Tigermilk

Pretty good album. None of the songs are quite as strong as Piazza, but I found myself really getting into several of them: The State I Am In, Expectations, My Wandering Days Are Over, Mary Jo.

It's aiiight. Favorite Track: "Mary Jo".

Kinda wonderfully weird. Don’t need to hear it again, mind.

So soft and unoffensive. It's just kind of there, and I wonder why two Belle and Sebastian albums are in my first 422 on this list.

Defining Indie sound Fave track: We Rule the School

I can’t escape the comparison with Donovan especially the vocals except more subdued and more syrupy sweet

sweet

Not bad per se, but this is basically the dictionary definition of what I consider “twee (negative)”.

Valt me ook alles weer mee dit album, was even bang voor een 13 in een dozijn saai indierockig album maar de productie is interessant, de zang is niet slecht en de song structuur swingt zelfs best wel! Ok; hier en daar hoor je toch echt wel dat dit een meer indie rockig album is met toch wel wat klassieke indiesongwriting waar men een beetje dat zweverige zingen doet waar ik geen heel groot fan van ben. Maar alles bij elkaar vind ik de rest van de band vaak strak genoeg in elkaar zitten dat ik me niet irriteer. Wat zeg ik? Ik vermaak me best wel! Maaaaar maar maar maaaaar... De tweede helft van dit album? Vanaf ongeveer I Could be dreaming. Dat is dus wel precies de minder interessante schattige standaard Indie zang. Voor mij persoonlijk valt de kwaliteit van het album dan behoorlijk ver naar beneden... Nee, tweede helft kakt kei en keihard in. Jammer, eerste helft was echt veelbelovend maar uiteindelijk kan ik niet veel meer hier aan geven dan 3. FAVO: Expectations, Electronic Renaissance

Chill album, but it never really reached a higher level for me. I enjoyed it while walking the dog, but couldn’t even name a standout moment. The album came and went and that was all

Enjoyable.

When Stuart Murdoch turned 21, he fell incredibly ill. Suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis, Stuart believed his life was over, being unable to have to stamina to properly do anything, being constantly bedridden or unable to walk for more than 8 minutes at a time. His university life was completely over, forever a cripple. During his ill days, he decided to return to piano-playing and started to write songs. Guitarist/bassist Stuart David meanwhile was setting up a university program for young aspiring musicians to practice and jam. David met Murdoch during this program and noted that he had the most potential, interest and knowledge out of all the visiting musicians. The two struck up a convo and decided to try and start a band together. Later they'll invite beginner drummer Richard Colburn, professional multi-instrumentalist Stevie Jackson, cellist Isobel Campbell, pianist Christ Geddes and trumpetist Mick Cooke. They decided to name their new band 'Belle and Sebastian' after Murdoch's favourite TV show. It should be noted that all these guys were uni students doing this band stuff as a hobby. Majority of them would rather be doing something else than be in a band; they just thought this was a bunch of fun. But the sound they crafted was based on 60s Beatlesque chamber pop and Simon and Garfunkel folk. Initially just jamming on a whim, everything changed when drummer Richard was doing a uni course on music business. His main assignment was to take a demo tape, produce a record from it and sell it. Realising that this assignment was effectively 40% of his final mark, Richard asked his bandmates to actually start making a record, which they shambolically made in 5 days, mostly on live takes and a few backing tracks. This became Tigermilk, probably the only time an album was made for your GPA. Despite the lo-fi nature of the recording, it is quite striking how crystal clear and kick ass the instrumentals are. Varied in style and mood, taking in influences from the Velvet Underground to The Smiths to Beach Boys to Nick Drake, Tigermilk is an absolutely non-cohesive album. An album of all the ideas compiled in 5 days and distilled into highly individual songs. The music can switch from the sunshine pop of the Byrds and the Beach Boys of "The State I'm In" to the soft acoustic balladry of piano, cello, acoustic guitar of all three in songs like "Expections" and "My Wandering Days Are Over", to the big band epics in "I Could Be Dreaming" to the dream pop of "Electronic Renaissance". Murdoch writes in a highly non-personal manner. Every song portraying a character of some sort, often a cynical underdog who does not want your pity or sympathy but rather your understanding. A complicated being of everything victimhood-y except dying, being dead or dreaming of death. Instead, his constant victim is constantly thinking 'oh life will get better', both aware and totally oblivious to his existential misfortune. It's a surprisingly complex form of lyricism for songs that sound so simple, on par with or greater than Morrissey, and certainly less depressing. Well how did they actually SCORE, since this was a uni assignment? Pretty fucking well. A high distinction for this one album. In fact, despite the purpose of this album being only to be seen by professors and one or two record executives, a ferocious bidding came about to claim Belle and Sebastian. The album sold out quickly in the in-university record label, and once bought by a bigger label, Tigermilk sold out even faster. Helping to the popularity of the band was the decision to be anonymous, using stills from movies and having enigmatic passive aggressive titles to their future works, (A trick from the Smiths). Through somewhat strange means, Belle and Sebastian etched themselves into the indie rock canon, and it all starts here. Now Fold Your Hands, Child. You Walk Like A Peasant.

I didn't really enjoy it. I listened to it. This is our 666 number, maybe it's secretly satanic?

This is pretty in one ear and out the other. Inoffensive and decent enough to listen to but none of it really grabbed me. I don't know why but I expected something more moody and profound. This is just kind of pop-rock done well. It's not far enough in to any emotion to really stand out. Completely fine.

sounds like finn from adventure time singing lol

Dimery has already gifted us the medium-quality If You're Feeling Sinister. Tigermilk is also medium-quality, with a few ups and downs but primarily just a middling singer-songwriter tracklist with slightly wobbly vocals. The build-up from The State I Am in, from that fragile, almost whispery vocal into a more standard folk/country piece, with a warm, busy texture, works very nicely. Why B&S chose to capitalise every word in the title except "in", I have no idea. Must've run out of budget. I appreciate how the slide(?) guitar isn't overbearing in its slidiness (something the vast majority of country slide guitar fails miserably at). Nice choices of chords in the chorus. Expectations takes up an intriguing hushed, hurried mood that I associate with one of my favourite Simon & Garfunkel pieces (Mrs. Robinson). Even the close harmonies match. Kind of. I love the gradual increase of texture from beginning to end. A special, exciting track that I can easily see myself listening to again and again. The S&G comparisons continue, for She's Losing It sounds straight off the Bridge Over Troubled Water. I guess it loses a lot of impressiveness score for that reason, seeing as it came out 26 years too late to wow audiences the same way S&G did. Man, I really hope these lyrics of You're Just a Baby are, well, age-appropriate. It turns out they are, meaning these folks have already outdone the Beatles in at least one regard. And the music is pretty catchy, too. Electronic Renaissance takes an exceptionally 80s approach with its soundscape and also uses one of most boring chord progression possible (I-vi-I-vi-I-vi-...). But the sound is also kind of endearing, even if I wouldn't really want to listen to it again. Are those lyrics about murder in I Could Be Dreaming? A daunting news story behind the messy, questionable instrumental? Yeah, I'm unconvinced as to the musical prowess of this track. At least We Rule the School acts as a palate cleanser – and a damn effective one at that. You couldn't ask for much more from a ballad than light, beautiful stringwork, lovely piano, and (what I think are) vibraphones. And when that acoustic guitar comes in... man. I don't know that this would work as an album opener, for example, but following I Could Be Dreaming it's great. Flute solo enters smoothly and follows a nice melancholic-yet-hopeful series of chords. My Wandering Days Are Over – one of the few songs here where the vocals genuinely stand out. Those sleepy lines draping over each other... really lovely. A late-album soft rock piece in I Don't Love Anyone, which is much happier sounding than its lyrics suggest. My only suggestion would be more interesting harmonies. Mary Jo is hilariously light and whimsical; a decent way to send things off. 3/5 Key tracks: The State I Am in, Expectations, We Rule the School

It’s not bad at all The first few songs were very good then I stopped paying attention and all the rest sounded the same but I’m sure they would be just as good as the others if I were paying attention

What if you tried to make the sound track from any 90s movie or sitcom experimental?

I’ve noticed quite a few bands listed on here really seem to be focused on their early work. I was prepared to leave a similar review here bemoaning that fact, but actually this is a surprisingly good representation of the breadth of B&S’s later work.

A lovely, gentle breeze of indie pop 😊 Heard it before? ❌ Listen again? ✅ Rating out of ten? 7️⃣

Really like this band, and their debut here shows why they stuck around, imo. Great storytelling with fantastic music. Just a pleasant listen, with plenty to keep me interested. Not a hard edge to be found anywhere, and sometimes that's perfect.

Some nice songs if a little forgettable

Dull and forgettable

The cover art is cool

People rave about this group, and I’ve never understood why. In one word: dull.

Not sure why I enjoy the album cover so much... haha. Nothing really special here but easy to listen to.

Nice one, it was a good listining, a surprise being honest

Inoffesnsive

Listened to this a lot in college. Still enjoy it.

It's a good album although I like a few other of their albums more.

Meh

If You're Feeling Sinister has the better execution, is the better example of what Belle and Sebastian is about, and arguably has better songs. And yet, I've always actually kind of preferred Tigermilk. Like, the story about having recorded the album for a final project for a class is just great, and I really love being able to hear them figuring out what a Belle and Sebastian song is in real time! There's all sorts of little dead ends here that they didn't really explore any further, and that's what's so exciting about it.

8/10

Slightly better than their other album on the list.

Beautifully layered and dreamlike vocals, super chill but upbeat. Not sure I’m the target demographic but Belle & Sebastian have been a wonderful discovery through this project.

love you

effortlessly charming. the band stays ebullient throughout, never feels like anyone’s trying to steal the spotlight, and it’s all in service of the song. the vocals are light and soft and still carry loads of character and specificity. each song is easy to enjoy at surface-level while containing rich detail for those that want to listen closer. outstanding from start to finish.

Here’s what we know: In 1986, a seventeen-year-old Stuart Murdoch ran the Glasgow Marathon with a time of 2:57:08, a sub-three-hour time that anoints an elite runner. A few years later, Murdoch is diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a mysterious disorder that usually appears after an infection. CFE causes, you guessed it, fatigue and pain after physical or mental exertion. This disorder leaves Murdoch homebound in his parents’ place for years, oftentimes having just enough energy to tread downstairs to the piano and pluck out some tunes. He fills his isolation with Felt and Velvet Underground records. Years pass. As the syndrome starts to lift, Murdoch now has enough energy to get out of the house and… sit on city busses all day. Eventually, he sees an ad for a Stow College-funded meetup for unemployed musicians. He shows up and meets a bassist, Stuart David, and they begin to play together. As they play open mics and keep going to the meetups, they add more members to the band, which they’ve started calling “Belle and Sebastian.” One of those new members is Stevie Jackson, a student in a Music Business course at Stow College. The final project for that Music Business class is to record a single for a local band, to be released on the college’s label. Belle and Sebastian are chosen for the single. For the first time, on the strength of that single, the professor says to go ahead and record an album. They spend three days in the studio and record most of the songs live. The product of those sessions is ‘Tigermilk.’ This album is a small miracle of coincidence and everything falling into its right place. Belle and Sebastian carries a certain connation of twee and preciousness, but while gentle, there’s an infectious swagger to these songs: the way they confidently build from Murdoch’s whispered opening line on “The State I Am In” to an understatedly-pulsing beat in time with the story, or when they cut the music entirely in “She’s Losing It,” and the spoken-word story over the already-achieved climax of “I Could Be Dreaming,” and much more. There’s Murdoch’s lyricism which you could spend the review quoting, but the crafting of these songs is so on point. On a personal note, when I was a bus driver I put together a list of songs that mentioned busses, and B&S was highly represented. *most of the biography in this review comes half-remembered from a Pitchfork Classics documentary about ‘If You’re Feeling Sinister.’ highly recommend that series.*

Fairly impressive album when you realize they like met and put this together in the span of a week or something like that? At times, it sounds like it. But there were some cool musical concepts that come together as they throw things at the walk to see what sticks. Highlights: Electronic Renaissance, My Wandering Days Are Over

Pretty good. Needs a relisten. 3.5 out of 5

מעניין, אבל לא נראה לי שאחזור אליו. האלבום הראשון שלא הכרתי בו אף שיר

I like this so far, interesting and different sounds across the songs. Kinda basic hipster vibes but it seems to work for them. I could see myself revisiting this album in the future, it does a lot of fun sounds and musically stays interesting.

I'm not a Belle & Sebastian superfan but there are some absolutely fantastic tracks on here that I think people should hear at least once. Electronic Renaissance and She's Losing It are fantastic songs.

nice

Super weak sauce. Too sing-songy and folksy for me. Not nearly the worst thing on here, though the album cover may be close.

A very twee Britpop album. Even when they're dealing with something melacholy, the daintiness of the music blurs it all over, lulling you into this sense of security until you realize "Hey, that song was about death!" It’s good, sincere music, but just too delicate for my taste. Still, if you like your indie pop soft, shy, and pastel‑colored, this might be right up your alley. My Rating: 3/5

J'adore Belle & Sebastian au niveau musical. J'ai eu ma phase assez intense fin des années 90. Par contre, c'est une de mes plus grandes déceptions de performance sur scène. Possible que j'étais pas dans leur mood ce soir là. Dans mon gradient de performances Belle & Sebastian et Hum sont dans la cave et Warren Ellis, Nick Cave, Jon Spencer quand il fait pas trop le preacher et David Yow sont au sommet.

La maisonnée a bien aimé l'ambiance ! Alice connaissait mieux que moi, bien qu'elle ait dit au début : The Smiths? (ce qui n'est pas loin du compte). Pour ma part, j'ai toujours confondu Belle & Sebastian avec Tegan & Sara... mais juste le nom. J'aimerais bien y retourner, en plus c'est rare qu'on a un band écossais et je dirais que c'est un band à découvrir.

Y’a quelque chose là! Je dois y revenir!

This sounded exactly how I expected it to sound.

comfy :)

I am getting a Velvet Underground - Venus in Furs vibe from this and I am not mad at it.

I'm glad I got this so soon after getting their sophomore record. Despite being released in the same year, their debut record feels like the band are still trying to figure out their style. You get a more synth-heavy track with "Electronic Renaissance" and there is a level of bite on "Expectations" that you wouldn't find on the following album. While the band are clearly finding their feet here, I wouldn't describe this record as feeling like a sketchbook and I think it is just as good as the second album even if it is not as refined. The group's brand of baroque folk-pop is still a delight to hear.

This is fine. Mellow, easygoing indie pop with a singer who sounds like he's trying not to disturb the librarian. Clever lyrics, good arrangements, interesting instrumentation, nothing that really leapt out at me.

I’m new to this band. Their musicality goes down easy & their lyrics are used for inventive storytelling (like a Bare Naked Ladies, with modern, more respectful sensibilities). It’s good, I’ll listen again. A 4.

It’s not my favorite Belle and Sebastian album, but it’s a hell of a debut. Stuart Murdoch is a phenomenal songwriter and lyricist. Deeply enjoyed this.

This album has a very special place in my heart. I did not know them when this album came up but there was a period of time where I loved all their records. Such a great band.

i fucking loved this

I really liked this one. Pop-Folk that is reminiscent of Nick Drake but modernized. I actually liked this one more than If You're Feeling Sinister. Standout tracks were The State I Am In and She's Losing It.

Formative

esse aqui eu gostei, tem mais a minha cara. não dediquei muito atenção, to escutando enquanto escuto, mas com certeza foi muito mais agradável que a minha experiência com o álbum anterior. favs: eletornic renaissance, i could be dreaming e my wandering days are over.

Fairly forgettable indie album

Better than I expected it to be since I always think Belle & Sebastian are gonna be lame because of the joke made about them in High Fidelity. Definitely something I'd be willing to give another listen down the road, reminded me of a early Snow Patrol but with less rock influence.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It was a rainy day when I listened to it, so I think that helped. It's a 3.5 for me but I think I'm going to round up.

I almost did not listen to this album because of the stupid album cover. It is actually quite pleasant. Four stars.

Perfectly pleasant but can't say it left much of an impression

It was alright. Expectations a good song, rest average.

Pleasantly surprised

Not bad, actually. Enjoyed it more than the other B&S album that came up for me earlier in this project. Some of the songs are very good, but the saccharine vocals let the tunes down IMO.

I enjoyed the reflective pop music

TIL what "twee" means. I wasn't expecting to like it. I am happily surprised. The lyrics are pretty dark in places which does a nice job of balancing out the reported 'twee'ness.

Very impressed by this but I can't put my finger on why. Need more time but I'm also trying to keep up with the relentless LIST. First spin left me wanting more and definitely sounds ahead of its time. The first track sounds so good. Super clean and a pretty subtle but sick organ. What is that accent? Who are Belle and Sebastian? Do I need to know? Remins me of Vampire Weekend.

I always thought these guys were a quirky hipster band from williamsburg with a manic pixie dream girl singer and backing band of sadboy cucks. I was way off! This was great!

I like the Zach Galifianakis joke that his balls are named Belle & Sebastian. I liked this guys alot at one point - never this album though, so no nostalgia to worry about living up to. I still like their vibe, (Dear Catasrophe Waitress I think is their best? Anyone that writes a whole song about Mike Piazza is worth something), but they are definitely the white bread of indie pop, and this album is even more bland that their other stuff.

Bello

I always like revisiting these songs.

It was fine, but pretty boring. 5/10.

I could be dreaming is cool...

Tigermilk was an album I appreciated more than I loved. The songs are pleasant, melodic, and easy to listen to, but after the first few tracks, the similar vocal delivery started making everything blend together for me. There were enough changes to keep things interesting. “You’re Just a Baby” stood out, “Electronic Renaissance” offered a welcome change of sound, and “I Don’t Love Anyone” picked up the pace toward the end. Still, I kept coming back to the same thought: I’d probably enjoy these songs more sprinkled throughout a mixed playlist than listening to the entire album at once. Good coffee shop music. I’d happily listen if it were playing, but I’m probably not choosing it myself.

Why do people like If You're Feeling Sinister over this? This is miles better, cheerier, sweeter and not so melancholy to the point of exhaustion as that album. I hear Sinister as being too "twee" for my taste. Meanwhile, this has melodic bombs for days, so much that overpower Sinister. Not to say this doesn't get enough love, but I've heard more of a parade for one and it's not this one. Congrats, y'all. I'm impressed (9/10, 5/5 on this scale)

I feel I've stayed at a very nice Airbnb apartment. Very nice furniture and location but wouldn't live there myself.

it was alright, that's about it. pleasant enough to score over 2 stars though!

Sounds like all the hipster bands of the 2010s… 20 years earlier!

I like them quite a bit and will likely listen again, but the lead singer’s voice is a little wimpy for me.

Liked it to start, the sound bored me after a bit. Should give it a try again when I’m in a different mood.

Whole album of songs that sound like they were designed to exist as random soundtrack items for boring indie movies.

Really enjoyed this album. Starts off really strong and keeps a good pace afterwards. The vocals are a little lowkey but there is an honesty in the singing that is quite charming and complimentary to the strong use of brass and strings.

Average

It insists on itself.

Incredibly boring, every song sounds the same. I like the singers voice but come on!

Some good tracks but too slow for my taste. 2.5⭐️

Pamiętam, że miałam kilka podejść do tego zespołu, tak z 10 lat temu i żadne z nich się nie powiodło. To jest kolejne i znowu zawód. I to jest nawet okej, nie wszystko jest na tej liście dla mnie :)

Really good! Some immediately catchy tunes, and voices that you can't help but fall in love with. There's such a modern youthful energy fire something almost forty years ago.

Light and easy to listen to. Favourite Track(s): She's Losing It Least Favourite Track(s): Electronic Renaissance

I am aware of this band. Don't listen to them at all. They may be a little too soft/slow for my liking but I do respect what they bring. Cool tracks not for me though.

Very pretty album and strong the whole way through. Standouts are She’s Losing It, Electronic Renaissance and I Could Be Dreaming.

I love The Boy With The Arab Strap and Dear Catastrophe Waitress, but never got around to listening to this one until now. It's not perfect, but pretty great for a debut album made on a shoestring budget. Really well written songs and melodies, with weird and interesting stories in the lyrics. Love the instrumentation - apart from Electronic Renaissance, which is a bit silly.

First four tracks had this in a tailspin, but then it gained some altitude with 'Electronic Renaissance'. Unfortunately, it was back into a deep descent from there on out. I definitely didn't like it, but "hate" might be just a touch too far - especially when there are SO many other albums on this list that are more deserving of my wrath.

This got old real quick. Maybe this would hit better on a day I had more patience. Not today

Album 20 and this is the first I’ve found that commits the cardinal sin of just being… boring. Absolutely nothing about this album and I felt it was a complete waste of my time. While I’ve not found certain albums, cough, the Pogues, unenjoyable I can at least appreciate their artistic merit. This is just so cookie cutter vanilla and inoffensive it’s almost offensive to me.