Reviews (page 3 of 9)
Pleasant enough, opened really strong. After one listen I felt as though I had to give it another go as it felt like it simply washed over me for the most part. Belle and Sebastian are good at what they do, this type of music is what I like to call “Library Music” it’s soft and a tad too ‘twee’ for me at times. Could never get into The Decemberists for the same reasons. Another, not for me albums but there were aspects on here that I did enjoy. 3 stars
Didn’t really care for this one. The vocals were nice but I don’t even remember not rating it in the first place. I listened twice and still have no recollection of what was in it.
I think this album isn't named appropriately. Nothing about this made me feel sinister.
Nick drake clone? It's alright but not great.
Piola, country melódico
Wel leuke vibes, maar ook niet heel wauw
mooi ma ni zo iets waar k veel nr zou luisteren
3,5: leuk maar niet elk nummer is even sterk
In love with this
Hmmm. How to describe this album. I can’t say that it offended me, but get me away, I’m dying.
Really awesome album
Did not expect to like this anywhere near as much as I did. But with each passing song I found it more and more enjoyable, and by the end considered it a masterpiece. There’s no single stand out song on here, but something just clicked for me while listening to it
Didn't expected it to be soft/folk rock. Good as a background music, but done nothing else for me and not memorable for me at all
This was my first real exposure to Belle & Sebastian, and I rather enjoyed it. Musically it feels like fairly typical 90s Indie-Folk. Nothing that will blow your mind. The vocals and delivery of the lines put me in mind of the Kinks' Ray Davies in a way. Lyrically the album is a standout. I knew from the first track that I would enjoy the songwriting most of all. There is an unusual blend of irony and sincerity going on, it's hard to tell which is which. Lines that will make you want to laugh and cry at the same time, which very few can pull off. It's a strong 4, I look forward to hearing more from this band.
Very melodic Folky indie pop representative 60s legends like Donovan and Nick Drake. Man this band can really write a hook. On any instrument, but especially vocals. Every single song has some brilliant melody that could get stuck in my head for a day. The music is gentle but not saccharine or dull, still maintaining dynamics, energy, and surprising variety of instruments and orchestral additions into quality arrangements. And it’s a perfect complement to Murdoch’s vocal and lyrical style I’ve known this band/album and liked it well enough but it never really stuck / expected a 3 or maybe a 4…today it really landed and earned itself a 5
Most of this album was pretty ok, with a few highlights. Me And The Major had some nice harmonica work. Like Dylan In The Movies was pretty chill. If You're Feeling Sinister was nice. Overall I would normally rate it a 2, but I don't know, it kept a smile on my face for most of it so I'll bump it up. Best song: Me And The Major
After my recent clangy and loud albums this was refreshing.
When people think about Twee, they think about this album. Is there any other thing to say?
72/100.
Rating: 6.5/10
Meh, just dull.
Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Not a huge amount of thoughts about this one. 3/5 ⭐️ 77/1089
Nick Drake for the twee crowd. It could have been on the Garden State soundtrack or a similar late 00s movie. Not bad at all but also kind of lame.
Very easy listening.
2.5
Surprisingly really enjoyed this album. Very thorough and up beat.
Ugh
I thought "another belle and sebastian album on this list?" then listened to it and yeah it's really good lol.
Like Dylan in the Movies Get Me Away From Here, I’m Dying
Seeing Other People If You’re Feeling Sinister The Boy Done Wrong Again
This was pretty ok. I bet I would really like it if I gave it a bunch of listens.
Having already had their first album come up, I knew roughly what to expect. Gentle and twee, with some interesting instrumentation choices. It starts off strong, but I felt it struggled to keep the momentum going somewhat. A good album certainly, but not a great one. Four stars.
Wasn't sure about this one as it took a while for the style of the sound to really gel with me. But when it did, I found a very pleasant listen in an album I enjoyed quite a bit. A nice soothing sound. I'm sure I'll check out their others, too.
Nice melodic quirky indie pop although I prefer The Boy With The Arab Strap. Title song is a standout.
Cute!
Me and the Major thought this album was alright.
знову відчувається слід інспірації бобом діланом ... (за що мені це?) однак, насправді, тут він здебільшого гарно впасований. його не відчуєш, якщо не знаєш боба ділана достатньо добре.. а ще пісні в цьому альбомі дуже нагадують мені пісні Фібі зі серіалу «Друзі». особливо повторення речень і мелодія, коли співають "ла-ла-ла-ла-ла-ла ла-ла". загалом непогано, було трішки смішно, трішки затишно, але потім трішки й релігійно і вже загальне враження погіршене. Я розчарована, відверто кажучи очікувала дещо інакшого ...і кращого.
Played this shit three times
Not their best
Less MGMT-like than expected. Pleasantly sombre.
Solid
I like it but prefer other albums
Some early indie rock, I dig it. Has a nice and easy vibe to it throughout and is very easy to listen to. Feel like I've heard of this group somewhere before, but don't think I've ever listened to their music. Solid album.
I liked this album better than the first. It felt more eclectic, confident, and witty. It built on the strengths of the first album and finally delivered something I did really like.
Garbage
My kind of music, if a little flawed.
One of the best alternative albums of the 90's. Happy music.
Much better than the ratings indicate. Almost a full star higher. Probably somewhere in the 3.25 range.
I thought this one was worse than the other B&S entry, same boring early 00’s sound but less interesting subject matter. Maybe I missed it but there doesn’t seem to be anything going on of note, it just sounds like background music for a crappy commercial 1.7
1.5 Hate the vocals, couldnt get past that. And there wasnt any tits on this album cover
I like get me away im dying Wild to think that this came out in 1996, I really associate them with the early 2000s. This album seems like it could hang out with pulp's common people. It's not my favorite, I feel like this twee stuff doesn't really hit it for me anymore. Judy and the dream of horses is really nice though.
This guy's voice has a very punchable face. Seeing Other People is good enough theme and lyrics to overcome, but rest was meh to bad
7/10
Indie Pop, 1996 -> 3
weird vocals
i really was ready to come into this a hater. i really was anticipating having to negative and rude. i've heard so much about this album, read about it many times, and just had never listened to it. i thought it could never live up to the hype i built up about it in my head. i was wrong. wow this album is fantastic. it sounds so fresh. i almost can't believe it was released 20 years ago. they really were ahead of their time; i wonder if there was anything that sounded quite like this that came out in the late 90s? this seems so prescient of what would come later in indie music towards the mid/late 2000s. this album is so innovative. it's exciting all the way through. really enjoyed that listen.
3/3 meh album
Didn't know what to expect, and things kept coming from different directions. Vocalist has a Ray Davies quality, to my ear. While I likely won't seek it out again, I enjoyed the listen.
Folky Smiths. Didn’t change my life but is the grandfather to “ho-hey” of the 2010s.
Rarely have songs with lyrics about horrible situations seemed so...pleasant.
Really enjoyed this, and kept revisiting playthroughs frequently. Nice smooth indie pop, clear vocals, nice instrumentals, and seemingly a decent amount of underlying complexity that keeps me coming back. Another that I wouldn’t have expected but gets full marks
There weren’t any tracks that really stood out for me. But I am feeling a little less sinister, so there’s that.
There is a sincere beauty in these songs that is endearing - maybe it’s the lisp; perhaps not.
Some of the tunes are quite lovely. particularly on seeing other people. But then that voice comes in, and I want it to be over.
A dorm room classic.
Not as good as the other entry from Belle & Sebastian.
Not my favourite album of theirs
25# I like very much a lot of Belle and Sebastian and I think I've already listened to this. Lets see. This puts me at peace, such a nice cozy yet demanding of attention experience
I cannot explain why I am not a fan of this one, the songwriting and production are great, it has some great motifs, but overall it feels so beige.
I didn’t mind this album although the lyrics seemed a bit much.
Not sure this one will be subject to a lot of repeat listens, but it's enjoyable enough despite not usually being into overly saccharine/twee pop. Peak Softboy Music(tm). 7.5, maybe an 8/10.
Pretty lowkey instrumentation, not much of a fan of the writing. Favourite track: Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying
7/10 I thought it was a bit boring at first but it sort of grew on me halfway through. I love this brand of Baroque Pop but the singing style was not doing it for me.
cozy and nice
I feel like I've heard the name Belle and Sebastian but can't recall ever actually hearing a song by them. I was listening a lot to SiriusXM stations like Alt Nation and SiriusXMU around that time but don't remember hearing these guys. So I am curious to see what this is like. Initial thoughts - at times this reminds me of artists like Nick Drake, Donovan, The Kinks, and Simon & Garfunkel. All of whom I like. BUT on first listen I really don't like it as much as I like those artists. I think it's the guy's voice. The muffled, lazy, high pitched singing voice is kind of annoying. On repeated listens it did not grow on me, in fact it made me more annoyed. Plus, is this guy like the original incel or something? The first song "The Stars of Track and Field" seems like it's written by a creepy guy in high school who is infatuated with this beautiful and talented girl but she doesn't even know he exists and so he imagines she must be sleeping with all the boys and the girls and the coaches so she can get ahead in life. I bet if you actually found this woman and asked her about this guy she would say "Who?". None of this clicked with me and was not memorable to me at all. I'm guessing I did hear this band on the radio at some point but it probably went in one ear and out the other or I changed the channel. Sorry Belle and Sebastian, I tried. Liked songs on Spotify: 0/10 Rating: 1/5 (should be zero)
This fucking list makes me look like I hate music
pleasant sounding rock favorite track: if you’re feeling sinister other picks: fox in the snow, get me away from here, the stars of track and field
ну не прет меня этот фолк ебаны, но слушать могу
I really liked this album. It's super pretentious in a way that I seem to find irresistible.
This album was a chore to listen to. I hate his voice. The music is bland and boring. It’s incredibly hard to get through the beginning of the songs. The songs get better later into them once the pace picks up, but still mediocre at best.
Beetje saai
It’s like Simon and Garfunkel but not quite as good. 3/5
Eh. Not bad.
Very chill and enjoyable melodies. There's nothing complicated here, just a nice voice with light instrumentation and good melody. Nothing groundbreaking, but nothing bad, either.
I am writing this review 8ish hours after listening to this and I already forgot most of this album, but I remember enjoying it enough. I do remember this is right in between a 3 and 4 for me though, so I'll be generous and round up. Low 4.
A record that could only be made by society’s most endearing of characters.
I enjoyed it, very solid album. I have a feeling in 1996 this would have felt more like a 4 or 5 star album, but there have been so many similar indie pop bands (influenced by this band of course) that have come along since then that have surpassed this sound that it feels a bit passe. Enjoyable nonetheless, and sounded better/fuller in headphones than in my car on the work commute.
I dig it. It's an album that you put on to set a mood. Chill, lo-key, but not too slow. Soft, but not dull. It kinda helps define that era of the indie genre. B&S seem to take the best of that Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground sound, and make it their own. I can't help but hear Belle and Sebastian and think of the movie Juno, homeskillet.
My partner listens to Belle and Sebastian. He’s been away for a while so it was nice to listen to this and be reminded of him. Aside from that, I really enjoyed this album - reminded me of The Decemberists, especially If You’re Feeling Sinister. I like the soft style of the singing and I like the storytelling. Fav song: Get Me Away from Here, I’m Dying Least fav: The Boy Done Wrong Again
His voice does sometimes verge on annoying but most of the time I enjoy it. These songs tell stories in such a fun and beautiful way, just really fun to listen to. Favourite song: Seeing Other People Least: Mayfly
Not really for me. It's pleasant, but doesn't do much for me, I had mostly zoned out around the middle of the album. I've heard a few of their tracks in the past, never really felt the need to listen to them.
Not that bad, so sleepy
Too twee for me, although Mayfly is a jam. Also, Spotify decided to play Fly by Nick Drake as the first song after the album...and blew it away.
Never has the vibe of a band music matched the vibe of their name. I thought this album was a field of flowers, cause I skipped through it.
My copy of "Boy with the Arab Strap" got worn out in the late 90s. If I had had a copy of "...Sinister" it would have the same wear marks.
this album was a pleasant listen. it’s unlike my usual taste, but the music here was nice, the singing was easy on the ears, and i can see myself returning to it when i’m in the mood. don’t expect bangers going into this, it’s moreso for the vibes.
stars of track and field--ahh the carefree teen life. love when you can hear the singer's accent. i mean... not really because they are glaswegian so i imagine their accent is much stronger than how they sing, but it's still present. love the trumpet solo too. seeing other people me and the major--lively, the lyrics are well balanced--present if you want to listen to the words, not the only thing going on if you'd rather just vibe. see, queens of the stone age, this is how you incorporate a repetitive element into a song: the repetition swells and contracts, and there are other things going on. like dylan in the movies--love the bass line the fox in the snow--oooh great ballad with low piano, very light string backups, lyrics with metaphor, what's not to love? if you're feeling sinister--oh my, quite the song ope missed detailed breakdowns by song.. well balanced, lyrically and instrumentally interesting. solid 4/5.
This is excellent work! Well written & recorded. I didn't know what to expect but I edited this one. It reminds me of Donovan.
I love “Tigermilk,” but “If You’re Feeling Sinister” has never captured me in the same way. I enjoy the strange lyrics, and the production on B&S albums always sounds crisp and clean, and this record is no exception. But this album didn’t have any songs that stick around in my head after listening, unlike “Tigermilk” or “Dear Catastrophe Waitress.” I recognize that this album was very influential, and it does seem that it should have been released 10 years after it actually did, but I just feel rather middling about it. It does feel hard to imagine Sufjan Stevens or The Shins without this album. Their music tends to reward repeat listens, and I might feel differently after spending more time with this album.
Loved the music from the start but couldn't get on with the vocals. As it went on, I got used to the singing and started to really like this. I'll definitely be listening to this again and diving into their back catalog. Cracking stuff
She was into S&M and bible studies Not everyone's cup of tea, she would admit to me
Great stuff.
A nice little twee pop album :) Still prefer Julien Baker's version of Get Me Away though.
And once again, an album I have no idea how this could end on this list. Boring, meandering storytelling, nothing remotely memorable (besides the boredom).
I've never listened to a Belle and Sebastian album start-to-finish before. This just isn't grabbing me. I feel bored, and frequently it sounds like the singer is bored with the music too.
6/10
Honestly, I don't remember listening to this yesterday, however I know I did, therefore getting a 2 rating
perfectly fine background music
Previously unknown. Mostly I couldn't deal with listening to the singer.
I feel I'm a bit over rating this album based on nostalgia factor, but this is what I listened to in high school, so soft spot. Its cohesive, delicate, and more diverse that you would think at first glance. It just lacks scale and ambition in my opinion, and it is not their best album by any means (that is the boy with the Arab strap) in my opinion. But yeah it is still soft and cool today, enjoyed singing along a lot
Some real high highs here like ‘the stars of track and field’ and ‘like dylan in the movies’ but while this is the case I can only bring myself to give it a 4 I don’t know it just doesn’t feel like a 5??
Seeing other people şarkısı gerçekten çok güzeldi. Albüme olan ilgim son 2 şarkıda birazcık söndü ama genel olarak dinlemesi huzur veren bir albümdü. Özellikle şarkılara yüklenen anlamları çok beğendim, anlamsal olarak en çok aklımda kalan şarkı Me and the Major oldu.
This is #day550 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… if you're feeling sinister, this is not the record to reach for. "Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying" is perhaps the only standout for me. Otherwise, this soft-spoken indie pop charm isn't my jam. Let it be a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day551.
Chamber pop, chamber folk, indie rock, indie pop, twee pop.
i quite like this
This is one of my absolute all-time favorite albums. Funny, clever, affecting lyrics combined with poppy pleasant sounding music that you can nod your head to and sing along with. There is not a single bad song on this album. It’s just one really good to great song after another for 41 minutes straight. This is how you do it. I love the lyric “Think of it this way, you can either be successful or be us” and have lived my life by that maxim. I also always identified with “Me and the Major”’s theme of being unable to connect with the flawed greatest generation because the Baby Boomers broke their hearts so thoroughly that they could never trust a young person again. Plus it has someone completely shredding on harmonica. A great song on a great album. No notes.
aw. such fond memories of my twee era in high school. this is a perfect little album. my review is colored by nostalgia, but still: simple, sweet, and lovely.
not always my cup of tea but i do love judy and the dream of horses favorites: seeing other people, get me away from here i'm dying, judy and the dream of horses
Great album. Reminds me of 60’s French pop rock. Good energy, solid lyrics. I’ve never really listened to Belle and Sebastian, but this album makes me want to explore more. Every song is good.
Could not get into this. Not bad, just not my thing
The Stars of Track & Field - I like the unexpected key changes but his voice is too affected for me. Got a few songs in but it's truly unendurable levels of whimsy with a not-very-good voice so I just gave up.
So boring.
Oh I'm feeling sinister alright. I'm not normal. I'm an absolute freak
легкий ненавязчивый поп без изысков. Скучно
Seemed like a play, nice
I guess I’m a bad 90s hipster but I never could do it.
This feels like rating students coursework and you saw something that’s not too good but also not the same as all the others. It might not be the most impactful but it’s a self sustained and original project.
cool to hear some folksy music from outside of the US. overall, it was a pleasant listen, but folk music isn't always my jam
Super chill and easy going, no real complaints here. Kinda sounded like a sad Jack Johnson. I'd be alright with listening to this one again, even if all I can think of is the Jack Black crashout over Belle & Sebastian in High Fidelity.
A nice little indie album. Fairly forgettable and under my normal ratings would be a three, but I'm feeling happy today.
Nice! Kannte nur einen Song von einer kuratierten Weihnachtsplaylist. Schöner Indie Pop.
Nice! Kannte ich nicht. Schöner Indie Pop.
Pleasant but un memorable
Best Song: Get Away from Here, I'm Dying This is so 90s Indie I feel as though I should spark up an American Spirit, put on some eye liner, and go see my hippy girlfriend with the unshaved armpits rattle over a whole bunch of poetry about her vagina at the nearest college coffee shop. The sad thing is, this would have been better and been more effective in the mid-2000s, I think they were just a decade early. To me it is boring and nothing at all special. 3/5.
Listen, was this twee shit? Yes. But did I love it? Yes. During the opening track I was kind of annoyed that I had 40+ minutes left of an album that was going to sound like this, but about halfway through the track I stopped trying to hate it and actually ended up loving the album in the end. It's very much music for those that enjoy the Wes Anderson aesthetic, and yeah, that's me. I can't deny it. Nothing groundbreaking musically, but I'm a lyrics girl, and I loved those. I'd never listened to Belle & Sebastian before and wasn't expecting much, but I get it now.
A bit vanilla for me. B&S lose a point for beating the Propellerheads to Best Newcomer at the 1999 Brit Awards.
Light and breezy, fun folks, garden state esque
Warm and jangly meditations on watching other peoples lives from your bedroom. There's a dry wit and charm that protects it from being emo, and the pared back melodies are just interesting enough to stop it growing dull
Do I actually like music? Or am I just a basic bitch that likes Taylor Swift, Melodic Dubstep, and.... and country? I knew there would be some albums I didn't fully enjoy. But this album made me rethink my whole life... Didn't even listen to the whole thing. I'm gonna go listen to some 2010's pop classics.
Cool indie sound… so 3. But not sure if I will revisit soon.
My first reaction was that it was a bit boring, but I enjoyed it more as it went on. 5/10 Decent
My first experience of Belle and Sebastian and very much enjoyed it. Such a unique sound layering instruments and sounds so well with strong tunes- good to hear recorders in use, that staple of primary school music education. Impressive production, some intriguing lyrics and an altogether great sound.
First time listening to Belle & Sebastian, and I absolutely loved it. They have a sound reminiscent of the softer bands of the '60s, like The Velvet Underground or The Mamas & the Papas, but they don’t get bogged down in nostalgia. Instead, they use that sound as a jumping-off point and develop it into something distinctly modern (for the ’90s). There’s lots to love about this album, not to mention that them being Scottish is a definite bonus.
Stuart Murdoch has an incredible way with melody; makes me want to sing or whistle along. I love this album; one of Belle and Sebastian's best, and a long time favorite.
Man, what a great little Indie Rock album. Perfect music for a mellow morning.
Good laid-back tunes for a chilly winter morning. 'Stars of Track and Field' is the perfect track one. Also love the title track, and 'Like Dylan in the Movies.'
I was introduced to Belle & Sebastian with 2006’s The Life Pursuit. I LOVE that album. Alas, it’s not on this list. But we do have what’s supposed to be their finest album, “If You’re Feeling Sinister.” It’s a fine album indeed. But it doesn’t have “Sukie in the Graveyard,” “The Blues are Still Blue,” “White Collared Boy,” or even “Dress Up In You.” If you like this album, and especially if you DON’T like this album as much as you hoped… meet me over at “The Life Pursuit.” You won’t be disappointed.
Listening to Belle & Sebastian is like being setup by your friends on the "perfect" date, and it goes better than you expected... you even reluctantly agree that you friends were right and they might even know you better than you know yourself. Still, walking home, you just know in your gut you're not going to be able to make it work and that it is probably more you than your date or your friends. If you were asked to rate the date, you're dumbstruck. The date is probably a 5 (out of 5), but it just doesn't matter to you.
Lovely and melodic
Surprised by how much I liked this. It rocks.
Low-key vibes👍 cool concept
Alright Indie. Tried very hard to focus and pay attention to lyrics but too easily distracted
Some of the most wonderful songs… fox in the snow, if you’re feeling sinister make this a 4 star album alone
I don't understand this type of music
I liked this, and it vaguely reminded me of Nick Drake.
Feels like a cheesy 90s sitcom, I wasn’t very interested.
היה מגניב אבל קצת משעמם נרדמתי
I didn’t have a favourite track of this album.
Notaleg
Fínasta fínt. En sæki ekki í að hlusta aftur á hana.
Like them but in small doses-moody, dreamy ethereal - their sound is unique but .. see above
Simple songs that become grand statements with creative, appropriate arrangements. Perfectly executed songs with thoughtful lyrics. It all sets a tone that creates a world inhabited worth a well drawn cast of characters.
I'm a bit of a sucker for plenty of piano holding down the bottom end, but that really only took me so far. Utterly inoffensive.
Great
I decided to listen to this specifically when I was feeling sinister, but apparently that just means I need to see a minister or listen to bland ass unsinister music.
This album might push you over the edge if you're feeling sinister
It's a difficult album to rate for me. There is a lot of quality which is pretty hard to deny. The lyrics, vocals, arrangements are all quality, but for some reason the music doesn't speak to me fully. It's missing some emotional power, something that would make me feel it more. It's good but rarely great and I find myself gravitating more towards their other albums.
Always loved this album, glad that it got included
didn’t hate it … few bops in there but don’t see myself wanting to re listen
We get it. You’re weird, don’t fit in and are jealous of others. There’s no need for the whole album to be about that
A little too laid back for me, but solid musicianship.
It’s not accurate, but Tigermilk always played as a test run for Sinister. Group of people assembled for a school project new to a studio, let alone writing music, it’s hard not to hear all of that in the production, songwriting, etc. Whereas Sinister is a fully conceived studio album by a group that knows what to do. Which is silly, they were still pretty much the same group, only months removed from Tigermilk. And yet, it’s such an assured album, patient, thoughtful, concise. Alas, I still run into Fox and start hitting skip. The saccharine, cloying, just this side of too precious wears on me a bunch by the time we get to Judy. But it’s still a good record! Shrugs.
7/10 great sound, took me 2 listens to appreciate the album overall
This album is well crafted and thoughtful, even if it never quite pulls me all the way in. The production is clean and considered, and I appreciated the moments where the band deviates from its core formula and lets the arrangements stretch a bit. Those were the points where the record felt most alive to me. The vocals didn’t fully land. They’re clearly a stylistic choice, but they kept me at a distance emotionally, and the overall softness meant the album often faded into the background unless I made a point to focus. When I did lean in, the lyrics revealed themselves as clever, humane, and quietly observant, which I respected more than I was moved by. This feels like a record that rewards attention but doesn’t demand it, and that’s both its strength and its limitation for me. I can see why it’s beloved, especially for its writing and tone, but it doesn’t alter my musical worldview or feel essential in a personal way. A solid high three: smart, well made, and intermittently engaging, but not something I feel compelled to return to regularly.
Koselig nok.
I didn't know music could sound vegetarian before I listened to this. How on earth is this essential listening? It's like someone took the minor chords and cool guitar works out of the smiths and left you with the soundtrack to eating hummus and carrot sticks in the park at sunset. It's so polite and I can't tell where one song ends and the other begins. I'm no fan of autotune but f++k me this album needs some.
Nice casual listen.
Interesting folk sound, good but not really my vibe
Singer-Songwriter, schöne Musik
Meh
This album is like a nice appetizer, soft beautiful music
pretty damn good!
9,2/10
Bit boring isn’t it
Realistically it's a 4.5 as it's not my favourite of theirs but in the rating of this site it's a 5.
Nice album, if a little sleepy. The songs sound a bit like Donovan's "Jennifer Juniper".
Very pleasant sound.
This was great.
Indie poppia. Tosi kevyttä ja jopa vähän hempeää. Viulusta tulee pieniä folkki viboja ja kappaleissa myös pieni softrock fiilis. Kappaleet ehkä yksittäisinä vähän mitään sanomattomia ja samanlaisia, mutta kivan hyväntuulista. Parhaat: Like Dylan In The Movies, Mayfly
MEH.
really 4, but +1 for nostalgia
Heeelt grejjjj, noe kjedelig. Bra for dem at jeg hørte hele før jeg ratet - hadde sett annerledes ut med munnspillet ferskt i minne.
3.7 2x nice indie
An interesting album. It was repetitive but not in a bad way. Not the kind of album to listen to all in one go but the individual songs are good.
Not sure about this one. His voice sounded whiny after a while. I like the style though
Quite liked this. Better than the other one we had from them, Tigermilk. Still like their later stuff better, like The Boy With the Arab Strap, but it’s not in our 1,001 — only these two.
“Get me away from here” has been one of my favorite songs for 20+ years, but I don’t think I’ve ever listened to this album all the way through. Oops.
Chill, fine, Paul Simon vibes. Prob wouldn’t reach for it
Feels good to get an album that I actually like and hasn't been played to death at every grocery store and backyard bbq. Listening more critically than I did as a teenager has dimmed a bit of the magic for me. I hear now how the arrangements are formulaic and a little crowded; sometimes it feels like the guitars keep playing because they don't know what else to do. All the little extra touches still have the same impact, though, and what's most noticeably consistent is the cleverness of the writing and the obvious delight of everyone involved. Also, my goodness heavens, is this the lightest drumming of the 90s? It sounds like they are being played by tiny elves. I love it. Some of their best songs are found elsewhere, especially on "Tigermilk" and "The Life Pursuit", but this is easily their best front-to-back album, with the only dud being "The Boy Done Wrong Again". Even "Mayfly", which I had completely forgotten, brought me a smile this time around. Five stars because the flaws are forgivable and the world is in desperate need of fey jangle pop now, just like it was in 1996. A pleasing antidote to so much of this list.
They have another album on the list. I gave it 2 stars. I don't remember what it sounded like. In my review I wrote I read that they had a better album on the list. This is it. Definitely better than 2 star. I don't like the way of singing very much, but I know lots people love it.
No es para nada mi estilo
Was going to instinctively give it a four having lived with it for nearly three decades but then I popped it in. Their last release where it felt like it was just them and me. Their sound changes with Arab Strap (to great effect! [with diminishing returns thereafter]), closing a book on a once mysterious group.
mi dispiace ma no
I love this band (great live!) but this isn't my favourite album of theirs.
Big fan of Belle and Sebastian
Bouncy, light, melancholic chamber pop. This puts me in a nostalgic mood any time I listen to it. Not an album to listen to in a crowd, you need to be cosy and alone.
Not much here for me, it felt slow and monotonous, one star.
Honestly, I don't know if this album is very twee, or it's a great Sunday morning album. I can't make up my f'n mind on this one. So, three stars with a mind to revisit on a lazy weekend morning.
I am bored, just so bored by this entire album.
Another great album to prove why I’m doing this! I didn’t love this and will probably never listen to the album again as a whole but I like a lot of stuff on it. I would have never knew this existed without this app.
(93/100)
i liked the jazz & folk instrumentals; unique
Soothing voice.
Good listening, deep but easy listening
If you position The Fall by Camus so prominently on the cover of your indie band’s sophomore recording, you had better serve us some (pardon me…) killer lyrics.
The best Belle & Sebastian album. 10/10
Only knew them from that joke in the movie High Fidelity. I had some preconceptions about what this would sound like, and when the album started, I kind of groaned because it was EXACTLY what I was expecting. Then, the tempos picked up, and I started getting more into the music. I did find the singer's voice a little samey and thin for some of the songs, but I enjoyed this far more than I expected.
Nothing offensive, nothing really that interesting. Pleasant enough.
Well that was a particularly uninspiring listen. There were a few moments where it almost got interesting.. but then yeah nah.. meh.
chill
belle surprise
Plutôt mid
I remember reading about Belle and Sebastian a lot before I ever heard them. I finally got The Boy With the Arab Strap and it underwhelmed me - I think all the hype from the indie press had built up my expectations too high. Listening to this album now, I definitely hear how influential this band was on the artists who would follow, a lot of whom I really love(d.) Knowing what to expect helped me enjoy this more today.
Ahead of its time. Every hipster Brooklyn band owes a lot to this album.
I don't really enjoy this. It's just too slight.
Nice chill album, good soundtrack to cook a rendang to
Very chilled music and it was ok. Again nothing amazing here.
Not very interesting
p796. 1996. 3 stars. Donovan for the 1990s. Sharp lyrics, let down by the lack of standout tunes and the fact that all of their songs sound the same. Pleasant enough, but not memorable.
6/10
Mumble mumble mumble
343/1089 - The songs are pretty good (notes and rhythms) but the guys voices are abysmally bad. Out of tune, no enunciation, and weak in an unintersiting way. Essentially the music is a 5 and the vocals are a 0.
I like the mellow vibe and enjoyed this the whole way through. The singer may not be considered a conventionally good singer but the character of his voice lends itself well to this music. I would definitely listen to this again.
167 - Ugh! Me cargan! - Cambialo entonces! No lo sigas escuchando - He escuchado MUCHAS HORAS DE HIP HOP como para saltarme esto.
Fell in love with Tigermilk. This album has the sound, but not the same magic. An extremely biased 4.
It’s pretty gentle and twee. As a millennial woman, I first discovered belle and Sebastian through the soundtrack to the movie Juno. It’s perfect rainy day music. The songwriting is interesting enough to keep it interesting despite the music being kind of background stuff
For me this was mostly forgettable background music. The only one that really caught my attention was “Judy and the Dream of Horses” so nice way to end what for me was very meh otherwise.
admito que não é um gênero que eu tenha muita familiaridade com, mas achei um album solido overall. tem umas faixas mais fracas (pessoalmente nao gostei muito de the fox in the snow) porem no geral gostei muito :)! minha track favorita é difícil de escolher mas acho que seria mayfly (escolha MUITO difícil tá). o instrumental passa uma vibe muito hopeful enquanto a letra é praticamente o oposto, e gostei bastante dessa quase dicotomia nao sei :D no geral album legal gostei 👍
mellow
Pretty mellow but ultimately not my thing.
This album was alright, it was nice having it in the background because it was quite chill. Nothing really exciting happened, especially given that this came out in the late 90s, where music like that would've been maybe more popular in the 60s, but it's okay, it was pretty chill overall.
Perfectly pleasant indie pop. All the different instruments really make these pieces shine. Some great piano and other orchestration. When they get it right, it's about as good as it gets. Maybe missing some element I can't quite put my finger on to make it a 5-star album, but it's consistently very good. Standouts: Like Dylan in the Movies. Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying.
I have a hard time listening to folk music. Listening to this really dragged.
The name always reminds of the French kids show on TV from the late 60s…..the album is ok, song are so similar though, easy listening though, nice background music
I love this album and it's a timeless masterpiece. I came to hear it decades later but it immediately resonated with me. This band has an interesting history and I feel like their story influenced the creation of this work in a way that would be difficult to capture.
Liked the music more than I expected, but the voice is unlistenable.
I like it. What year did it come out?
This is a beautiful album full of wit and charm. The playing and production are surprisingly tight from a band with such amateur roots. What really elevates this is their ability to conjure a tune that carries light and shade whilst still being very accessible.
Really chill music, to indulge or just leave running in the background (one of few albums i can keep playing while studying). Melancolic voice in an uplifting way, nice acoustic guitar and a calm trumpet on one or the other occasion, what more do you need.
Know the odd song but never listened to a whole album before. So good!
I think the album cover and title, as well as the name of the band, was misleading for me. I though this was going to be more grungy with some female vocals. Instead it was more Nick Drake (stole this from another review, but it really spoke to me) folk sounding -- except Drake did it better. Sonically, it's not the most interesting, but the lyricism is a highlight
Not really for me, but it was a nice album and I felt very soothed while listening. 7/10.
091225 17:19 4 / highlights: get me away from here i'm dying, if you're feeling sinister, seeing other people
Just ok, kinda milquetoast.
Honestly, I had it on in the background, wasn't very interested. My bad?
I feel like giving this a one. I hate the vocals of this guy. This whole project has showed me that I don't like these whispery talky high pitched "singers" worst among them Nick Drake. Just thinking about this album again puts me in a bad mood. Why is the band also like 8 people if there is so little music being played. Why is this band multiple times on this list. Just bad vibes all around. Does it deserve 1 star, probably not, but I don't feel like giving it more.
really reminded me of bowie and simon and garfunkel, but i really did not care for the flat vocals :( 2.5/5 not for me
the generator made me a fan of these guys
Interesting but not something I would put on rotation.
This all felt very raw and emotional. Like it was written as poetry before it was put to music. However, it was lackluster in melody and production. Vocals were overall weak. Songwriting carried everything. I might need to give it another listen in the future, but first listen did not impress me much. 2.9/5
This sounds more like early ought music, like The Shins. Maybe they were ahead of their time. I’d listen again.
yeah its ok
Not for me
Boring, dull. Music for hipster nerds.
I did not enjoy, it sounded the same and he didn’t have a good voice
Fun low key indie album
Not my sorta music but some relaxing songs. They’ll be sad to hear it just missed 3 stars.
A bit bland for me, but not unpleasant. Could listen in an elevator or walking round a shopping mall.
Some songs were pretty catchy, guys voice was pretty meh
The stars of track and field - 7 Seeing other people - 6 Me and the major - 7 Like dylan in the movies - 7 The fox in the snow - 7 get me away from here, im dying - 8 if youre feeling sinister - 7 mayfly - 6 the boy done wrong again - 7 judy and the dream of horses - 7
Solid as they come
Honestly kinda dull and boring
Solid album.
Kinda bleh
It's definitely something. If it's something I could not die without, I'm not sure. 2 outta 5
Awsome
Just not enjoyable at all. I can see why some people might like it, but it just isn't for me.
Two or three songs in, I started wondering why I was voluntarily subjecting myself to this album. It’s absolutely not my taste, and the whole thing felt like an endurance test. Then The Boy Done Wrong Again came on, and at that point, the album wasn’t just exhausting, it was actively irritating. I think it actually made me mad.
Not my style. It got too repetitive. Bored me
I really like TigerMilk by Belle & Sebastian and have listened to that album alot over the years so I know it well. I have not listened to "If You're Feeling Sinister" previously and I was largely underwhelmed. The whimsy is very much there - but the charm/ catchy hooks appear to be lacking. Very disappointing and surprising given this album was recorded very close to Tigermilk.
I want to like Belle and Sebastian, I really do. Having listened to a lot of their music, they just flatter to deceive. Everything just seems a little uninspiring and bland. If You're Feeling Sinister was a grower, but nothing on it stood out as being a great tune. Not even sure a 'best of' would do it for B&S
It’s a beautiful album to just sit back and relax and enjoy.
Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying
An album for those easily triggered and need safe spaces.
this group has never been my jam, sounds like movie credits music or smth
A cutesy album, with cutesy singing and delicate chamber pop instrumentation. I like it
I want to argue with this guy about why he included *this* album on the list when I have so many more favorites he could have chosen from.
overstays its welcome, which isn't high praise for a 41 minute album. it's good, it's just not all that varied
i was, in fact, feeling sinister. 3.5
I think this is the third? Belle & Sebastian album that we've gotten on this list, and I feel like it's been too many. I enjoyed this one but as I approach 800 albums I think my big takeaway is that there's so much music out there that I wouldn't put on repeats from artists without really good reason and my enjoyment of "Seeing Other People" isn't enough for this one and Tigermilk and...oh maybe it's just two. I guess I'd take this one over Tigermilk.
I wish I got this group, but it sounds very middle of the road to me.
Bit of a childish sound
What an absolute delight
i didn’t know about these guys until i heard tiger milk earlier from this generator, but this came up and i knew it was their more acclaimed album so i was looking forward, yeah this was sick i loved it
Not sure how to explain this. I found the first few songs on the album forgettable and while I did eventually get into the album, I'm not really interested in revisiting it again. One of those glad I listened to it once and maybe a few songs I'll check out again, but overall not really my thing.
Classic sleepy indie! I loved this sound and I was honestly surprised to see this album was from 1998. It almost feels ahead of its time considering the volume of this type of music that came out in the 2000s. Great listen. Best Track: Get Me Away from Here, I’m Dying
"This album is a toss up - I have heard critiques that this is boring. I can see how that could be interpreted as the music does seem to follow a pattern and it doesn't have much style variation. However, the sounds and voice is perfectly pleasant. Maybe as background music or a song in a movie score? I did love the song ""Judy And the Dream of Horses"" due to the fact it reminded me of Tina Belcher from the cartoon, Bob's Burgers. Overall, it was unique in its ""Belle and Sebastian""-ness but I could take it or leave it. "
Managed only 3 tracks. Just didn't work for me. Their earlier work and I don't agree.
The algorithm thinks I should like this more than I do
Yeah, it's okay, I guess. I think that could be the title of a Belle & Sebastial Best Of.