In a message dated 3/26/99 9:47:11 AM Eastern Standard Time, rap101@york.ac.uk writes: << ... i don't think i have a 'look'. i don't wear indie glasses, i don't even wear cardies or flares or flowers or band t-shirts. i look like someone who doesn't listen to music at all, i think. but i kind of thought that liking b&s, unlike any other band, meant that you didn't have to look or act like anything in particular... >> Indeed, you don't have to look like anything or anyone to be a Belle and Sebastian fan. There should be an overemphasis on the music and not on a collective image of the fan base. Some of us share similar tastes in fashion but there certainly is no prerequisite to being a fan. We do, however, run the risk of allowing ourselves to be a bit pretentious and precious at times, but that's a behaviour inherent in the fans of "intelligent" music. How many times have you gone to an indie show and overheard conversations full of band discography and "they were better back before..."? It happens all the time; kids trying to sound as if they can't possibly like something because lots of people do. It's one thing to be knowledgeable about the music you enjoy, but it's another thing to alienate the rest of the fans with an elitist attitude. Wow, I'm out of control! Sorry if I sound preachy, but I had to get that out. Also, about the Smiths comparison...I agree with m. elise, as I am a huge Smiths fan. I've never heard the similarities in the music, but understand a common quality in both bands' essence. They make us feel special and cause many otherwise well-mannered people to dance around uncontrollably in bedrooms all over the world. This is not such a bad thing at all! One Love, Moon Patroller Carrie +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the reborn Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail "sinister@majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo@majordomo.net". WWW: http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "nambling pambling rice pudding & crochet holiday camp +-+ +-+ gangwanking whimsy-thon" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+