The point of what I'm saying, the reason that I may be seeming a touch critical of B&S, is that I remember from ten years ago how many bands, artists, writers, whatever, were trying to make it on their own terms and never got anywhere near a mass audience. In so many ways, Belle and Sebastian feel like the band I've been waiting for for a decade, the fulfilment of all my pop dreams of the perfect fusion of songs and beauty and youth and so on and on. I might be being unfair but I have the highest hopes for them and I am desperate they don't blow it, blow this unique position they've found themselves in. They could be so important while taking a critical stance on the tainted music industry. Or they could be another brilliant band playing music that we love, by the rules. I'm sure they understand. Sign after sign, hint after hint show that they understand how important it could be to find a position of strength without the homogenising cultural muscle of the music industry. (A homogenising cultural muscle whose products I also enjoy, but would cherish an alternative to). I'm saying this now bedcause I love them, I'm saying it now because I don't want to be sad or angry in two years having been let down again, like I was (we were, eh duke?) with Hurrah! or the Smiths or so many others years ago. Doing my best to keep the faith. Yours in age TimH ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". . For subscribing, unsubscribing and other list information please see . http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . For questions about how the list works mail owner-sinister@majordomo.net -----------------------------------------------------------------------