song by Belle & Sebastian, released as a single/EP on Jeepster in 2001. The track saw the band work with another producer besides usual collaborator Tony Doogan for the first time – Mike Hurst, former member of The Springfields and producer of Petula Clark and Cat...
" in November. "I'm Waking Up to Us" saw the band use an outside producer (Mike Hurst
Mike Hurst (producer)
Mike Hurst is an English musician and record producer.-Biography:...
) for the first time. Most of 2002 was spent touring and recording a soundtrack album, Storytelling (for Storytelling
Storytelling (film)
Storytelling is a 2001 film, directed by Todd Solondz. It features original music by Belle & Sebastian, later compiled on an album of the same name...
by Todd Solondz
Todd Solondz
Todd Solondz is an American independent film screenwriter and director known for his style of dark, thought-provoking, socially conscious satire. Solondz has been critically acclaimed for his examination of the "dark underbelly of middle class American suburbia", a reflection of his own background...
, a movie which The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
has called one of the best 1,000 movies ever made). Campbell left the band in the spring of 2002, in the middle of the band's North American tour.
Recent years (2003–present)
The band left Jeepster in 2002, signing a four album deal with Rough Trade RecordsRough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
. Their first album for Rough Trade, Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Dear Catastrophe Waitress is an album by Belle & Sebastian, a Scottish indie pop group, released in 2003 on Rough Trade Records. Producer Trevor Horn, former member of The Buggles and producer of groups like Yes and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, oversaw the production of the album, and gave it a more...
, was released in 2003, and was produced by Trevor Horn
Trevor Horn
Trevor Charles Horn CBE is an English pop music record producer, songwriter, musician and singer. He was born in Houghton-le-Spring in north-east England....
. The album showed a markedly more 'produced' sound compared to their first four LPs, as the band was making a concerted effort to produce more "radio-friendly" music. In spite of this, the album was warmly received, and is credited with returning the band's "indie cred". The album also marked the return of Murdoch as the group's primary songwriter following the poorly-received Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant and Storytelling, both of which were more collaborative than the band's early work. A documentary DVD, Fans Only
Fans Only
Fans Only is a record of the development of Belle & Sebastian during their time with Jeepster, from If You're Feeling Sinister to Storytelling. Featuring all of the videos, live performances, interviews, out-takes, TV appearances, early documentary footage, exclusive material and behind the scenes...
, was released by Jeepster in October 2003, featuring promotional videos, live clips and unreleased footage. A single from the album, "Step into My Office, Baby
Step Into My Office, Baby
"Step Into My Office, Baby" is a song by Belle & Sebastian, released as their first single for Rough Trade Records in 2003. The track was produced by Trevor Horn and is lifted from Dear Catastrophe Waitress – the first of the band's singles or EPs to also feature on an album. The front cover...
" followed in November 2003 – it would be their first single taken from an album.
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
-inspired "I'm a Cuckoo
I'm a Cuckoo
"I'm a Cuckoo" was Belle & Sebastian's second single from Dear Catastrophe Waitress, released on Rough Trade Records in 2004. The track was produced by Trevor Horn. B-side "Stop, Look and Listen" merges into "Passion Fruit" at the end of a song – an instrumental piece which was performed live...
" was the second single from the album. It achieved their highest chart position yet, reaching #14 in the UK. The Books
Books (EP)
Books is an EP released by Belle & Sebastian in 2004 on Rough Trade Records. The EP features "Wrapped Up in Books" from Dear Catastrophe Waitress, two new songs — "Your Cover's Blown" and "Your Secrets" — and "Cover ", a remix of "Your Cover's Blown" by the band's keyboardist Chris Geddes. The...
EP followed, a double A-side single lead by "Wrapped Up in Books" from Dear Catastrophe Waitress and the new Your Cover's Blown. This EP became the band's third top 20 UK release and the band went on to be nominated for both the Mercury Music Prize and an Ivor Novello Award. In January 2005, B&S was voted Scotland's greatest band in a poll by The List, beating Simple Minds
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
, Idlewild
Idlewild (band)
Idlewild are a Scottish rock band, formed in Edinburgh, in 1995, comprising Roddy Woomble , Rod Jones , Colin Newton , Allan Stewart and Gareth Russell...
, Travis
Travis (band)
Travis are a post-Britpop band from Glasgow, Scotland, comprising Fran Healy , Dougie Payne , Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose...
, Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand (band)
Franz Ferdinand are a Scottish post-punk revival band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band is composed of Alex Kapranos , Bob Hardy , Nick McCarthy , and Paul Thomson .The band first experienced chart success when their second single, "Take Me Out", reached #3 in...
, and The Proclaimers
The Proclaimers
The Proclaimers are a Scottish band composed of identical twin brothers, Charlie and Craig Reid . They are probably best known for the songs "Letter from America", "I'm On My Way" and "I'm Gonna Be ". The band tours extensively throughout Europe and other continents...
, among others.
In April 2005, members of the band visited Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and the Palestinian territories
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
with the UK charity War on Want
War on Want
War on Want is an anti-poverty charity based in London, England. It seeks to highlight the needs of poverty-stricken areas around the world and lobbies governments and international agencies to tackle problems as well as raising public awareness of the concerns of developing nations while...
; the group subsequently recorded a song inspired by the trip titled "The Eighth Station of the Cross Kebab House", which would later be released as a B-side on 2006's "Funny Little Frog
Funny Little Frog
"Funny Little Frog" was the first single lifted from Belle & Sebastian's The Life Pursuit. The track was released in January 2006 on Rough Trade Records, and is produced by Tony Hoffer. The single became the band's highest-charting single in the UK so far, reaching #13...
" single. Push Barman to Open Old Wounds
Push Barman to Open Old Wounds
Push Barman to Open Old Wounds is a 2005 two-disc/triple-LP compilation released by Belle & Sebastian. Blender Magazine described the collection as "25 charming tales of shy girls dabbling in photography and bookish boys dabbling in shy girls."...
, a compilation of the Jeepster singles and EPs, was released in May 2005 while the band were recording their seventh album in California. The result of the sessions was The Life Pursuit
The Life Pursuit
The Life Pursuit is an album by Belle & Sebastian. It was released in Europe on 6 February 2006 by Rough Trade Records and in North America on February 7, 2006 by Matador Records....
, produced by Tony Hoffer
Tony Hoffer
Tony Hoffer is an American producer, guitarist, and music mixer who is credited for his work on multiple platinum-selling albums including The Kooks, The Thrills, Beck, Supergrass, Turin Brakes and Air...
. The album, originally intended to be a double album, became their band's highest charting release to date upon its release in February 2006, peaking at #8 in the UK and #65 on the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. "Funny Little Frog", which preceded it, also proved to be their highest charting single, debuting at #13.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
at the Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
. The opening act at the 18,000 seat sell-out concert was The Shins
The Shins
The Shins are an American indie rock band comprising singer, songwriter, and guitarist James Mercer, guitarist/bassist Dave Hernandez, Eric Johnson of Fruit Bats, drummer Joe Plummer and bassist Ron Lewis. Their sound draws on several musical genres, including pop, alternative rock, indie rock,...
. The members of the band see this as a landmark event, with Stevie Jackson saying, "This is the biggest thrill of my entire life". In October 2006, members of the band helped put together a CD collection of new songs for children titled Colours Are Brighter
Colours Are Brighter
Colours Are Brighter is a charity record which was released on Rough Trade Records on 16 October 2006, all proceeds going to Save the Children...
, with the involvement of major bands such as Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand (band)
Franz Ferdinand are a Scottish post-punk revival band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band is composed of Alex Kapranos , Bob Hardy , Nick McCarthy , and Paul Thomson .The band first experienced chart success when their second single, "Take Me Out", reached #3 in...
and The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
.
On 18 November 2008 the band released The BBC Sessions
The BBC Sessions (Belle and Sebastian album)
The BBC Sessions is an album by Belle & Sebastian. It is a double album. The first disc is a compilation of unreleased recordings recorded between 1996 and 2001, while the second is a live recording from a concert in Belfast on 21 December 2001...
, which features songs from the period of 1996–2001 (including the last recordings featuring Isobel Campbell before she left the band), along with a second disc featuring a recording of a live performance in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
from Christmas 2001.
During the downtime, Murdoch has initiated the film and music project God Help the Girl
God Help The Girl
God Help the Girl is a musical project authored by Stuart Murdoch, leader of the Scottish indie pop group Belle & Sebastian, featuring a group of female vocalists, including Catherine Ireton, with Belle & Sebastian as the accompanying band...
, while Jackson and Kildea have toured with the reformed Vaselines.
In May 2010, the band stated on their website that they were "back in the studio working on some new songs" and later revealed that they were "in the final stages of recording the [new] album". Sarah Martin later stated in the Q&A section of their website that it would be a 14 track album.
On 17 July 2010, the band performed their first UK gig in almost four years to a crowd of around 30,000 at Latitude Festival
Latitude Festival
The Latitude Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk, England. It was first held in July 2006....
in Henham Park, Southwold. They performed two new songs, 'I Didn't See It Coming' and 'I'm Not Living In The Real World'.
In a news update to the official website on 11 August 2010, it was revealed that their eighth studio album would be titled Belle & Sebastian Write About Love
Belle & Sebastian Write About Love
- Personnel :*Norah Jones – vocals on "Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John"*Carey Mulligan – vocals on "Write About Love"*Mick Cooke – arranger*Sarah Martin – arranger on "I Can See Your Future"*Tony Hoffer – producer, mixing, programming...
. The first single from the album, as well as the record's title track "Write About Love", was released in the US on 7 September 2010. The UK and international release was 25 September 2010.
In December 2010 Belle & Sebastian curated the sequel to the Bowlie Weekender in the form of Bowlie 2 presented by All Tomorrow's Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)
All Tomorrow's Parties is a music festival which takes place at Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex and Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, England....
.
Members
The current members are:- Stuart MurdochStuart Murdoch (musician)Stuart Lee Murdoch is a Scottish musician, and the lead singer and songwriter for the indie pop band Belle & Sebastian. The majority of his childhood was spent a stone's throw from the birthplace of Robert Burns in Alloway, Ayr until he left school and attended university in...
; 1996–present, vocals, electric and acoustic guitar and keyboards - Stevie JacksonStevie JacksonStevie Jackson is a Scottish musician and songwriter. He plays lead guitar and sings in the Glasgow based indie band Belle & Sebastian. Jackson's guitar playing is distinctively retrogressive and melodic, with a heavy use of reverb and minimal effects...
; 1996–present, vocals, electric and acoustic guitar - Chris GeddesChris GeddesChris Geddes is the keyboardist for and a founding member of the Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian. He is a Communist and a vegetarian, the latter earning him the nickname of "Beans". He attended the University of Glasgow and regularly visits Tchai-Ovna Southside. He also likes going to...
; 1996–present, keyboards - Richard ColburnRichard ColburnRichard Colburn is the drummer of the Scottish indie band Belle & Sebastian. Before he joined Belle & Sebastian, he used to sell pies on match days outside Celtic Park and study Music Business at Stow College. He was also a semi-professional Snooker player. His nickname is "Rico" and he also...
; 1996–present, drums - Sarah MartinSarah Martin (musician)Sarah Martin is the violin player and one of the primary vocalists in the Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian. Besides violin, Martin plays recorder, stylophone, melodica, guitar and flute...
; 1997–present, violin, keyboards, electric and acoustic guitar, and vocals - Mick CookeMick CookeMick Cooke is the trumpet player of the Scottish indie band Belle & Sebastian. Besides trumpet, Cooke plays other brass instruments, including the French horn, and occasionally plays electric guitar and bass live...
; 1998–present, trumpet and bass - Bobby KildeaBobby KildeaBobby Kildea is a musician from Northern Ireland. He currently plays bass and guitar in the Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian, after joining in 2001 to replace departing bassist Stuart David, and had previously been in V-Twin...
; 2000–present, guitar and bass
Past members:
- Isobel CampbellIsobel CampbellIsobel Campbell is a Scottish singer, cellist and composer in the indie and rock genres.-History:Campbell was a member of Belle & Sebastian from their formation in Glasgow in 1996 until 2002, when she departed the band for personal reasons. She played cello and keyboards with the band, and sang...
; 1996–2002, vocals and cello - Stuart DavidStuart DavidStuart David is a Scottish musician, who formerly was a bassist with Belle & Sebastian and then went on to front Looper . He is the author of the novels Nalda Said and The Peacock Manifesto published by I.M.P. Fiction in 1999 and 2001...
; 1996–2000, bass
In popular culture
- The band contributed two songs, 'Piazza New York Catcher' and 'Expectations' to the soundtrackJuno (soundtrack)Music from the Motion Picture Juno, released on January 8, 2008, is the soundtrack that accompanies the Academy Award-winning film Juno.-Background:...
of the film JunoJuno (film)Juno is a 2007 comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. Ellen Page stars as the title character, an independent-minded teenager confronting an unplanned pregnancy and the subsequent events that put pressures of adult life onto her. Michael Cera, Olivia Thirlby, J. K....
, appearing alongside Antsy PantsAntsy PantsAntsy Pants is an American band featuring Kimya Dawson on lead vocals and Leo Bear Creek on vocals & ukulele. The band contributed two songs to the soundtrack of Juno...
, The Moldy PeachesThe Moldy PeachesThe Moldy Peaches was an indie group founded by Adam Green and Kimya Dawson. Leading proponents of the anti-folk scene, the band has been on hiatus since 2004...
, Kimya DawsonKimya DawsonKimya Dawson is an American singer-songwriter, best known as a solo performer and as one half of The Moldy Peaches. In Swahili, "Kimya" means "silence" or "silent".-Career:...
, Cat PowerCat PowerCharlyn Marie Marshall , also known as Chan Marshall or by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer/songwriter and occasional actress and model. Cat Power was originally the name of Marshall's first band, but has come to refer to her musical projects with various backing bands...
, Mott the HoopleMott the HoopleMott the Hoople were a British rock band with strong R&B roots, popular in the glam rock era of the early to mid 1970s. They are popularly known for the song "All the Young Dudes", written for them by David Bowie and appearing on their 1972 album of the same name.-The early years:Mott The Hoople...
, and others. The song "She's Losing It" was also featured on one of the film's trailers. - "We Rule The School" was featured in the CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
sitcom How I Met Your MotherHow I Met Your MotherHow I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
first season episode "Return of the ShirtReturn of the Shirt"Return of the Shirt" is the 4th episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on October 10, 2005.- Plot :...
" as a song always listened to by an ex-girlfriend of Ted MosbyTed MosbyTheodore Evelyn "Ted" Mosby is the titular fictional character of the U.S. television sitcom How I Met Your Mother, portrayed by Josh Radnor...
; however in the flashback the album cover shown was "The Boy with the Arab Strap" although the song doesn't appear on that album. - The song "The Boy with the Arab Strap" was used during the closing credits of the Channel 4Channel 4Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
UK TV series TeachersTeachers (UK TV series)Teachers is a British television sitcom, originally shown on Channel 4. The series follows a group of secondary school teachers in their daily lives.... - The lead character in the film (500) Days of Summer quotes the line "Colour my life with the chaos of trouble...", a lyric from the song "The Boy with the Arab Strap".
- The song "Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying" is used in the film Forgetting Sarah MarshallForgetting Sarah MarshallForgetting Sarah Marshall is a 2008 American romantic comedy film directed by Nicholas Stoller and starring Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis and Russell Brand...
. - The song "Sleep the Clock Around" is used in the Season 1, Episode 4 of The Killing.
- In the British comedy show SpacedSpacedSpaced is a British television sitcom written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, and directed by Edgar Wright. It is noted for its rapid-fire editing, frequent pop culture references and jokes, eclectic music, and occasional displays of surrealism and non-sequitur humour...
the song "Legal ManLegal Man"Legal Man" is a single released by Belle & Sebastian on Jeepster Records in 2000. The title track also features Jonny Quinn and Rozanne Suarez of The Maisonettes on congas and vocals, respectively. The cover features band members Stevie Jackson and Isobel Campbell along with Adrienne Payne and...
" is heard in the background of Episode 6, Series 1Epiphanies (Spaced)"Epiphanies" is the sixth and penultimate episode of Series 1 of English television series Spaced. It aired on 29 October 1999 and was written by Jessica Stevenson and Simon Pegg and directed by Edgar Wright.-Plot:...
. - In the Gilmore GirlsGilmore GirlsGilmore Girls is an American family comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. On October 5, 2000, the series debuted on The WB and was cancelled in its seventh season, ending on May 15, 2007 on The CW...
Season 2 episode "It Should've Been Lorelai" the song "Legal ManLegal Man"Legal Man" is a single released by Belle & Sebastian on Jeepster Records in 2000. The title track also features Jonny Quinn and Rozanne Suarez of The Maisonettes on congas and vocals, respectively. The cover features band members Stevie Jackson and Isobel Campbell along with Adrienne Payne and...
" is played as Rory Gilmore has a Belle & Sebastian album dropped off in Lane Kim's bag. - In Vera BrosgolVera BrosgolVera Brosgol is a cartoonist and a graduate in Classical Animation of Sheridan College in Canada. She lives in Portland, Oregon and works for Laika Entertainment House where she does storyboards and concept art for their animation productions...
's 2011 graphic novel Anya's Ghost there is a poster for Belle & Sebastian in the title character's bedroom. - The band was featured briefly in a scene for the film High FidelityHigh Fidelity (film)High Fidelity is a 2000 American comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears and starring John Cusack and the Danish actress Iben Hjejle. The film is based on the 1995 British novel of the same name by Nick Hornby, with the setting moved from London to Chicago and the name of the lead character...
starring John Cusack.
Discography
- TigermilkTigermilkTigermilk is the 1996 debut album from Scottish pop group Belle & Sebastian. Originally given a limited release by Electric Honey, the album was subsequently re-released in 1999 by Jeepster Records...
(1996) - If You're Feeling SinisterIf You're Feeling SinisterIf You're Feeling Sinister is the second album by Scottish pop group Belle & Sebastian, released on the independent label Jeepster Records in the United Kingdom and Matador Records in the United States...
(1996) - The Boy with the Arab StrapThe Boy with the Arab StrapThe Boy with the Arab Strap is the third album from the Scottish band Belle & Sebastian. The inspiration for the album's name came from the band Arab Strap, who are also from Scotland and briefly toured with Belle & Sebastian. An Arab strap is a sexual device for retaining an erection.Arab Strap...
(1998) - Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a PeasantFold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a PeasantFold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant is the fourth album from the Scottish group Belle & Sebastian. The album was released to generally favourable reviews....
(2000) - Storytelling (2002)
- Dear Catastrophe WaitressDear Catastrophe WaitressDear Catastrophe Waitress is an album by Belle & Sebastian, a Scottish indie pop group, released in 2003 on Rough Trade Records. Producer Trevor Horn, former member of The Buggles and producer of groups like Yes and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, oversaw the production of the album, and gave it a more...
(2003) - Push Barman to Open Old WoundsPush Barman to Open Old WoundsPush Barman to Open Old Wounds is a 2005 two-disc/triple-LP compilation released by Belle & Sebastian. Blender Magazine described the collection as "25 charming tales of shy girls dabbling in photography and bookish boys dabbling in shy girls."...
(2005) - The Life PursuitThe Life PursuitThe Life Pursuit is an album by Belle & Sebastian. It was released in Europe on 6 February 2006 by Rough Trade Records and in North America on February 7, 2006 by Matador Records....
(2006) - Belle and Sebastian Write About Love (2010)
External links
- Official site
- Belle and Sebastian on Matador Records
- Belle and Sebastian on Rolling StoneRolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
- Belle and Sebastian on neformat.com.ua