Sinister: The New Album: Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy

[Jarrod San Angel]

  Ah, the Backlash.
  It was inevitable, and indeed I knew it would come from the very first 
line of my previous email.  Since rattling off that less than pleasant 
portrait of the forthcoming release from our Glaswegian heroes, I've been 
informed that there is some sort of "strict don't ask, don't tell policy" 
regarding opinions and reviews.  As I'm a fairweather contributor to the 
list (nay, nevercontributor is more like it..  I think this last post was my 
very first!), I was unaware of the so called Policy, and I do apologize for 
breaking it.
  However, in hindsight, I cannot say that I at all regret writing the 
critique, as people have a right to know, fans & "disciples" included, 
whether the new release is genius or maddness - or, as I believe, somewhere 
in between.  Alas, I fear that the masses will now stone me, in their own 
acid-laced writings to me, as if this were some sort of religious affair, 
and I was guilty of the worst blasphemy.  Please, make up your own minds, 
and disregard my opinions, if you like.  Whence the album hits the stores, 
it is certain that this list will be cluttered - chock full of every kind of 
review imaginable.
  I'd like to think that the Sinisterians here are intelligent folk, and 
open minded individuals who don't discredit or beat down the occassional 
challenge to conventional belief.
  Yes, Belle and Sebastian are a fan-fucking-tastic band.  In my mind, the 
very best this planet now has to offer.  And what of this album?  In my 
mind, a small blip on an otherwise upward ascent and history of gold-tipped 
beauty.  But again, that's just ONE opinion.  Mine alone, thus far.  If 
you're tremblingly afraid of what you might read in a pre-release review, 
(and if you read mine) and I've confirmed your fears, then again, I am sorry 
for ruining your day.  And after all, 'tisn't Wicked Not To Care.
  Lastly, let me just say that Isobelle is awful.  I've strapped on the 
headphones once again, bit into a plank of wood, and beared her songs once 
more for a solid re-evaluation.  Tsk.  Just who told her she could sing??
She's on far more songs on this album than any prior (and than her talent 
warrants), and her bits & pieces & duets & feature songs are all lackluster 
performances that are HUGELY tedious, trying, and TIRESOME.
I don't know how YOU ALL feel about the Gentle Waves, but my ears quite 
simply bear that much abuse.  I'll give credit where credit is due, and YES, 
perhaps she isn't a bad cellist, and perhaps she does add her weight in gold 
in the B&S magic, but I'll praise the day that keeps her vocals from off the 
records.
  If this album garners unflattering reviews for B&S, they will undoubtedly 
be indebted to her.
  But then, that's just one man's opinion.
  I apologize in advance for speaking freely.

                                          ** Jarrod **

________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
    +---+  Brought to you by the undead Sinister mailing list  +---+
    To send to the list mail sinister at missprint.org. To unsubscribe
    send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to
    majordomo at missprint.org.  WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister
 +-+  "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students"  +-+
 +-+  "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list"  +-+
 +-+       "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper        +-+
 +-+   "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000   +-+
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+