November 2003 - Sinister

Sinister: Dialing up a catastrophe...
by Jaye Conner 10 Nov '03

10 Nov '03

Hello Sinisteria, I know that we're beyond the reviews of DCW but felt obligated to pass on this one from the student newspaper here. I have not heard the new disc in its' entirety, however, I like what I've heard, and must include that the student-run radio station is excellent... quite possibly my reason for staying in this town. So, read on if you feel compelled. I have left in the writer's name for those of you feeling sinister... Dialing up a catastrophe when nobody's at home By Richard Shirk - The Daily Iowan Singing about being bundled in sweaters and taking walks in the rain seemed to be a formula that worked for twee-poppers Belle & Sebastian. Now, with a new long-player - Dear Catastrophe Waitress (Rough Trade) - the Glasgow septet has swept out almost everything that made its pastiche-heavy music so precious. The charming infusion of '60s folk-pop with indie affability has been phased out this time around and replaced with a frustrating batch of songs embracing the most schlocky, chauvinistic, and forgettable elements of late-60s West Coast pop and mid-70s pub-rock. And if there is one thing that Belle & Sebastian could be counted on for, it was to be not chauvinistic. Led by Stuart Murdoch through a variety of lineup permutations, the band's first four proper albums saw a songwriting perspective often dealing in the same fatalism that made a band such as the Smiths so great. Combined with an androgynous Nico-esque voice and a band mystique centered on drinking tea, reading books, and talking Tolkien with pals in the park, Belle & Sebastian was the perfect picture of an innocent, nonthreatening pop-band. A lesson in complete negation, Catastrophe is a radical departure that the band can hardly recover from. Slathered with cheesy horn arrangements, bad wah-wah guitars, and a new side of Murdoch as a songwriter, the album is constructed entirely from the worst elements of classic-rock radio. A trudge through the album becomes almost impossible once Murdoch - previously content being a foppy bookworm in his songwriting - begins to wheel out thinly veiled sexual innuendoes in the album opener, "Step Into My Office, Baby." An otherwise unassuming song, the Led Zeppelin-isms are abundant as Murdoch fantasizes about being a suit-bound office overseer in a position to pressure newly employed women into sex. Hardly the sensitivity found on Tigermilk or If You're Feeling Sinister. The rest of the album may not be all downhill, but after a tacky song that simultaneously cribs AC/DC lyrics while rockin' some Lovin' Spoonful riffs, it's only the first in a series of monumental mistakes. While the title track could easily fit onto any of the band's previous albums, it is still marred by the same hammy arrangements that also ruin such tracks as "If She Wants Me," "If You Find Yourself Caught In Love," and "I'm a Cuckoo." While "Roy Walker" sounds like it could easily be a cast-off from CCR or Buffalo Springfield, "Stay Loose" is a spot-on Squeeze song - which is not exactly terrible, but definitely not something that was new or bold even in 1982. And even at the best of moments, Belle & Sebastian sounds like a band covering itself. "Wrapped Up In Books" is pretty much the same song as the title track of Boy With The Arab Strap, and "Asleep on a Sunbeam," although coy and boring, is only on par with some of the low-points of the band's best albums. But to the band's credit, at least Catastrophe is a distinguished accomplishment. After all, who could have predicted a band as previously interesting and enjoyable as Belle & Sebastian could find so many imaginative ways to be extraordinarily terrible? E-mail DI reporter Richard Shirk at: rshirk(a)blue.weeg.uiowa.edu +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +-+ "sick posse of f**ked in the head psycho-fans" - NME June 2001 +-+ +-+ Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa +-+ +-+ Snipp snapp snut, sa var sagan slut! +-+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: a blow to the chest, like a boy you liked suddenly entering the room (Toronto)
by Genevieve Wesley 10 Nov '03

10 Nov '03

Reporting Back Took the Greyhound bus to Toronto with Sheila. Looking forward to the show and a trip to the big city but we both have essays due. So, balancing binders and Yeats and Paradise Lost, hard to concentrate. Pass through a cute little town named Tweed. When we arrive in Toronto, the first image that greets us is rather ominous one involving a dead pigeon. I guess you can never lose that country-bumpkin face, no matter where you move to, weird man sits next to me and makes creepy commentary about the pigeons, "There are probably more pigeons than people in Toronto." But anyways, the show. It was very good. We were in the first level, so it was nice for a change to overlook the whole scene. There seems to be more of a budget for the light show. The dreamy green ones are nice but the blinking white ones remind me of Science class and the magnesium experiment. Vincent Massey hall is very fancy. The ushers show you to your seat and everything. Stevie said it was a very "grand" audience. Struan talked about imagining a soul dance hall, Northern Soul style, and did we know what Northern Soul is? A couple of handclaps. They do a good version of I Want You Back. Struan invites people to sing the spoken-bit in Dirty Dream #2. Richard in lumberjack shirt. Struan in a black and white striped t-shirt. Mick in Led Zeppelin t-shirt. And did I see on here, a few posts back, Mick is now a father? Congratulations! Wasn't it only yesterday he was Scotland's Most Eligible Bachelor? In the middle of their set, Struan says this is the time they take a break from their own songs. Any requests for a choon? "Give us a choon" is such a nice expression. Struan asks, so then can anyone play? A woman says yes, she can. When they ask what her request says, she says her own song. Struan says she is a brave girl. So they play her song. Struan says all the world's a stage, eh Bob?Silence. "I guess you didn't get the Rush reference?" At the end Struan doesn't like the gap between front row and stage and invites everyone forward, they all dance. Oh, and during one song Struan invited a boy on stage to dance, he was rather slim like Struan and they both danced in that same style, elbows bent, legs apart, big steps and little jumps. Toronto 8 November 2003 Instrumental Expectations Step Into My Office, Baby Wrapped Up In Books Seeing Other People Dirty Dream #2 You Don't Send Me Travelling Light I Want You Back Lord Anthony The Loneliness of a Middle Distance Runner (attempt at Rhoda) Stars of Track and Field If She Wants Me Photo Jenny Piazza, New York Catcher There's Too Much Love Roy Walker Stay Loose You're Just A Baby (encore) Sleep the Clock Around I didn't know the new album that well going into the show, but I had a bit of a Legal Man feeling, different opinion after seeing certain songs live. I was happy they played You're Just a Baby, that's one of my favourite of the older songs and I have good memories attached to it. So, my favourite bits from the show, concerning the new songs: In the middle of Step Into My Office, very beautiful and dreamy ("laid down with a sigh") If She Wants Me, around the "if I could do just one perfect thing" bit. Like how Struan's voice sounds on the verge of breaking, "And it was Huh-ard" Roy Walker...lovely singing & harmonizing, Stevie asks for finger-snapping audience participation (replacement for flamenco style handclaps?) You Don't Send me and Stay Loose, both how they begin...the lights compliment the feeling and Struan's dancing and pose. There's nothing, there's nothing! The guitar in Stay Loose, reminds me slightly of Loneliness of Middle Distance Runner. Makes me feel a bit funny inside, like I am 14 years old and listening to Belle and Sebastian on my walkman during gym class wishing I had a boyfriend who plays guitar. _________________________________________________________________ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/bcomm&pgmarket=en-ca&RU=http%3a%2f%2fjoin.ms… +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +-+ "sick posse of f**ked in the head psycho-fans" - NME June 2001 +-+ +-+ Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa +-+ +-+ Snipp snapp snut, sa var sagan slut! +-+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Re: Sinister: I know you're around here somewhere...
by Chris Parker 10 Nov '03

10 Nov '03

On Mon, 10 Nov 2003, Grainne Lynch wrote: > The new album is the first release of Lord Anthony. I am absolutely 100% positive that I've heard it before but I don't remember where and I'd be willing to say that it was on a CD of theirs. The reason I say that is because I don't ever remember having downloaded any B&S songs over the internet, OR received any copies of any bootleg music. This is very strange, and now it's really bothering me. I will look around for an mp3 of it and maybe that will be what I'm looking for. Or maybe it's just that I'm gifted and I was actually hearing them perform the song live at a show somewhere far away and romantic. Thanks, Chris. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +-+ "sick posse of f**ked in the head psycho-fans" - NME June 2001 +-+ +-+ Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa +-+ +-+ Snipp snapp snut, sa var sagan slut! +-+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: spam spam spam spam
by hannah brown 10 Nov '03

10 Nov '03

Arn't you just sick of it? Lately i have been getting really odd spam from people claiming that they are the prince of Africa and ,for reasons i never both to read, they need to rest 30,000 squid in a forign account and therefore could they please have my FULL ACCOUNT DETAILS. Yeh, sure mate, why don't you borrow my house keys and my weekly F***in earnings as well. I Did a REALLY stupid thing about three weeks ago. I got a "happy text" saying i had won 750 pounds. I thought, " cool, i need some money, and they wouldn't lie would they?", so i rang the number, then the other number, used up 8 pound in credit, sent off the letter with my SPECIAL CODE to freaking Denmark then realised the error of my ways on the way back from the post box. Three weeks have passed and there is no sign of my "special 750 pound prize". Should i be surprised...................... Ken mentioned Fanny Pack, a horribly named fash band with a song title called "camel toe". I read an article that a camel toe is a reference to a lady who wears rather tight jeans or leggings and creates the look of a camel toe around her personal area, thus explaining the reference to "lips"- if you catch my drift. Talking of bands, one of my college bands called The Ludes are getting quite stupidly famous. They are going to be signed to EMI and have done some sessions on radio 1, how odd. They are very flipping good though. They used to play in our student bar and do general rock n roll things like having many attractive (although unintelligent) girlfriends and shouting alot. They are doing a tour soon, go and see them. I am reading The Wasp Factory at the moment and although it is interesting it is depressing me and i feel once i have read it i will want something a little lighter on the eye, so if anyone has any book reccomendations please let me know. You all helped me a while ago and some of the things you recommended were very good. right i'm off, going back to the spam thing, visit spam.com, your know, the meat product version, well you will not believe how many novelty spam items you can buy. pens, earings, suits, ties, notebooks, socks................. hannahb _________________________________________________________________ On the move? Get Hotmail on your mobile phone http://www.msn.co.uk/msnmobile +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +-+ "sick posse of f**ked in the head psycho-fans" - NME June 2001 +-+ +-+ Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa +-+ +-+ Snipp snapp snut, sa var sagan slut! +-+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: I know you're around here somewhere...
by cparker＠wrack.org 10 Nov '03

10 Nov '03

Hi. Hey I haven't posted to the sinister list in, oh I don't know, maybe two years? The reason I'm writing is because I know Lord Anthony is availabe in at least two places, the second being the latest album, Dear Catastrophe Waitress, and the first being... I'm not sure. A friend has borrowed some of my singles and older album's and he says Lord Anthony is not on any of them, and I've also looked online with no luck. Someone listed it as being on Dog on Wheels but I didn't find it there. I'm sure someone will know the answer here. Thanks, Chris. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +-+ "sick posse of f**ked in the head psycho-fans" - NME June 2001 +-+ +-+ Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa +-+ +-+ Snipp snapp snut, sa var sagan slut! +-+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: B&S Ticket 3rd Row ORCH FRI 11/14/2003 Tower Theatre Row CCC $37
by Nahasapmapetilon＠aol.com 10 Nov '03

10 Nov '03

Hi Selling 1 ticket for Belle & Sebastian on FRI 11/14/2003 at the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby (just 5 mins west of Philly). I have 1 extra ticket, so your choice of 1 of the 2: 3rd row, Row CCC, Seat 110 (5 seats in from center aisle) or 5th row, Row EEE, Seat 101 (on center aisle) The 1st row is AAA and the 6th row is AA at the Tower Theatre. Hoping to get back what I paid, $37.55 plus shipping. (First class mail plus insurance would cost $1.67.) seating chart- http://www.electricfactory.com/images/venues/towerchart.gif Email me offlist at kilyuradeo(a)aol.com or IM me on AIM or AOL at kilyuradeo Thanks Jeff +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +-+ "sick posse of f**ked in the head psycho-fans" - NME June 2001 +-+ +-+ Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa +-+ +-+ Snipp snapp snut, sa var sagan slut! +-+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: doh! scratch the interview for this week
by Brandt Fundak 09 Nov '03

09 Nov '03

hello again. due to circumstances beyond my control (mainly, the fact that the board in our production studio doesn't work right) i've had to postpone broadcast of my interview with Mick Cook until next week. i'd love to play to raw, unedited interview, but Mick swore a bit and i did something that would get me in trouble with the FCC if i aired it. sorry for the inconvenience. brandt ===== "America, great place, but run by a load of tossers." --Stuart Murdoch __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard http://antispam.yahoo.com/whatsnewfree +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +-+ "sick posse of f**ked in the head psycho-fans" - NME June 2001 +-+ +-+ Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa +-+ +-+ Snipp snapp snut, sa var sagan slut! +-+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: Radio Interview with Mick Cook
by Brandt Fundak 09 Nov '03

09 Nov '03

hi all, i'll be broadcasting an interview i did with Mick Cook from Belle and Sebastian before their Columbus show this past thursday on my radio show here in Cleveland on WRUW FM 91.1 at 10am EST (3PM GMT) this morning. You can listen by going to our web page (http://www.wruw.org) and clicking on one of the two live streams on the main page. The interview will also be available via our archive for the next week at the following address: http://www.wruw.org/stream.php?stream=164 cheers, brandt ===== "America, great place, but run by a load of tossers." --Stuart Murdoch __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard http://antispam.yahoo.com/whatsnewfree +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +-+ "sick posse of f**ked in the head psycho-fans" - NME June 2001 +-+ +-+ Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa +-+ +-+ Snipp snapp snut, sa var sagan slut! +-+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: the wind was blowing, calling your name
by Kevin Holzer 09 Nov '03

09 Nov '03

Salutations, I was out driving home from my friends house the other night, listening to some B&S and I realized I had to use the restroom. Being a guy, and it being the middle of nowhere (not to mention the middle of the night), I decided to do the stereotypical male thing, namely doing my business on the side of the road. Little did I know the rush of emotion and beauty that would come upon me. As soon as I got out of my car (a nineteen eighty eight chevrolet caprice classic, one of the last of the true american cars) I felt this enlightenment that I couldnt quite place my finger on, just a pure appreciation of beatuy of my surroundings. The moon was full, B&S was still playing, the nice hum of my engine going, and the clouds....oh the clouds... After I finished what I had initially stopped to do, I probably used a roll and a half of film just trying to capture the moment. I hope it turns out, because I can't think of much that has ever touched me so deeply. I apologize for the crudeness of this message (earlier on) but I had to share the feeling with someone else, and who would appreciate it more than all of you? -Kevin +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +-+ "sick posse of f**ked in the head psycho-fans" - NME June 2001 +-+ +-+ Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa +-+ +-+ Snipp snapp snut, sa var sagan slut! +-+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: Rehab is for quitters!
by Laura Llew 08 Nov '03

08 Nov '03

The other day, I was thinking of the band Low. Two of the group members are lds (mormons) and I was wondering if this helps their fan base any. I remember playing a Belle and Sebastian album for an lds friend and some of her (out of ten) siblings who were in the room. Just think about it - you convert one mormon friend and their family and BOOM! the entire state of Idaho can be counted as fans. On Sunday, I talked to this friend for the first time in three years and it seems as if she just played some Belle and Sebby to her three year old niece who fell in love with it. The little lass now toddles around saying, "I wove Bell and Thebathin! Der muh fafite!" Isn't that the cutest story? Yeah, it made me gag too. I second Ree for calling for more people to report back. I was virtually chatreuse with envy to hear that Columbus got Slow Graffitti, Photo Jenny (swoon!), AND Stay Loose. I have never wished to be in Ohio before in my life!! Oh, the things Belle & Sebastian will do to a girl. Also, this surfer tune which other reporters back have mentioned as being called "Passion Fruit" is the same one announced as Mick Cooke's baby at the Atlanta show. Wasn't he darling and all beamy while playing it? I was quite embarassed to see that Monsieur Gay Jay had printed out my setlist and notes to the list as they're not things I would have normally made public. It seems as if I might have messed up some too. Thus, for the record it seems as if the Durham set list really went something like this: Instrumental Introduction Expectations Step into My Office, Baby Wrapped Up in Books Slow Graffiti I'm a Cuckoo Women's Realm Traveling Light Beautiful A Summer Wasting Like Dylan in the Movies The Stars of Track and Field Dirty Dream Number Two Asleep on a Sunbeam Piazza, New York Catcher Dear Catastrophe Waitress Judy and the Dream of Horses Roy Walker Sleep the Clock Around Encore: You're Just a Baby That's courtsey of Sanders who pointed out that I had forgotten "Summer Wasting". I don't know Sanders but his e-mail looks as if it's coming from detox.com Funny, that I trust him, yes? xo, Ll PS - Can the two Kevins and Idleberry please post again soon. It'd make a poor bookshop girl's day. _________________________________________________________________ MSN Shopping upgraded for the holidays! Snappier product search... http://shopping.msn.com +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister(a)missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo(a)missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+ +-+ "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000 +-+ +-+ "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000 +-+ +-+ "sick posse of f**ked in the head psycho-fans" - NME June 2001 +-+ +-+ Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa +-+ +-+ Snipp snapp snut, sa var sagan slut! +-+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

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