If You're Feeling Sinister

Kinda boring.

The lyrics and songwriting are pretty good. There's some solid storytelling going on, but I just don't really vibe with the music itself as much as I'd like.

Fairly non-impressive baseline bleats. I like some on other albums

I like how upbeat this album is, I get a the smiths vibe.

I had not heard of this band or any the songs on this album. It is an ok album. Nothing memorable about it.

I literally just finished listening to this album 10 minutes ago and have no recollection of any of the songs. So there's that.

Narrowly escaped a 1 star this did

Lots of universal love for this album, but I personally don’t get the hype. Perhaps I’m missing something. Pleasant enough, but just OK at best.

Como que quería conectar pero al final nel

Not for me

Not a bad album, not one I’d revisit readily, can see how they’ve influenced other bands such as Stornaway from the 00’s. It’s 3 star at best.

Lite The Smiths + Nick Drake, lågmält och mysigt. Jättefina låttitlar. Bästa låtar: Get Me Away from Here, I'm Dying och Like Dylan in the Movies. Förutom de två tyvärr ganska slätstruket och tråkigt.

Kinda indie. Uses a lot of acoustic guitar. Very quiet and almost peaceful. Indie, but not very different. It's like the album is trying to rub no one the wrong way. Repetitive and a bit boring. For me at least.

Not necessarily my cup of tea, but I can recognize the significance of it. Enjoyable enough songs, but I probably won't listen again.

First time listening to this entire album. I think I would have liked listening to this whole thing more back in like 2004 when I was really getting into indie music. It's nice but kinda boring. I used to love Like Dylan in the Movies tho! Yeah overall this shit is boring and I'm excited for it to be over.

Meh. It's OK, reminiscent of Lou Reed's Coney Island Baby period.

Bit durgy and nothing for me

It was eh, not great

Ik weet dat het goed zou moeten zijn, maar nooit mijn ding geweest.

Mjah, zeker niet slecht. Maar het kabbelt teveel en die zang gaat per nummer steeds meer irriteren.

Bit boring. Not a huge fan of the talky singing and don't rate the lyrics or vocals

Ik ben allergisch voor Belle & Sebastián. Heb het geprobeerd, maar kreeg weer jeuk over m’n hele lichaam.

Not a fan of Belle & Sebastian apart from a couple of tunes, and this album hasn’t changed that. It’s fine, but his voice annoys me and they’re not a band I’d ever choose to put on.

Music critic fodder. Trying to be objective but it's just not my vibe. Wishy washy. 4/10

It was good, but got annoying. I can only handle them in small bursts.

First album that I knew nothing about going into it. I’m a few songs in and I don’t think this is an album for me. Feels very Bob Dylan in that stream of consciousness type singing along with the harmonicas and lazy singing tone. This feels like the kind of album that was a hit in European coffee shops which is probably why I never heard of it prior. One of my goals for this album exercise is to listen to all the albums as fairly as I can so I’m at least enjoying listening to something I haven’t heard before. But I also feel like I’ve heard this before. Like Dylan in the Movies is pretty enjoyable, but it still feels like Dylan in the Music. Listening to If You’re Feeling Sinister and it sounds like the kind of song that would play in an indie movie as the main character is driving through the new big city or something. In looking at the album cover, it also doesn’t do much to stand out other than the red filter. Look, I’m sure some of us are going to love this album but this one, while good at times, doesn’t make its case for being on this list. Maybe I’m just feeling sinister.

It's OK

big bucket of meh

I've tried at least 3 times now to listen to this whole CD. Everything feels like I should like this CD. But every time I try I get about 4 songs in and it drags and I want to shut it off.

Meh

Beetje slap pop album, niks bijzonders

Lovely album

It was plain. I don’t know, fine.

Fuck Belle & Sensation and all of their little peasants. I pull my penis out and piss on them in public

Not really my cup of tea. Inoffensive coffee house rock I suppose.

Painful

Before we coined the term "Performative Makes" there was this guy. The last song Judy and the Dream of Horses is so funny by itself. Just imagine sitting quietly in a coffee shop and this guy sets up his music stand and flute.

blehhhhhh

this band really does nothing for me. have tried this and boy with the arab strap multiple times.

alla låtar exakt likadana.. not for me

Dreadful. Like, having the Puff The Magic Dragon theme song on repeat, but it's sung karaoke and keeps getting worse. I hated this so much. I usually give records on this list a couple of listens - it's a wonder that I sat through this one even once in its entirety. I hate that this happened to me and I want counseling and reconciliation.

Oh no. I hate most 60s folk music. There was no reason for a band in the 90s to try to sound like that. This is so precious, in the worst sense of the word. Really annoying, twee, me no like.

0 creativity it all sounds the same

This utter crap is for vegans that drink soya lattes. The only good thing about this album is that I never have to listen to it again.

Dull. Not something I'd listen to and definitely didn't make me appreciate indie pop.

1.2

Boring

Ugh

Garbage

1.5 Hate the vocals, couldnt get past that. And there wasnt any tits on this album cover

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)

Previously unknown. Mostly I couldn't deal with listening to the singer.

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.

Meh

MEH.

mi dispiace ma no

Not much here for me, it felt slow and monotonous, one star.

I am bored, just so bored by this entire album.

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.

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

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.

Bit of a childish sound

Day 8: Best track: Mayfly By the time I reached halfway through the title track, I thought to myself, "Do The Smiths suck this much too?" While I'm operating under the assumption that the answer is "No," I'm now scared to find out the answer may be "Yes." Never have I heard so many words say absolutely nothing. Thank God Franz Ferdinand redeemed Glasgow in terms of music output. 3/10.

'If You're Feeling Sinister' is often ranked among the best albums of the 90s, with many reviewers considering it, and Belle and Sebastian a pioneering act of the indie scene that would explode in the 2000s. Well, I think back to that scene in the movie 'High Fidelity' where Rob [John Cusack] and Dick [Todd Louiso] are playing a Belle and Sebastian record in the record store, before Barry [Jack Black] confidently waddles in and proclaims "HOLY S***, WHAT THE F*** IS THIS? IT SUCKS ASS." I'm inclined to agree with Barry. There's really not much about this record that does it for me. I find the vocals lazy and void of life, and the instrumentation is just downright boring. It's basically the same 10 songs you hear in every kooky coming-of-age film post-2000 you care to mention. Just not at all memorable. I know I sound very harsh in throwing the book at the modern indie genre, as has been evident in some of the reviews I've written previously, but I just don't see what all the fuss is about. To me, it just sounds like edgy hipsters mumbling their way sweetly through songs about how miserable their lives are. It's not that I dislike misery in songs, misery can actually be very powerful, but when these indie artists do it, they sound so nauseatingly self-righteous and 'off with the fairies'. So if you like this album, to paraphrase Barry again: "go ahead and put on your sad bastard music." But it's not for me, thanks. Best songs: Nil, it's boring

I'm not really feeling sinister with this one. To me this feels more like a well made factory product than art. Which is weird since it doesn't sound overproduced like you would expect from such music. The shapes and colours are near perfect and the flaws are calculated, I'm sure that many people will not look behind the veil. It's trying to be something that it is not. The lyrics draw me in but leave me with nothing afterwards. I guess it is a bit sinister in how it feels like a soulless mimic of a good album.

Nope. Twee ain't for me. This is pablum that holds no interest for me.

After the first song i thought - Scottish Jim Croce or Harry Chapin? Also parts of it sounds a lot like Tracy Ullman's They Don't Know About Us. Me and the Major was a good tune. The rest was sleep inducing songs "sung" by a guy who probably can't sing. I say that because he never gose above a whiney drone

Awful

this shit is some basic white people slop, meh.

No va

Was not very impressed on my first blind listen. Just really not my vibe, and the 90's indie scene doesn't tickle my fancy. Lyrics are just not great, signing is meh, and it just doesn't make me feel anything but bored. 1.5/5. The lyrics remind me a lot of the Beatles, but not in a good way.

Boring.

Sounds like Jim Croce singing for Coldplay, but less entertaining. I could not wait for this boring garbage to be done. If you’re feeling sinister, listen to a Slayer album, not this. Drinking the juice that drips from garbage truck would be more satisfying than this record. 1001 album worthy: aww hell naw 102/190

Horribly basic sounding. The vocals do nothing particularly interesting, not quite talking, certainly not singing. The lyrics are unintelligent and random.

Nope. I've heard enough of this rubbish before. You can't fool me. Buuuut, we're here to keep an open mind. First track, like a less interesting more jangly, Mountain Goats. I like mountain goats, I don't like this poppy shite. Second track. Fuck this is tedious. Let's ffwd to the most played songs. 'Get me away I'm dying"? I know how you feel mate. From Wikipedia "They are often compared with acts such as the Smiths..." Fucking knew it. Cut to the sound of a record needle being violently scratched across the platter as I can't get this crap off soon enough. One.

Too slow and folksy for my liking

I'm seeing lots of albums like this, and really confused as to why they're an essential listen. I mean, I can think of 1001 albums that are better than this.

Don't know about this

cuando sepa ingles lo reescucho, no me gusta el ritml

No thanks

Such tediously boring vocals. And when there is an attempt at harmonies, it’s like finger nails on a chalk board. The quirky songs weren’t strong enough to save it.

No

I've heard Bell and Sebastian before, and thought I liked it. Must be somewhere else, because this wasn't it.

Day517 - lame artists with mediocre voices and stupid instruments

This felt very uninspired. The music was at best adequate, but the vocals are very blah. This was like an acoustic emo band. I feel sorry for the people who truly love and obsess over this band. This was a blind listen as I had heard of the band before, but never sought them out. Well, there's a reason why I never did, because they kinda suck. If you're feeling sinister, listen to this album and you might just try to kill yourself.

This is music that really wanted to be part of the Garden State soundtrack, but it wasn't even considered because it was so bland and lifeless. It's like that one friend that hangs with the group, but everyone really doesn't enjoy their company. It's so uncomfortable listening to this. It feels as if they are trying so hard to make something good and are continuously failing to do so. The singer sounds so unsure of everything he's singing and you can hear the lack of confidence in his voice. It's uncomfortable to the point of eliciting pity for the rest of the band from me.

Nope, they’ve never really held my interest

Boring, too twee, sounds like the same song over and over for 40 some minutes.

The cure for insomnia.

First reaction: wtf is this crap? Sounds like the long lost link between whiney '90's Portland grunge and early '00's corporate indie music. It should have stayed lost. Most likely in a Wes Anderson film that I won't watch. I really don't understand the appeal of music like this. The bland melodies and lyrics that are written by a freshman English lit major with a thesaurus and too much time on their hands just make me want to scream. It feels like music written by some insecure boy trying to impress a girl that is way out of his league, wrong for him, and will eventually completely ignore him because she realizes nobody wants to be with neurotic losers. Which will probably only further spur the boy to write more bad music like this bemoaning that no girl wants to date him.

Almost wants you to pull the trigger. On & On... It's easy listening, for sure.

This album is bad and if you like it you should feel bad. 0/5

first time heard like 1.5 round down to 1

Ok

This was some South Park sounding bullshit

Managed to get through it. Quite annoying songs. The voice of the singer is quite monotonous.

I didn't really like the vocals and the pacing was very slow for me.

1/2 borderline. Not great. Not chains banging trash can lids, but no reason to have had to listen to this one.

Groupe inconnu. Rien de bien original, je ne suis pas allé au bout. =>1/5

Jack Black's character in High Fidelity calls Belle & Sebastian "old sad bastard music" and I couldn't agree more. It was painfully boring so much so that even the trumpet couldn't save it. Favorite song: none Least favorite song: all of them Knew before? No

DNF

Never liked this band, they always sound so clearly impressed with themselves and their inability to express anything vulnerable or interesting

That was annoying, think I can die without hearing that.

I would pay a significant amount of money to never hear Sebastian's voice again in my life

I'm seven songs in and I have to tap out. This is just bad.

Belle and Sebastian were bullied at school, but not enough. Music for adults who make their own clothes.

listened to 1 song and then turned it off to go listen to the Plants Vs. Zombies soundtrack instead finished that and came back to this album. think I wouldn't have been able to get through it otherwise

Nothing interesting here

no.

why was this on the list? i want these people to be so fucking serious right now.

Belle and Sebastian is music for people who find The Smiths a little too edgy.

"Band leader Stuart Murdoch has stated the album is probably his best collection of songs." In what world, my man? This was super super super boring and lifeless, I'm sorry.

So twee I want to claw my eyes out

Was given this album after Slayer. 1/5

Would it kill the singer to show a little emotion? A complete waste of decent instrumentals.

Awful!

boring rocky folk shit NNN

Quite derivative. Every song sounds the same. Same tempo, same feel, same tone. Different lyrics

not my style of music. Boring

Sounds like pretty much every folk album since the 60s. But if Wes andersen write the lyrics…

Indy folk vibe that was done in the late 60’s early 70’s. Nothing new. Interesting lyrics.

Not a fan - too slow and boring

Not for me

Just not my cup of tea

If a department store needs a replacement for their broken reel to reel elevator music, this would fit.

Not my thing

Too Soft

huita

meh, was not in the mood for this cutesy album

Wikipedia - "often ranked among the best albums of the nineties"?!?! In no way is this album "among the best albums of the nineties". The production quality is OK, and thats the most generous thing I can come up with. 1/5

I ALREADY RATED THIS YOU IDIOTS

1.5-2/5

For 20 somethings

That was way too wishy washy

Nah. Not for me. I’ll forget about it a week from now.

I did not like this at all. The singer was was so monotone and boring. The songs were some of the most borings songs I've heard, and the mix sounded really bad and boring. No dynamics at all, just flat and weak.

I just couldn't get into this one. Tried so many times but got bored and ignored it or changed to another album. Just not for me. I think i listened to all of it but can't mention a single track.

Just bad, unoriginal, boring, weak singer

not a fan

I know this is an unpopular, and probably politically incorrect, opinion, but to me Belle and Sebastian represent the pansy-fication of rock n' roll. To put it more bluntly, their music has no balls. It's soft and weak. It's easy listening music for people who want to believe they are cool. It's the opposite of everything that makes rock great - the rawness, the power, the guts, the bravado. 1 star.

Nope

Tive a miragem que finalmente conseguiria entender e curtir estes ícones do indie. Só que ao aproximar desta expectativa, ela ficou mais longe. O nome me enganou bem, não percebi nenhuma sensação sinistra. Só que esta decepção foi apenas uma nuvem, veio a tempestade atrás. Fiquei esperando em vão por dez músicas, o vocal da Isobel para me salvar. Realmente foi uma tempestade perfeita, nada de emoção ou a voz dela.

Derivative… of nick drake…

Did not enjoy.

Awful

Not a fan of Indie music

meh

Don’t like the voice much. No, I don’t like this.

You owe me $45. This was so boring that I fell asleep and drooled all over my keyboard. Couldn't leave this review until I replaced it. 1/5.

not for me.

Nope.

annoying.

So dull, even the singer sounds bored with it. The nadir is "The Boy Done Wrong Again" - 4:17 of utter tedium. Terrible.

more pointdexter than sinister

Again, no.

It's like prog-rock, but instead of the musical parts being complicated, you just strum three chords and say every single word that comes to your mind. Bleh.

Yuck

Überflüssig.

Didn’t enjoy the album at all. I appreciate and commend the self expression, but I couldn’t get behind the repetitive sound and vulnerable vocal performance behind every song— I prefer more variety and skill expression..

Nah. I don't vibe.

-Definitely not my cup of tea. - I'm not exactly sure why I HAVE to listen to this one before I die

Giving me all the nostalgia but the album is pretty boring tbh.

If the guy stopped sucking dick to sing, could be better. Still too much soy... Pass

Didn’t like this one

Boring

Ik kan het niet geheel verklaren maar die gezapige, zeikerige zang brengt echt moordneigingen in me naar boven.

not my style at all...

false advertising smh

I didn't like the last album by these guys here. Only on the first song but it sounds just as annoying. Fuck this. 1/5. uuuuuugh it's even worse a few songs in, this cunt can't sing and the music is so fucking bland I want to scream. 0/5. Fuck the author of this book.

I’m not going anywhere today I have a doctors 🥼 visit and then I’ll come over tomorrow morning I will let the dogs 🐕 play in and I’ll let the cats 🐱 outside but I’m going home 🏠 now and I’ll go over and pick you some stuff and I have some things that need fixing I don’t want them out here in case I get to work I just don’t have a good 😊 thank goodness 😅 hope your morning has a wonderful weekend ahead too I have been in bed 🛌 since last Friday night I have a lot going but can’t do it myself and can’t get a day to rest and sleep 😴 and I’m so grateful 🥹 I can’t even have it today I have been busy but it’s a bit tired 🥱 so I’ll see if it’s a little tired 🥱 today but I’ll try not feeling so I’m okay 👌 thanks 😊 have fun 🤩 I will talk soon 🔜 love 😍 and good 😊 I will talk tomorrow night I will talk about the best wishes for me too much going on your journey I will see how things go to work

Love Belle and Sebastian! They do always remind me of that Jack Black quote from Hi-Fidelity calling them "sad bastard music," but I don't mind being a sad bastard sometimes. His vocals always make me feel so dreamy. They have this strange ethereal quality to me, like when I get done listening to their albums, I'm like does a band this emotionally expressive really exist. I don't want to ever see them live because I feel like it would break the spell for me. "Me and the Major" is maybe the most driving head-bopper of a B&S song I've heard. "Fox in the Snow," ooof. "Get me away..." is a classic. Love that sine sound on Mayfly...wtf was that. A stylophone, I'm getting one. "all I wanted to do was sing the saddest song," achieved. Love their trumpet player. - 5