Life Pursuit, The
General
| Apr 2006
Reviews
Matthew Rubin
Reviewed 2006-04-12
Reviewed 2006-04-12
Belle and Sebastian- the life pursuit (matador). Fcc 5, 6; MSR review
Indie pop by the masters. This whole record is catchy as all get out. Nowhere near as emotive as the older stuff (sinister, arab strap, tigermilk) but stronger than the more recent studio albums imho. The vocal melodies carry this album- they are stuart’s most confident yet, and they really explore his full range in creative ways. Most importantly, this album is happy, sunny, gleeful, and any other adjective in that category you can conjure from your critical cauldron. It will make you smile a BIG ASS SMILE- if their old stuff made you pensive and teary-eyed, this may come as a let down, but shit this is just picture perfect pop, and im glad to see the band make the successful evolution. Every track is good, but the first half is much more powerful and captivating.
Standouts: 1, 2, 4, 5 (fcc), 7, 9!!!,
1- piano driven mid-tempo mellow verse with catchy as fuck chorus chock full o’ harmonies
2- jangle pop baby!
3- Very 70’s feel. nice phat synth in the verse.
4- Vox in this song sound JUST LIKE Royston from spacehog (a pet favorite band of mine). Nice and groovy, man.
5- FCC FUCK! Slower, dreamier ballad. Wistful and pretty.
6- FCC ASSHOLES More catchy funky groovin’. These vox sound like spacehog too!
7- Fast rocker with ample harmonies. Fun!
8- Totally corny 70s soul vibe- sounds like it could be on ?luv’s babies makin babies comp! totally dreamy chorus
9- PERFECT PERFECT SONG. As catchy as they come. Everything that makes the band great- poppy as can be, but somehow theres still emotional content, where it comes from I cant put my finger, buts its there. PLAY NOW!
10- Piano and punchy chords lead this one. I think it’s a different singer, not stuart, and I don’t like him as much. Kinda boring, though it does have a nice 60s rock feel to it.
11- A little folkier/bluesier, piano-led. Show-tunish, and it kinda drags. The coda around 3 minutes in is a reprise is of track 1.
12- So poppy it hurts, sounds like it could accompany a beach scene on the oc. Nice trumpets towards the ends…I love trumpets
13- Oh shit, it’s the closer! Slow and sweet, of course. There may be more minor key on this one than anywhere else on the album. very brit-pop too, almost like a Suede B-Side.
Indie pop by the masters. This whole record is catchy as all get out. Nowhere near as emotive as the older stuff (sinister, arab strap, tigermilk) but stronger than the more recent studio albums imho. The vocal melodies carry this album- they are stuart’s most confident yet, and they really explore his full range in creative ways. Most importantly, this album is happy, sunny, gleeful, and any other adjective in that category you can conjure from your critical cauldron. It will make you smile a BIG ASS SMILE- if their old stuff made you pensive and teary-eyed, this may come as a let down, but shit this is just picture perfect pop, and im glad to see the band make the successful evolution. Every track is good, but the first half is much more powerful and captivating.
Standouts: 1, 2, 4, 5 (fcc), 7, 9!!!,
1- piano driven mid-tempo mellow verse with catchy as fuck chorus chock full o’ harmonies
2- jangle pop baby!
3- Very 70’s feel. nice phat synth in the verse.
4- Vox in this song sound JUST LIKE Royston from spacehog (a pet favorite band of mine). Nice and groovy, man.
5- FCC FUCK! Slower, dreamier ballad. Wistful and pretty.
6- FCC ASSHOLES More catchy funky groovin’. These vox sound like spacehog too!
7- Fast rocker with ample harmonies. Fun!
8- Totally corny 70s soul vibe- sounds like it could be on ?luv’s babies makin babies comp! totally dreamy chorus
9- PERFECT PERFECT SONG. As catchy as they come. Everything that makes the band great- poppy as can be, but somehow theres still emotional content, where it comes from I cant put my finger, buts its there. PLAY NOW!
10- Piano and punchy chords lead this one. I think it’s a different singer, not stuart, and I don’t like him as much. Kinda boring, though it does have a nice 60s rock feel to it.
11- A little folkier/bluesier, piano-led. Show-tunish, and it kinda drags. The coda around 3 minutes in is a reprise is of track 1.
12- So poppy it hurts, sounds like it could accompany a beach scene on the oc. Nice trumpets towards the ends…I love trumpets
13- Oh shit, it’s the closer! Slow and sweet, of course. There may be more minor key on this one than anywhere else on the album. very brit-pop too, almost like a Suede B-Side.
Recent airplay
Funny Little Frog
nearby galaxies — Jan 23, 2019
Funny Little Frog
The Road Trip — Sep 01, 2018
Funny Little Frog
Jackie's Demo — Jul 18, 2018
Funny Little Frog
moodswings — Dec 07, 2017
For The Price Of A Cup Of Tea
Before ya go to Sleep — Mar 02, 2017
We Are The Sleepyheads
Moonlight Impressions — Feb 19, 2016
Charting
2006-04-09 — 2006-06-11
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Jun 11 | 3 |
| Jun 4 | 6 |
| May 28 | 5 |
| May 21 | 3 |
| May 14 | 3 |
| May 7 | 4 |
| Apr 30 | 3 |
| Apr 23 | 8 |
Track listing
| 1. | Act Of The Apostle | ||
| 2. | Another Sunny Day | ||
| 3. | White Collar Boy | ||
| 4. | The Blues Are Still Blue | ||
| 5. | Dress Up In You | ||
| 6. | Sukie In The Graveyard | ||
| 7. | We Are The Sleepyheads | ||
| 8. | Song For Sunshine | ||
| 9. | Funny Little Frog | ||
| 10. | To Be Myself Completely | ||
| 11. | Act Of The Apostle Ii | ||
| 12. | For The Price Of A Cup Of Tea | ||
| 13. | Mornington Crescent |