Sinister: steamy windows when we met

[Andrew Barton]

Dearest Sinister:

     Over the past few years I have been tempted to post, fleetingly, when a 
number of heated discussions have flared up. But I have most often chosen to 
remain quiet, as I edge towards twenty years of age. I joined this list at 
15, when I was living in London for a little while during my sophomore year 
of high school (I apologize in advance, to anyone it may irritate, for the 
overtly autobiographical nature of this post). Many people on the list were 
very kind in welcoming me to the U.K., making mix tapes for me, taping a B&S 
radio broadcast to send my way, recommending records stores, etc. Since then 
I have come and gone from actively reading posts, but have consistantly 
regained my Sinister devotee status when times get Belle & Sebastian-y.
      I wanted to write about the new album (surprise surprise). Firstly, I 
think it is utterly fanstastic. But I didn't fully upon first listen. I 
heard 'Another Sunny Day' as an mp3 sometime in November, and remember the 
joyful moment distinctly. I was staring out the window of my room at 
Bennington College, and saw my ladyfriend walking down a path maybe three 
hundred feet from out house. The song was hitting the 'another rainy day, 
we're trapped inside with the trainset' section, and I took off running out 
the door and into the oddly-balmy-for-Vermont-in-November sunshine. She 
joined me in running back to my room, and there we danced to the last minute 
or so of the song before collapsing and playing it over again. I read the 
lyrics to all the songs off of the website soon after. Then, sometime in 
December, a list-ee friend who had downloaded it, sent me a secret CDR. I 
hesitated, then thought, "Oh fuck it, the anticipation is too great, and of 
course when I actually buy it I'll like it even better."
       At first I was shocked to find no detectable strings other than the 
'To Be Myself Completely' violin solo, a whole lot of swagger, and to hear 
what seemed to be a record of B&S playing in a room together again. Even 
though 'The Life Pursuit' is vasty different from those cherished, 
beautifully flawed B&S recordings, I believe the spirit and direct style 
resembles them delightfully. As do the lyrics. 'Sukie In The Graveyard' 
could have been created by a B&S song generator, but it might be my favorite 
track just for that reason! It is everything I could want from a B&S song, 
really: dancyiness, nice horn part, lyrics with literary finess and a fine 
story to boot. Anyway, at first I thought the record was very good, but also 
weird and confusing and not all together cohesive. But I knew to give it 
time. As the first B&S release to come out after I became a fan was 
'Jonathan David' (arguably the first song of the 'confident' version of the 
band), which I didn't at first like but grew to adore, I knew to be patient. 
I knew how I had eventually decided each subsequent record was my cup of 
tea, even if others didn't agree.
        I've taken a break from it for a while. When my three formats of 
'Funny Little Frog' single came in the mail, they tickled my pickle. What is 
it with people not getting into this song? In my estimation it has the 
catchy staying power of all those 60s and 70s pop songs snobs would tell me 
B&S were ripping off, with enormously better lyrics and musicianship. Isn't 
that what good bands do sometimes? It explodes from the speakers! Today I 
woke, tired from winter-internshipping, bleary eyed, to the third sunny day 
Washington state has seen in the past two months. I picked up my CD/DVD 
package (Super swanky cover art and accompanying photos! Well done Stuart!) 
and a nice hot coffee, then set out for a walk to remember. All the other 
memories of days when new B&S recordings have been released, since I got 
that little start in 2001, came back to me vividly. The beginning of high 
school to the beginning of college, perhaps the most important 'growing up' 
time. Points marked by afternoon walks where I always stop in the middle and 
flip through the liner notes. This band has never dissapointed me, and today 
I felt, stronger than ever, how I doubt they ever will.

         With shyly given love~
                                        Andrew


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 +-+       "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper           +-+
 +-+  "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+
 +-+    "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000     +-+
 +-+  "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000  +-+
 +-+  "sick posse of f**ked in the head psycho-fans" - NME June 2001   +-+
 +-+               Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa                 +-+
 +-+               Snipp snapp snut, sa var sagan slut!                +-+
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