Sinister: phone your mum

[Stankin' Cooter]

My dears:

LIST BIFFO

I got a little bee in my bonnet about this argument that a few of us had 
just recently, and wrote a big rant about it. I then decided not to post it, 
because that would have been a Bad Thing. The only trouble is that almost 
posting has left me with a feeling not entirely unlike when you’re just at 
the point of sneezing, and somehow manage not to. Which isn’t very nice.

Hence this, which I hope isn’t too blatantly just the product of an itchy 
‘send’ button. I promise I’ll go back to not posting very much, really.

As for the actual unpleasantness itself, it would perhaps be best if each of 
you imagines that I’ve eloquently expressed complete agreement with your own 
particular point of view. There. I’d also like to specifically concur with 
whoever it was that said that everyone was just trying to get the last word 
on the subject. I certainly am, and I’m going to have it too. ‘Porpoise’.

SINISTER = THE SHIT

There’s been a lot of talk about the list itself lately, and how much it 
means to people, the charms of various celebrity listees, and so on. It’s 
certainly added a much needed dimension to my day-to-day in recent times, 
and I’ve gushed at you all before on this subject at some length. I’d 
therefore like to suggest that someone more technologically literate than 
myself sets up a fan list for sinister, where we can discuss matters of 
pressing importance such as the size of Ken’s arse, and whether Julie tours 
the West Coast often enough, or whether she should come to Australia, Japan 
and Iceland first.

Dimitra said a whole lot of lovely things about the list, very nicely 
indeed, and described her trip, which sounded like an absolute dream. 
Possibly even a slightly dirty one. I’ll take my hat off to her, and hope 
that one of these days I’ll be fortunate enough to have a similar 
experience. For one thing, I’ve not been in any sinister underwear other 
than my own, and I can’t help but feel somewhat short-changed.

EXCLUSIVE!!!

Belle and Sebastian are definitely touring Australia very soon indeed.

Actually, that’s a complete lie; I’ve got no reason to believe they will. 
But if they do, I dearly hope that the far-flung Australian sinister massive 
will get together for a picnic. Or should that be a barbie? Of course, each 
and every one of the rest of you would be more than welcome around to mine, 
should you see fit to grace our fair shores with your august presence. 
Personally, I’d be as happy as a clam to get out to whichever city or cities 
they decide to play, based on what I’ve heard from you all about the recent 
shows. I’ll see you there, and I’ll even compliment you on your shoes and 
buy you a drink as well.

WHAT’S YOURS?

Someone rather astutely observed on #sinister recently that sinister listees 
are particularly fierce and dedicated advocates of their favourite drinks. I 
know I’ve made mention of g&t a time or two, I dare say that there aren’t 
too many places where you’d hear the word ‘ribena’ bandied about quite so 
freely, and I seem to remember some bloke saying something about red bull 
and vodka once. I thoroughly approve. It’s a good thing to have a strong 
opinion about, and the first step in really getting to know yourself. I’ve 
no time for fickle, drink-hopping sorts, and they seem to be mercifully thin 
on the ground in these parts.

SOME THINGS THAT PEOPLE SAID

Lindsey Baker said:

“if the girl is laughing at what you said or agreeing with you and just 
reaches out to touch
your arm for further emphasis -- bam. you're in.”

Thanks very much for this handy pulling hint. I jotted this down next to all 
the other stuff that I know about girls as soon as I read it. Much 
appreciated. I’ll have the back of that postage stamp covered in no time, at 
this rate.

Brier Random said:

"Is there anyone else out there who adds the phrase "On the tube" after 
"When we're on stage..." when singing along?"

I’ll have to meekly raise my hand to this one. This always catches me out 
when I’m warbling away in my own inimitable style. Thankfully, I only really 
expose the next-door neighbour to this, as my ability to actually sing 
anything remotely approaching the correct tune is limited at best, and only 
attempted in the solitude of my little room. The predictable slamming shut 
of next-door’s window (that shares a courtyard with my bedroom window) 
probably has relatively little to do with the fact that I’m singing the 
words from a different version of the song.

Robin Stout said:

"Firstly, I've been wondering whether many people like "Fold Your Hands..." 
very much because I do and I have a feeling that creeps onto my forehead 
sometimes that most people don't. I like it more than TBWTAS, even though 
some of its songs aren't so great.”

Well, I like FYHCYWLAP quite a lot too, compared to the universe; it has 
some genuinely great songs on it, but I think it’s the weakest thing that 
the band’s done. Every other Belle and Sebastian record can safely be put 
into the little tray, and the play button can be pressed – when the music 
stops, it can then be taken out, and that’s all there is to it. Simple. 
There are some great songs and some good ones on all the other records, and 
a few that are not terrific, but only compared to the rest of the band’s 
output. I never really feel the need to skip anything, unless there’s a 
specific song for which I’m looking to indulge a hankering.

Beyond the Sunrise, though, is bad compared to the universe, and needs to be 
skipped, I’m sorry. The problem with this is that it’s the thin end of the 
wedge; if you’re going to skip track 3, you may as well skip track 8. And if 
you’re skipping those two, then 7 and 10 don’t seem quite so indispensable, 
if you’re not really in the mood for them. This way of listening to records 
suits me just fine with lesser bands, but it’s a shame when I put this 
record on that I even have to worry about such things as track numbers. The 
album just falls into pieces when you start doing this, and it just ain’t 
right.

Robin Stout also said:

“I think Belle and Sebastian's music has a spiritual element to it that is 
not explicit but is pretty profound. <snip>  Could Struan write these songs 
without knowing his own spirituality? I don't know. But I think it is a big 
part of that something that sits in-between the words of the songs that we 
can't put our fingers on."

Now, I’m not a very spiritual sort of chap myself, but there does seem to be 
something to this. This music often reminds me, just when I need it, that 
there’s more going on in the world than simply the hubbub that seemingly 
surrounds us. It’s a simple thing: the wry smile it somehow manages to sneak 
onto my face, as I’m dashing along with headphones on, late for something 
important and stressful, with six other things on my mind. It’s a stubborn 
little flower growing in the cracked pavement of a busy street, motionlessly 
striking against the bustling grey around it.

Alright, that’ll do. Stay refreshingly lemon-scented.

Bulk love,
     -Stankin.

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