DrRingDing

So, I've been listening to The Life Pursuit often since its release. Moreso than any other album this year so far, which is why I have it as my top pick of the year so far.

I've also listened to their back catalogue a bit more extensively, but none of their other albums seems to hold a candle to The Life Pursuit, IMO.

So, that said: which do you think is the best Belle & Sebastian album?

auto

Sinister followed by Life Pursuit for me...

In fact, my rankings:

Sinister
Life Pursuit
Tigermilk
Arab Strap
Peasant
Castastrophe
Storytelling

Chaza

Tigermilk is my favorite,
then probably sinister,
then The Life Pursuit,
Arab Strap,
DCW,
Peasant,
Storytelling.

Alyoshka

I would go with If You're Feeling Sinister followed by Tigermilk. Then the others I would lump together at about the same level.

dork

Pretty much my ranking, except I'd swap the first two. There's not a single bad track on Sinister.

Actually, I'd probably swap the last two, as well. Storytelling is not a great album (it's not even a proper album, of course), but "Big John Shaft" is a fantastic song.

Hiro11

Sinister, although I like "Push Barman..." a lot.

Gdrlv

Sinister followed by The Life Pursuit.

iTunes offers a download of If You're Feeling Sinister - Live at the Barbacan that is fucking fantastic.

worrywort

Sinister > Tigermilk > Push barman > Life > Strap > Fold > Waitress > Storytelling

slop101

Life Pursuit by far, in fact, I can't even listen to most of their other albums now as they sound too... sissy.

Randy Miller III

I'd put "If You're Feeling Sinister" and "The Boy With the Arab Strap" at the top, closely followed by "Tigermilk". I can't really stomach "The Life Pursuit" of "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" from start to finish---they sound too overproduced and glossy. They've got a few highlights but lack the off-center, nerdy charm that their earlier albums had.

Giles

I think I agree with ya.

starseed1981

1.If You're Feeling Sinister
2.The Life Pursuit
3.The Boy With The Arab Strap
4.Tigermilk
5.Fold Your Hands Child
6.Dear Catastrophe Waitress
7.Storytelling


.....but I gotta say, The Modern Rock Song EP trumps them all!

Hiro11

I get what you're saying, but isn't that sort of the whole point of B+S? Etonian strummyness, twee fashion sense, delicate/effeminant vocals.

They're a winsome, fey little band...until you notice the absolutely brutal lyrics and incredible sarcasm of the whole procedings. They're like the Smiths: all bright shiny surfaces but based in black humor, incisive wit and outright nastiness. The contrast is what makes them good.

DrRingDing

I'm surprised Life Pursuit is getting trounced, but then again, maybe I haven't given Sinister enough spins.

Of course, I'm busy listening to nothing but the new Bob Dylan album now, so it'll be awhile before I can give it its due listen.
-ringding-

montag

Sorry to dredge up an old thread but I have a B&S question. I love Sinister and don't really care for Life. Which other album most closely resembles the feel of Sinister?

Jeraden

I don't really care for Life Pursuit much either. Sonically, I think Boy With the Arab Strab closely matches If Your Feeling Sinister.

Arpeggi

Tigermilk.


B&S jumped the shark when Isobel Campbell took the vocal lead on one of the first tracks off The Boy with the Arab Strap. They've never been as good since.

atlantamoi

I can only handle so much twee and while B&S are very good in their early days, I thought they bounced waaaay up when the production was beefed up. Dear Catastrophe Waitress for this boy.

Tscott

I want to change my vote. When I voted for Sinister, I hadn't heard The Life Pursuit yet. I think I can safely say that The Life Pursuit is now my favorite album of theirs.

spinning plates

i'm partial to if you're feeling sinister since it was the first b&s album i ever heard.

wendersfan

"Is It Wicked Not To Care?" is one of the best B&S tracks ever. I'd put it in their top three, actually.

SlingshotBandit

I like Life Pursuit and If You're Feeling Sinister the best -- both for different reasons. I like the direction they're going in now, or at least just with that album.

I do NOT like Push Barman, however. I know it's a bunch of singles and EPs put together, but had it included the Books EP with "Your Cover's Blown", it would've been better.

Incidentally, "Your Cover's Blown" is a song that would've fit perfectly on The Life Pursuit, for the way it sounds.

Tracer Bullet

How did I miss this thread before? I guess I need to visit Music Talk more often.

I voted for IYFS, but I recommend that anyone who loves Belle & Sebastian download the live version of that album from iTunes. It's amazing.

My ranking:

If You're Feeling Sinister
The Life Pursuit
Tigermilk
The Boy with the Arab Strap
Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Storytelling
Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant

magman

1. If You're Feeling Sinister
2. Tigermilk
3. Dear Catstrophe Waitress

Arpeggi

It went downhill from there.