February 1999 - Sinister

Sinister: Fw: The boy with the arab strap review (hey, better late than never)
by Lee 12 Feb '99

12 Feb '99

>Good Morning List, Now I don't know if this has been sent to you before, I looked in the archives, but not very hard. Anyway this is from the Guitar Magazine (September), if your conjuring up a stereotyped guitarist image of me in your head I assure I DONT have long permed hair, a leather jacket and a plectrum in my wallet. Review by Rick Batey.... Belle and Sebastian The Boy with the Arab Strap (Hannibal)? Belle and Sebastian, the famously reticent Scottish acoustic-based seven-piece conglomerate with the Replacements-style media aversion, plainly don't give a toss what decade it is. One minute it's 1986 (Marr-shaped strumminess, jazzy Roddy Frame solos), then the mid-'60s (three chords, poker faced Nico vocals), then crikey, 1972 (T-Rex boogie, handclaps), then 1996 with shy warbling over gloomsome Tindersticks orchestrations. Your view of such eclecticism will largely depend on the ground you're standing on. Seen from pop's grassy knoll, they're utterly charming - a dollop of Animals That Swim's trumpet-led urban literacy here, a squeeze of Vic Chesnutt's whimsical, home-made ethic there. Seen from a fokier angle where cellos'n'stuff are less of a big surprise and excellence is usually judged more worthy of praise than awkward naivete, B&S's shambling style can sound offhand and some of the singing is plainly too weak. But the best of the boy with the arab strap transcends both stances: Sleep the Clock around is beautiful and strangely Eno-ish; the Stax-tinged Dirty Dream #2 comes complete with funksome Steve Cropper guitar; Seymour Stein's delicate electric strumming and wavering Hammond sounds abit like Dylan and the Band. Sweet. **** (4 out of 5 Stars) Sorry if this has been done before. lee (again) +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: territorial pissings
by Lee 12 Feb '99

12 Feb '99

Arrrgghh the email demons wont leave me alone. The nights are getting lighter, good news for us seasonal depressives and Vampire Slayers. Anyway, I haven't been able to get to grips with new events in the world of Belle and Sebastian (due to the afore mentioned demons). >From what I gather from you lot is that there's going to be a brand new album, a brand new old album, and a brand new 2-track single (that isn't very good?, how come you've heard it?), as well as a looper album, and a Gentle Waves album. Is that right? Did the Jeepster people get whips for Christmas or did they just lock the band in a cupboard under the stairs until they wrote an album each? Anyhow a commendable work ethic. I hope all this is true (the release part, not the whips part). I've never heard anything off tigermilk, just to lazy to join the tape trees that come and go I guess, and I don't trust any of you either, Mrs Murdoch told me all about you internet perverts, you might stalk me or something :o). So to ME tigermilk is going to be a NEW album, that means I get something that many of you will miss out on, well sort of. I've also head talk of a Peel session, or have I missed that? I hope not. Now on to other matters...I like the 'wrong girl', and 'the gate' by the way, and I think without everyone in the band doing what they do then they wouldn't be Belle and Sebastian, my favourite song at the moment is Century of Fakers: StuartM is clearly a very talented singer/songwriter, and Isobel and Stevie also sing great backing vocals on that song. What I like best is the second guitar parts, surely this earns stevie some respect (however if it wasn't him who plays this... STEVIE OUT, STEVIE OUT.) I like the bass lines in all the songs, and the drummer (whatsisname) is an unsung (except in TIJAMRS) hero of mine, I don't own any other records with trumpet solos on so thumbs up to Mick, I'm not sure about the recorder though, but why not? In conclusion Stuart Murdoch is not Belle and Sebastian, not to me anyway: think Gestalt, it helps. And another thing while I'm at it. I'm not a new fan, and I'm not new to this list, I wasn't their in the beginning but I wasn't far behind. You see the thing is I don't mind new fans and I'm not precious about music, there's more important things right?. Yet I don't want people to call me a new fan if Belle and Sebastian make it big (or bigger at least), i think it's human nature, I'm not usually nasty and territorial. The question is what can you do to prove you were here before the people cared (childish I know), not much really. No one will believe you when you say I was there in 1995, it's like Nirvana at Reading, Woodstock, Spike island. We need a secret handshake, something easy to remember because I'll forget. Well I'm off to check out the jeepster site to discover what I really should know. Then to the RodCam to get my kicks. Oh one more thing, what's the best 'hefner' stuff to get, and what's the best 'built to spill' stuff to get, it's about time I brought a new record or two. lee Question 1. (In a new series of erm..Questions). What do Belle and Sebastian have in common with SaltnPepper (the rap group not the stuff that you sprinkle on your soup) ? It's not a crime to know the answer! Answers on a post card to the usual address. P.S. Is/Was Sensitive Stan Stuart D taking the piss? +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Re: Sinister: Jude
by Dan McKinney 12 Feb '99

12 Feb '99

>And now a question: has anyone heard of Jude? I just heard a song by them, and it >sounds really really good.. I thought they must be fans of Belle and sebastian... >Un fortunately, I couldnt find their album yet. > >Cheers G'day listees... Yes indeed, I've heard of Jude. Jude is actually the brainchild of one guy, Jude Christodal, from the Boston area. He's released two albums, both on Madonna's label Maverick, which have earned some airplay on college radio here in the US. The first album is called 430 N. HARPER AVE., which I think earned Jude a bit of critical acclaim but rather shoddy sales figures. The second, NO ONE'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL, has had two rather hit-caliber singles on college radio, at least here (western New York). The first single from the album, "Rick James," is a parody of the singer Rick James, known for his piece of trash hit "Superfreak." I didn't really care for it. The second single is actually VERY good, it's called "I'm Sorry," and it shows great vocal range and melody...lyrics are quite secondary to the melody, but, based on the merits of the song, I'd say that Jude has pretty good potential. As far as any comparison with Belle & Sebastian, I certainly don't hear it, but I couldn't say that Jude isn't a fan for sure... ooh oooh now I have a question for the group. sorry if it's been asked before, but I was just wondering why people compare B&S with the Tindersticks. I don't think they sound anything alike, and I absolutely cannot stand Stuart Staples' voice, whereas I adore our Stuart's voice. just wondering... ~Dan ______________________________________________________ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: Saddest Song
by Robert Morris 12 Feb '99

12 Feb '99

>anyway, perhaps someone already mentioned this, but i was reading >Rolling Stone today (which is absolute crap, and even though i >haven't renewed my subscription, they keep sending it...), and there >was this interview with Pavement, about their new recording, and they >said they produced "pretty much hard rock, with a couple wussy songs. >That way we can still reel in Belle and Sebastian fans." this sort >of makes me... well, unsettled... i haven't listened to a whole lot >of pavement, but i've pretty much liked what i heard, but this >comment irks me quite a bit. like, "hey we can tap into a fan-base >of senstive indie rockers if we tack on a few sappy songs" or >something. i detect sarcasm, but why joke about these things? > > If this concerns you, i recommend that you stay clear of all Pavement interviews. They are notorious mischief makers with the press. A website exists that just keeps track of all the lies they have told. The Belle and Sebastian comment seems pretty inocuous compared to some of the other things they have claimed. Robert Morris winboog(a)gis.net

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Sinister: "all i wanted was to sing the saddest song"
by Marie Elia 12 Feb '99

12 Feb '99

hello, sinisterites... okay, post three. see? i can keep track b/c it takes so much for me to get the guts to post.... anyway, perhaps someone already mentioned this, but i was reading Rolling Stone today (which is absolute crap, and even though i haven't renewed my subscription, they keep sending it...), and there was this interview with Pavement, about their new recording, and they said they produced "pretty much hard rock, with a couple wussy songs. That way we can still reel in Belle and Sebastian fans." this sort of makes me... well, unsettled... i haven't listened to a whole lot of pavement, but i've pretty much liked what i heard, but this comment irks me quite a bit. like, "hey we can tap into a fan-base of senstive indie rockers if we tack on a few sappy songs" or something. i detect sarcasm, but why joke about these things? anyway, i am languishing away here in western pennsylvania... although it was very sunny and quite lovely today -- an oddity for february... kids were wearing shorts! now i will sign off... but first, kisskiss to the always-more-often poster here in meadville, kimmy! incidentally, kimmy and i went to see "she's all that" the other night, and it was very sad. as in, pathetic -- don't do it! you will only lose faith that there might still be awkward, shoe-gazing, collage-making, book-reading kids out there... ones that DON'T harbor a secret desire to become "popular." okay, i will mercifully end now. for real. take care, marie +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: i am not a pervert today
by Alix Campbell 11 Feb '99

11 Feb '99

hallo, my lovers has anyone left a sinister cd in the KA in oxford? cos, there's one been handed in. gave me a right start, to see it looking at me, i was getting myself a drink from behind the bar, and suddenly, i wus apprehended by a very familiar square object. yes, someone had thrown some toast at me again. apparently, if no one claims it, i can take it home, and nurture it. i don't think any of you though would be so careless though, to lose it. but if you have, i know where it is. anyway, that made me grin for the rest of the afternoon, and i was hardly rude to any customers. even the one who asked for 'a ciabatta baguette' ..but i digress. it means, obviously that b&s are absolutely everywhere. like a nasty disease, in my opinion. yeh! tarnation indeed. i so wanted to be in a secret society. i'd roll the leg of my flares up at the drop of a hat. ooh, i just have, in fact. no, it's a bit chilly, to be honest, so, until i get some legwarmers, it's no secret society pour moi. or the rest of you, do you hear? it's darn brassic weather, and you'd better watch out which odd sartorial rituals you perform. i'm reading a book about logic. none of it has worn off on me, evidently. logic, it would appear, is about taking things, especially sentences, apart, to see if they are true. i ask: 'where's the point in this?' a question which could easily be applied to this message also. i respect steps. the laydeez in steps have proved that you don't need tits to get far in pop. neither tits nor original songs. exercise 1. underline all the lies in the above passage. then go home. lav alix.x 'sometimes honey i wish i was better company and so do you' +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: sparklehorse again (no b&S sorry)
by Evan Gregg 11 Feb '99

11 Feb '99

hi if anyone in the us is curious Sparklehorse is touring with Varnaline (very cool if perhaps a bit too gritty for some people here) the dates are online at: http://hollywoodandvine.com/sparklehorse or i could email them to anyone interested (im hoping to make the Boston show on 4/16) i just realized how many albums are coming out on feb 23rd built to spill, paul westerberg (yaay), sebadoh, other stuff im forgetting k thats it some day ill have some B&S content in my posts ------Ev np-wamh college radio station from amherst college(cordelia's dad just came on (really cool song from Comet) yaaah frame drum w/ fiddle -- ----------------------------------------------------- I would feel much better If I knew you got this letter 'Cause the road that lays between us Is one week long And I don't have the bread To come and see you now ---"Letter To Bread"-- Scud Mtn. Boys my home page: http://www.angelfire.com/ma/dixiecluck +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: Gig in paris
by Michael Korchia 11 Feb '99

11 Feb '99

If some of you are interested & around paris tomorrow friday (9 pm), there'll be a gypsophile/Gilles Weinzaepflen Gig in le couvent 69 rue broca 13eme arrondissement Mo Les gobelins I'll even play the bass with Gypso, & Watoo Watoo may play a couple of songs too. (& it's free) __^o^__ Michael Korchia mkorchia(a)club-internet.fr Watoo Watoo Homepage : http://www.multimania.com/watoo/ Mumbly Homepage : http://www.multimania.com/aurore/emumbly.htm +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: Nick Drake and B&S in the Wall Street Journal!!
by RAnder3567＠aol.com 11 Feb '99

11 Feb '99

I'll confess to being shocked yesterday to see a reasonably well thought out piece on Nick appear in The Wall Street Journal, a most unlikely "place to be" ! Much of the piece is given to discussing artists influenced by Nick, including Elliott Smith, Mark Eitzel, and the Red House Painters. "Replicating Drake's sound isn't the goal of his disciples, though the band Bell and Sebastian's "The Boy With The Arab Strap" at times sounds so much like Drake that it's easy to think they've dressed up his old recordings with synthesizers and drums." It's also mentioned that Joe Boyd is working on a compilation of Drake songs performed by those influenced by him. Regards, Robert Anderson +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: french tv broadcast
by dave cohen 11 Feb '99

11 Feb '99

was the vid of the black session broadcast on tv in france on the 3rd? i didn't see any mentions on the list and a quick search of the list archives for feb. didn't turn up anything?? if it was broadcast -- any reviews? and does anyone have a tape? --lapis NB: this is about the tv broadcast not the radio broadcast... +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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