i always hate first e.mails to mailing lists. you come across all naive and stupid because you don't know the protocol and jargon. but i've never been in a mailing list as - well - argumentative as this one! i don't mean bickering but everytime i check my e.mail i have about five new messages - makes me look dead popular as well. and i must admit its rather fun. on the XTC list, people tend to just dream about new recordings, on the flying nun one i get frustrated cos i'll never be able to track down the arsing stuff but here each e.mail seems to be genuinely interesting discussing the musical underbelly of the uk. here at loughborough music is still in the oasis/prodigy predictable glut so its a refreshing change to have all this discussion about bands like ultrasound and mogwai and the beloved b&s who will be shaping the music world for years to come, when people have finally realised the vacuity of the brothers gallagher. to me "if you're feeling sinister" had the effect on first listening that i imagine a listener thirty odd years ago would have had first listening to someone like nick drake. in many ways he's as influential in the world of music now as ever, name dropped all over the place. belle and sebastian have that air of unprecious naturally polished jewel that, just because it isn't big and obvious isn't appreciated by the masses. but neither should it be. i admit i do tend to choose my favourite bands from their rating as undiscovered classic, obscure type categories. but good music is good music. you may like arab strap (i found it a little - er - wilfully amateur for amateur's sake, but i'm sure they were fully aware of that) or the manics (too earnest for me , but hey they covered 'taking teh skin heads bowling' so we know they have some sense of humour) or the beegees as far as i care. i'll even let some people off for liking oasis (only just though) but whatever belle and sebastian are to me, unlike any other band out there. i played the album once and knew i will be playing it for as long as i have arms to press the button marked play and ears to hear it. and that surely is teh mark of good music. before you all write and ask me what the hell i'm on about, i'd just like to say i'm not really sure. but hey. let me off. i'm new. thanks for making life at loughborough a little more interesting with your discussions at any rate. i think i'll be happy here as it were. i'll stop rambling now and go. chris browning ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . 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 . We're all happy bunnies humming happy bunny tunes. Aren't we? -----------------------------------------------------------------------