kool-aid, the drinking of

[serinde]

Thanks to Radio Paradise, my brane has been infected with both Neko Case and Belle & Sebastian. I seek album recommendations.

Comments

[dagnycat522.livejournal.com]

I like Belle & Sebastian's "Dear Catastrophe Waitress." I have been told 'real' B&S fans don't like that CD, but I think it's a good mix of light & melancholy indie-pop. If nothing else, download 'Asleep on a Sunbeam' for "one of those happy sounding songs that puts you in a good mood."

[blarglefiend.livejournal.com]

I quite like "Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant" and "If You're Feeling Sinister". I've got a pile of their EPs lying around as MP3 as well, could always bung them somewhere accessible if you want to give 'em a try.

"Dear Catastrophe Waitress" isn't bad, it's just not as good as most of their other stuff. I'm sure it seems brilliant if you're not familiar with songs like "Dog on Wheels" or "Lazy Line Painter Jane". B&S have set a kinda high standard.

[blarglefiend.livejournal.com]

Sorry, that came out sounding much ruder than I'd intended.

Anyway, I think the reason long-time B&S fans aren't so keen on DCW is that it's quite different to their previous work. If you go into it expecting another "If You're Feeling Sinister" you wind up feeling somewhere between disappointed and ripped off.

DCW feels like an attempt at a "break out" album. A lot of it is pretty radio-friendly. Most of their other stuff isn't so much.

[syringavulgaris.livejournal.com]

I have to work out the methodology of copying from computer directly to my minidisc player. I find I almost never give albums a good listen unless it's on MD.

The irritating thing is I think it uses some stank proprietary format to do it from the computer (as opposed to copying from CD on our actual MD component). I'm not 100% sure. Must...locate...manual!

[blarglefiend.livejournal.com]

The only Neko Case I've heard is her vocal work on "Mass Romantic" (The New Pornographers). Keep meaning to check out more of her stuff.

[syringavulgaris.livejournal.com]

Funny you should mention. They play a couple of New Pornographers songs on RP that I also like, and they were next on the list.

[lunchboy.livejournal.com]

All of them!

[lunchboy.livejournal.com]

But seriously. Of the old B&S, I recommend "If You're Feeling Sinister", and of recent B&S I love both "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" and "The Life Pursuit" (the latter a little more). "Push Barman to Open Old Wounds" compiles EPs from most of their career, and some of their best songs have been on EPs, so that's another excellent choice.

I have all the Neko Case albums, and they're all good, although they're honestly not very *different* one from another. I think I'd suggest "Blacklisted" or "The Tigers Have Spoken" though.