Sinister: B&S vs. Nick Drake

[Matthew A. Neimark]

Having listened to Nick Drake and Belle and Sebastian let me make the following (important ha ha) statement:

The similarities between the Nick Drake and B&S are primarily stylistic.  The vocal qualities of Stuart's voice is a bit similar to Nick's, and there are similarities in some of the accoustic guitar songs.  However, even here there are differences.  Nick Drake has a super haunting quality in all the songs 
that almost communicates a certain creepiness.  His voice is haunting, and he has this real neat guitar technique that has the same effect.  In terms of this, I would compare Nick Drake more to Tim Buckley or his son even.  With B&S, the underlying theme I get out is innocence, love of their friends, and hope for a better world (which is probably why so many of us in the anorak twee community love them so much).

There are other differences.  I couldn't imagine Drake doing a lot of the songs off Tigermilk (like Electronic Rennaissance, You're Just a Baby, or I could Be Dreaming).  The only song on Tigermilk that has a bit of the Drake quality is Mary Jo, and just in the beginning.

Most importantly, Drake comes out of a completely different era and that accounts for a huge difference in the music.  In summary, comparisons are warranted, but I suppose you could compare B&S to a lot of bands which might or might not do them justice.
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