Tigermilk

Average.

This was fine, they are good but idk if they are good enough to go in here twice?

Very soft, kinda nice.

That was excellent, thanks for the discovery. If I see this entering my rotation I’lll come back for that final star 4/5

I thought this album was pretty interesting.

The most Wes Anderson coded band of all time

I remember when B&S kind of broke out, and this was lauded as like a secret debut, and it was really hard to get a copy of it. Years later, I did buy it, and I wasn't wholly unimpressed.

In my books Belle & Sebastian is the 4th best band all time, behind only Yo La Tengo, The Magnetic Fields and Teenage Fanclub. Tigermilk is my favourite Belle & Sebastian album so this is an easy five.

Nice and chill for cleaning!

I liked 'Expectations' a lot, although maybe it's just because I first heard it in 'Juno', but overall it was a nice, albeit lame, listen for an indie album. Almost the entire thing felt like it could have been a soundtrack, and it was much better than their second album. Like I said, it's lame, but it's enjoyable for a teenage white girl like myself.

Впервые столкнулась с тем, что мне настолько же нравится музыка насколько не нравится вокал

and it's a pop that makes me feel good that I don't appreciate often but here I'm more than satisfied

Хорошая поп группа, которая притворяется хуевой инди группой

🥱😴😴😴

*Tigermilk** is the debut studio album by Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian, released on June 6, 1996. It was recorded in just **five days** at CaVa Sound Studios in Glasgow as part of a music business course at Stow College (now Glasgow Kelvin College), with a limited pressing of only **1,000 vinyl copies** through the college's Electric Honey label . The album's origins as a student project make its subsequent cultural impact all the more remarkable. --- ## Lyrics Stuart Murdoch's songwriting on *Tigermilk* establishes what would become the band's signature approach: **literary, character-driven narratives** that explore outsider perspectives with wit and empathy. **Key lyrical themes:** - **Adolescent alienation and social awkwardness**: "Expectations" follows a student bullied for being different—she makes "life-size models of The Velvet Underground out of clay"—who finds herself in a cycle of aggression, taking out her frustrations on "Veronica, a fat girl with a lisp" . The song captures both the cruelty and the tragedy of social hierarchies. - **Queer identity and family dynamics**: "The State I Am In" opens with the narrator's brother coming out as gay, which "took the heat off me for a while"—a line that captures complicated family psychology with dark humor . The album features multiple queer-coded characters, though some lyrics reflect the limitations of a straight male writer in the 1990s . - **Loneliness and escapism**: "Mary Jo" depicts a solitary woman whose only solace is in dreams, reading *The State I Am In* (a meta-reference to the album's opening track) . "We Rule the School" contains the poignant, oft-quoted line: **"The world is made for men, not for us"** . - **Self-deprecating confession**: "I Don't Love Anyone" features a narrator who claims to love nothing and no one, not even Christmas, yet gradually reveals his fear of being unloved rather than an absence of feeling . Murdoch's lyrics are **dense with cultural references**—from *Rip Van Winkle* to department store jobs at Debenhams—and operate with a novelist's attention to detail. The characters feel fully realized despite (or because of) their flaws. --- ## Music & Composition The album's sound is **chamber-pop indie folk**, heavily influenced by 1960s introspective artists like **Nick Drake** and **Donovan**, with echoes of **The Velvet Underground**'s jangly energy . **Musical elements:** - **Acoustic guitar-driven arrangements** form the backbone, augmented by **cello, violin, and trumpet** (notably on "She's Losing It") for a lush yet intimate texture - **Isobel Campbell's ethereal vocals** provide crucial counterpoint to Murdoch's hushed delivery, particularly on "I Could Be Dreaming" - The **lo-fi production** captures unpolished energy—performances aren't as tight as later albums, but this roughness becomes part of the charm **Notable outlier**: "Electronic Renaissance" is essentially a **synth-pop/EDM track** with distorted vocals and dance culture lyrics ("Take a pill and say hello"), showing the band's willingness to experiment even on a debut . The album spans **10 tracks and approximately 42 minutes**, with songs like "The State I Am In," "Expectations," and "She's Losing It" forming a remarkably strong opening sequence . --- ## Production The production circumstances were **unconventional by design**: - Recorded in **five days** with minimal rehearsal time on a student budget - Engineered by **Gregor Reid** at CaVa Sound Workshops - The **DIY ethos** is audible—rough edges, unpolished performances, and a sense of immediacy that contrasts sharply with the era's polished Britpop This lo-fi approach was initially a limitation but became part of the album's **aesthetic identity**. The 1999 Jeepster reissue brought wider distribution but preserved the original's intimate quality . --- ## Themes *Tigermilk* operates on several interconnected thematic levels: 1. **Outsider narratives**: Nearly every song centers on someone marginalized—by sexuality, class, social awkwardness, or circumstance 2. **The tension between surface and depth**: Upbeat, even jaunty melodies often carry devastating lyrics (the "twee" sound masking emotional complexity) 3. **Literary self-awareness**: The album is full of books, reading, and writing—characters read novels, priests write trashy books based on confessions, and Murdoch constructs nested narratives 4. **Scottish working-class identity**: References to city buses, department stores, and church life ground the songs in specific social reality The album's cover art—a photograph by Murdoch of his then-girlfriend **Joanne Kenley** nursing a stuffed tiger in a bathtub—perfectly encapsulates these themes: **sensuality mixed with childlike whimsy, intimacy with surrealism** . --- ## Influence & Legacy *Tigermilk* has proven **extraordinarily influential** on indie pop: - **Pioneered chamber pop**: The orchestral arrangements influenced bands like **Camera Obscura** directly - **Defined twee pop**: The album helped establish the "twee" aesthetic—whimsical, introspective, emotionally vulnerable—that influenced **The Pains of Being Pure at Heart** and countless others - **DIY as virtue**: The album's origin story (student project, limited pressing, word-of-mouth success) became a model for independent music production - **Cultural recognition**: Included in the **2006 edition of *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die*** The album's 25th anniversary in 2021 prompted renewed appreciation for its **resourceful creativity** in an era of streaming and polished production . --- ## Pros ✅ **Exceptional songwriting**: Stuart Murdoch's character studies are novelistic in scope and psychological depth ✅ **Unique sonic identity**: The chamber-pop arrangements and lo-fi production create an intimate, timeless atmosphere ✅ **Strong opening run**: "The State I Am In," "Expectations," and "She's Losing It" form one of indie pop's best three-song sequences ✅ **Emotional complexity**: Manages to be simultaneously cynical and hopeful, melancholic and melodic ✅ **Historical significance**: A foundational document of 1990s indie pop that influenced an entire subgenre ✅ **Experimental touches**: "Electronic Renaissance" shows range beyond the folk-pop template --- ## Cons ❌ **Inconsistent production quality**: The lo-fi approach, while charming, means some tracks sound rougher than others; "Electronic Renaissance" feels disconnected from the album's organic sound ❌ **Occasional lyrical clumsiness**: Some lines haven't aged well—the depiction of queer characters occasionally relies on stereotypes, and "The State I Am In" contains a line about kicking "crutches from my crippled friend" that reads as unnecessarily provocative ❌ **Genre inconsistency**: The album "really does not know what genre it wants to be," which can make for a disjointed listen ❌ **Limited dynamic range**: The gentle, hushed approach can become monotonous over 42 minutes—"the same song 12 different ways," as some critics have noted ❌ **Twee excess**: The deliberate "wussiness" and whimsy can feel cloying to listeners who prefer more aggressive music --- ## Verdict *Tigermilk* is a **remarkable debut** that announced Belle & Sebastian as major talents despite (or because of) its modest origins. While it lacks the polish and consistency of their masterpiece *If You're Feeling Sinister* (released just months later), it captures a **raw, immediate quality** that subsequent albums deliberately moved away from. The album's influence on indie pop—particularly the "twee" and chamber-pop movements—cannot be overstated. For listeners who appreciate **literary lyrics, delicate arrangements, and emotional vulnerability**, *Tigermilk* remains essential. For those who find the "cardigan brigade" aesthetic irritating, it will likely confirm their worst suspicions . **Rating**: 4/5 stars—a stunning debut with flaws that are part of its charm

Tigermilk eller If you're feeling sinister, vilken är bäst egentligen? Det rätta indiesnobberisvaret är ju Ep'sen som inte finns på albumen från samma tid. Faktumet är ju att exakt allt B&S gjorde fram t.o.m. This is just a modern rocksong Ep'n är fantastiskt. Det går liksom inte att skilja det åt, det kunde varit historiens bästa trippelalbum t.o.m. bättre än Sandinista. Tigermilk är konsekvent, vansinnigt jämn både i kvalité och i hur den låter. Bara Electronic renaissance sticker ut i sitt sound, tillika blir det min favoritlåt bland alla andra. Det är egentligen bara en smakformalitet, det kunde varit The state i am in, We rule the school eller I don't love anyone likagärna, hela plattan är kanonlåtar. Här finns inget att hitta att kritisera. Framförandet, tilltalet, låtarna och indiekontexten allt sitter som en smäck. Det är närmast en perpekt popskiva, beläst, mesig och utan manér eller åthärvor. Måste jag välja väljer jag nog ändå "...sinister" för den känns aningen mer varierad, jag spelar den lite oftare. Men det är ett fullständigt marginellt påpekande Målskillnad till en femna

Det är lätt att glömma vilken bra låt My wandering days are over är. De två första B&S-albumen är så sprängfyllda med fantastiska melodier och historier att det är lätt att missa små mästerverk, placerade som spår 8, trea från slutet. Öppningsspåret The state I am in är däremot en av signaturmelodierna i Belle and Sebastian-katalogen. Med all rätt. Värda att nämna är också You’re just a baby, We rule the school, I don’t love anyone och I could be dreaming.

Den heliga graal. Alla hade hört talas om, men ingen hade hört. Fanns den överhuvudtaget eller var det bara en myt? Så på en skivmässa, kan ha varit 97 eller 98. Plötsligt händer det! Min gode vän Andreas kommer med andan i halsen (nån mobil hade man ju inte). Han har hittat den! Två exemplar av en Tigermilk på bränd piratkopierad cd till minst nypris finns undanlagd hos en av månglarna. Jag tror aldrig jag varit så exalterad över ett skivköp, vare sig förr eller senare. ”If you are feeling sinister” hade ju totalt golvat en. Och så fanns det ett album till som så klart bara måste vara fantastiskt det också. Förväntningarna var skyhöga. Otroligt nog infriades de. Inledande The state im in sätter tonen direkt. En helt underbar popsång. Sen bara fortsätter det. Låt efter låt. B&S styrka ligger inte minst i melodierna. Enkla men enormt medryckande. Produktionen är klockren. Blåsen, en distad gitarr, bassångarna, orgelgroove, allt kommer in på precis rätt ställe. Sen har vi Stuart Murdochs egentligen rätt begränsade röst, men som sitter som fod i håse till B&S sound. Första lysningen för snart 30 år sedan var underbar. Så är den även idag.

”I was suprised, I was happy for a day in 1975” kan vara en av de bästa öppningarna på ett album någonsin. Tigermilk är ett nästintill perfekt album. Har finns bara riktigt bra låtar. Det är bara Electronic Renaissance som faller ur ramen något och mer låter som en demo än ett albumspår. Samtidigt fungerar den låten väl som ett avbrott mellan A- och B-sidan. Trots att det används mängder med instrument finns inte en onödig ton på hela skivan. Och Murdochs högst begränsade röst nyttjas helt rätt hela albumet igenom.

Very folksy

Fine little tunes, probably not going to listen often but a bop or two

Like their later albums better

9/10 Well I used to strongly dislike B&S. I hated that this album was selling for £600. It was a big club that I wasn't part of. I didn't listen to John Peel. I'm not sure I was even aware of him. I was in my Oasis t-shirt and these guys were laughing at me, smoking their french cigarettes with their existential novels, knowing philosophical nods and I was stuck in Devon with losers interested in tractors. Then I went to uni and I pretended that this wasn't actually that good. I sat in a huff at the side of the indie disco. But slowly, yet surely, I came around. I hung out with (slightly) cooler people and I started to enjoy finding out I could be wrong about things. And I was very Wrong about B&S. Hey have excellent lyrics over a style that, to me, is the natural extension of Paul Simon. If Paul was from a Scottish art school. Wonderful.

Not really my taste but I can understand the acclaim. Just kind of bores me.

Very good! Not sure if it would have been a 5 with only one listen-through and yet! I did more than one

I listened to this album once while fighting my way towards The Reacher in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I listened again while standing on a closed roadway directing traffic. What stand out most to me about Tigermilk is the almost fairytale, ethereal feeling it creates: partially through its instrumentation, but mostly through the light and higher-pitched voice of the lead singer. Every song feels like a mystical bedtime story being told to me as I'm drifting off into dreams. There is a poking-fun playfulness in the lyrics which brings a levity to the serious or mature topics discussed across the album. The instrumentals bend around the vocals expertly, giving them quite moments to shine and kicking in with strong catchy hooks when the moment calls for it; there's even a sudden burst of saxophone and horns which punches in at just the right time to boost the experience even higher. Belle & Sebastian which I am surprised I have not heard more about, and I am looking forward to exploring them further as an expansion of this specific subgenre of folksy pop which I am already a fan of, and surely came in the wake of projected like this. Highlights: The State I Am In, Expectations, She's Losing It, You're Just a Baby, I Could Be Dreaming, We Rule the School, My Wandering Days Are Over, I Don't Love Anyone, Mary Jo

Solid 90s indie pop rock

Some B&S songs, I like. Some bit so much. I prefer Dear Catastrophe Waitress. Can be a little samey to the point of tedium.

This was popular in the scenes I was in back in the 90s but I somehow never got around to listening to it. Now, there are a lot of albums about teen angst in the US but the delight of Tigermilk is that it's a very British take on the subject, both lyrically and instrumentally. It's a bit saggy in the middle but the opening and closing sequences are a delight.

I preferred it to If You're Feeling Sinister so an extra point.

Y'know I've given "If You're Feeling Sinister" a lot of tries, but always leave holding onto only Get Me Away I'm Dying. But Tigermilk is super lush, feels like a cloud lullabying me with the evil tales of the world, and I really don't want to say much more because the denseness of some the lyrics hasn't set in, but the singer is quite the storyteller. Also props to Electronic Renaissance, insane to learn that that was made on Cubase in the 90's, that is cool.

Nothing offensive but I just hear a tinny grating annoying sound, and I'd rather silence.

muy chill para mi gusto, medio aburrido lwk

Not really heard much from them before, but a very atmospheric and pleasant listen - really enjoyed it

Pretty ok

Here’s my review from RYM: a lot of super nice cuts off of here! The first three songs are probably the best, though the last three are also great. The only song I really go back to at this point is The State I Am In, which might still be their best song to me. Expectations is a pretty nice song that does what pretty much only their songs do for me, which is tell a story that definitely describes something in my life, but a little bit more left-of-center than others (same thing with Like Dylan In The Movies). She's Losing It has some really well-written moments, and is a pretty fun song at its best. Other noteworthy moments are electronic renaissance, My Wandering Days Are Over, I Don't Love Anyone, and Mary Jo. Best song is still State though, and frankly the only one that should really matter to someone who cares less. 9.4/10

This collection ocasionally rises above itself, but it could use som punk influence - strip this over-orchestrated junk down a bit.

Somehow this is a band that's completely eluded me. I know of them and I'm sure I've heard some of their songs here and there, but I don't recall them specifically. Anyway, this was a pleasant surprise. Enjoyable indie sound throughout, and a generally good record.

A delightful listen and a great accompaniment to my commute. Each track was a pleasant retreat away from the chaos and busy-ness around me. Whilst there was only one track I'd heard before, the other tracks were a great compliment to it. Didn't give it five stars only because there are other albums of theirs which I prefer.

Generationally, definitionally twee. These guys were respected like a motherfucker for a while in the late 90s early 2000s seems like critical consensus has moved on. There are some nice songs/moments.

OK but didn’t fully capture my imagination

4.5? Always a band who I think I'll hate then get surprised how interesting they are. Particularly liked Expectations which feels like a lost Love cut but namechecks Debenhams and C&A

agradable

My first Belle & Sebastian. I have been adjacent to their music for a while but Ive never really listened in earnest. I found myself enjoying it- they seem ahead of their time with the indie rock pop folksy sound. Overall- good album. 3.5/5

2 out of 5. A bit bland but pleasant.

Holy eff so good!

I'd never listened to Belle and Sebastian properly before now. I was glad to see "Tigermilk" come up, but it turns out that I was expecting to like it more than I did. Don't get me wrong. It's grand. I really liked the first two songs on the album. "The State I Am In" builds up from almost silence to something really nice, blending acoustic melodies with layers of electronic textures. "Expectations" use of flamenco-esque acoustic chords and subtle brass in the background actually reminds me a little bit of Neutral Milk Hotel. It lacks the grittiness or brilliance of NMH, but high comparison all the same. "Electronic Renaissance" is by far the most interesting song on the album. I'm not saying it's the best, but it does wake you up, right at the moment you're about to doze off. The intro is the best bit of the track, with all of its wonky weirdness. Everything else is... grand. There's not a lot else going on that grabs my interest. It's decent indie fare, and at times makes me think of the influence they must have had on the likes of The Shins and others, but I'm just not connecting with it fully. It's all a pleasant listening experience, but not the most memorable thing I've heard in a while.

I don't think I know any Belle and Sebastian music. I've always had the impression it's twee jingly jangly indie pop and I don't much care for twee jingly jangly indie pop but let's see... Thoughts as I listen... Hate track 1, Stuart's voice is irritating. Not a good start. Track 2 is good, vocals are more bearable here. I like the lyrics. Track 3 is somewhere inbetween 1 and 2. Sort of just washed over me. Track 4 is very 60s, I don't think I'll be able to remember it in 2 tracks time. Track 5 changes it up which was good but is far too long. Track 6 is too long too, why is it so long? I like Track 7. Still not a fan of the vocals, but this is a nice song. Twee but leaning more nostalgic and sweet. Track 8 is back to being grating Track 9 sounds like most other songs from most other 90s bands. Track 10... Is this a Winters Tale cover? Oh wait no, that's just the start. It's now just the same as most of the other songs. Except the parts that sound like A Winters Tale. OK, I think I had the right idea before listening. I'd give it a 2.5 rounded up to 3 here because it's better than a 2.

Not quite as good as what was to come on Are You Feeling Sinister, but there’s still a lot to like here

I don't know what it is but it has something. Kinda beautiful

Pleasant enough

This band is in one word: special

very pleasent

This was highly enjoyable, although short. The last song was weird with a voice talking over the singing, but overall it was still good.

Nunca he terminado de pillarlo, creo que solo tienen una cancion que me guste, parece un grupo de chicos performativos.

such a cutesy sounding album, the trumpet is a fun touch

i had always assumed that they were a saccharine acoustic coffeeshop duet. delightfully surprised. easy listening in a pretty velvet underground kind of way

A nice album and a decent debut. I think B&S have produced better stuff but this is very listenable. Just about scrapes a 4 for me.

Musically, this was pleasant. However, I couldn't stand the guy's voice and singing style. I can see why hipsters would flock to this stuff, but to someone with good taste in music....not so much.

Light and airy sounds with great harmonies. Real easy listening throughout the album. One o could return to again and again. Really enjoyable listen.

Belle and Sebastian are one of those bands I often enjoy but never really love. Their 1996 debut is a prime example; there’s nothing here that offends me, but equally, there’s nothing the really excites. There’s no doubting their sophistication and lush approach to the indie aesthetic, but it does tend to wash over me, leaving very little in the way of a definite impression of what they’re about. File under pleasant. 5/10

Not my jams

There's been some Belle & Sebastian I've liked over the years, and some here that I definitely enjoyed. I liked the urgency of Expectations, that one is definitely a pretty good song. But unfortunately, most of the back half of the album was pretty slow and forgettable.

My third favorite B&S album. If you’re enjoying this, definitely check out “The Boy with the Arab Strap” and “If You’re Feeling Sinister”

I really enjoy this record. I have a couple of B and S records but this might be my fav I’ve heard.

This is my first time listening to this Belle and Sebastian album. My only prior experience with the group was listening to "If You're Feeling Sinister." And I only listened to that because of this site. As with "If You're Feeling Sinister," this just isn't doing anything for me. The music is kind of boring, and the singer also sounds bored of the music.

Flutes! Best song: I don't love anyone

whatever. an inoffensive, bland, middle of the road 3 out of 5, maybe even ventures into 2.5 territory bc of how much I don’t care for the lead singer’s voice

Why is this album on this list? It doesn't stand out in any way besides being painfully mediocre! How does this get on the list but not incredibly influential bands like Sublime or half of SOAD's discography (I'm aware they have Self-titled but it's like their second worst album so it really shouldn't imo)!!

niche

1996 was a wild year for indie music, apparently. I know Modest Mouse and Neutral Milk Hotel both put out their debuts in 1996. Compared to those, I don't see a whole lot with this album. I can hear its influence in a lot of bands I listen to because I grew up listening to gay Tumblr music, but I'd still rather listen to Tally Hall or Lemon Demon over this band. It had its moments, though. I was a big fan of the instrumentation in Expectations and We Rule the School is a wonderfully emotional song, but as a whole the album is decent. My inner Tumblr Gay™ can absolutely appreciate this album's place in history no matter how I feel about it and it'll probably be one of those albums I forget about and come back to a year later and think it's a masterpiece. Totally unrelated, but why did they decide to make the woman on the cover completely naked except for her watch? I don't know why that's what caught my eye on the album cover, but it's just weird for a watch to be the only thing on her.

Probably deserves better but I'm just a little tired of the indie rock rn

The State I Am In 3.7 Expectations 3.3 She's Losing It 3.6 You're Just a Baby 4 Electronic Renaissance 3.5 I Could Be Dreaming 3.4 We Rule the School 3.3 My Wandering Days Are Over 3.5 I Don't Love Anyone 3.5 Mary Jo 3.4 Score: 3.52

The album was sneaky sonically as each song felt unique in a way that some previous album did not. Definitely some good songs but an album that is greater than the sum of its parts.

I went through several emotions with this. I went from "this is really good!" to "well it's actually just okay" to "okay I don't think I like this after all". And then I went back again. So I....... guess it's pretty good? It probably just isn't my thing.

it's alright, cursed album cover though Will I listen to again: 17%

kinda vibey, but not outstanding

WTF is that cover. Very much fine musically. 2.4.

Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5

Good easygoing wispy indie stuffs, strongest at the start but the rest is nice too

This is another 3 to 3.5 for me. I've only ever liked a little Bell & Sebastian, as most of their music falls flat for me. It feels lifeless and even some of the wit gets lost among a lot of the music that really feels too tame and unchallenging. That being said, I can respect some of what they were doing at the time they started and some clever lyrics and songwriting. It just doesn't truly impress.

As a whole album it felt a bit one note to me. The songs were all quite similar. I think I would enjoy listening to the songs singularly as opposed to collectively. 3/5

Grrreat

okay!

When it started I thought oh no a dirge but the track picked up and I really enjoyed it. Next few tracks were really enjoyable too in a waterboys sort of way. Then it slowly went downhill and by the end Id had enough. Pleasant surprise though

It's not bad, but far too tame for my tastes. There's nothing about it. His lisp got annoying after a while though, and I got bored around halfway through. It was fine to wake up to, but I won't be listening again.

interesting and enjoyable

Like nursery rhymes or old kid show intros. Very light

Adoeo Belle & Sebastian, e esse álbum é espetacular, adicionei diversas músicas em minhas playlists e é muito relaxante de se ouvir.

It's decent. Calm, nothing groundbreaking, but they play very well and have a good sound. It's not going to blow you mind but it will calm your nerves.

attitude of gratitude for this

Well that's 42 minutes I will never get back. The very definition of unremarkable.

Very good spangly indie pop. Similar to 10,000 Maniacs and the Sundays of the same period. Will listen again. 4

More diverse than I thought

indie pop music from scotland. it had a very limited release when it first came out, but several years later it got a proper rerelease. lyrics are warm, fuzzy, and nostalgic. this music is very classy. with the little band playing and sometimes lofi synths chiming in with the music... this is an album that's very easy on the listener's ears. if i were to put into words when it comes to this album's sound... it's like a middle school journal. it's rough, a little dusty, but it invokes countless memories and as soon as you open the pages, you get lost in the writing from your younger self.

It was ok. Nothing really that interesting. Standout song: Shes losing it

I do not like this

Belle and Sebastian recogieron el testigo de losmás sensibñes grupos de los 80 (Smiths, Aztec Camera, Prefab Sprout, Patesl y obviamente Felt) y del espíritu de Donovan o Nick Drake para trasladarlo a unos 90 llenos de medianías. Este debut condensa todo su sonido, si bien yo les descubrí en el siguiente, el excelente If you´re feeling sinister. Igual de bueno que el tercero donde ya iba ganando protagonismo, para bien, Isobel Campbell. El cuarto Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant, criticado por no mantener el mismo nivel, a mi me parece muy muy bueno. Luego ya con The Life Pursuit recuperaron el nivel con el que para mi es su mejor disco, y fueron perdiendo fuelle desde entonces, pero con discos que para sí querrían la mayoría de bandas. Abren con el clásico The state that i am, siguen con otros tres temas igual de buenos: Expectations, She's Losing It, You're Just A Baby Sorprenden, mucho y para bien, con Electronic Renaissance, que podría ser de M83 o MGMT. I Could Be Dreaming es una joya por descubrir, brillante de principio a fin. We Rule The School vuelve al tono general, delicado y preciosista, íntimo. My Wandering Days Are Over suena a los Belle and Sebastian de toda la vida, aquí tenemos su sonido condensado en una canción. Stu no tiene una gran voz, pero sí muy identificable. I Don't Love Anyone en clave acústica y el cierre celestial con Mary Jo hacen un Disco Enorme, pase y escuchen. Y no hemos hablado de su colección de sencillos, caras B, EPs y toda la orfebrería a la que nos tenían acostumbrados la flor y nata del indie ochentero.

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.

Very boring. Didn’t have anything standing out and I would say sub par

Inoffensive and boring. That's all I can offer about this.

As a 90s metalhead, I despised B&S and everything they stood for. Well, I was wrong wasn't I? Intensely crafted, poetic lyrics. Beautiful instrumentation and arrangements, melodies and chords that are both catchy and stick with you. I'm right on the 4/5 borderline. Will go 4, simply because most of my favourite B&S songs are on other albums, and nothing grabbed me quite as much as the opener, but this is a delight after some very middling albums. Actually, sod it, 5 - because I'm sure this will keep rewarding multiple listens.

i thought i would hate this and i was very wrong

Favourite Track: She’s losing it Not my thing on my first listen but I may try and give it another go.

I really didn’t know what to expect going into this, but I was pleasantly surprised. A nice little album from front to back … inoffensive, well written, catchy in places. Yeah, nice little album. Not one that I feel would ever change my life, but it’s certainly been a nice little burst of positivity on a rainy February morning.

Really good

I love this album

Not even my favorite B&S record but it was a joy to listen to this today.

Boring and mediocre. I don’t get the love for this. 2

Don’t like the sound or the lyrics. Not my jam

Fantastic

achei que seria um sonífero, mas até que tem umas músicas bacanas.

This isn't for me. It's too poppy, too simple. Some folks seem to like their lyrics, but I can't be arsed to look them up or listen enough to get them all. It's just not fun or interesting music. I think they were popular at the time because a lot fo bands that sound just like this were popular at the time. Calling it a 2 and leaving it behind.

Thoughts before listening: Twee pop band from Scotland I believe. I dont know them all that well, but I do typically enjoy their songs when I hear them. I think this is their second album I've heard on this project, and I liked the first one quite a bit. Review: This is okay, but not as good as the other B&S album on here. There's a little of the Smiths/REM jangle, some pre-psychedelic 60s rock melodies, and it's all sung with hushed, whisper vocals. I like the first half of the album better than the second which loses me a bit. Overall, this is fine, but I can't give it more than 3-stars.

3.5

5/10 Pleasant background music but should not be on the list.

I like it - it’s a lovely album to listen too

I've listened to most of their albums before starting this 1001 project. It's B&S, so of course it's good. I enjoy a couple of their albums more, but this is a solid debut. 3.25/5.

It's weird. The lyrics are sometimes like Fleetwood Mac but the music is more like… some kiddy band my parents used to put on in the car. Not my thing.

This is their debut album, but when it was first released in 1996, only 1,000 copies were pressed. It wasn’t until 1999 that a larger label picked it up and gave it a proper re-release. Overall, it’s classic chamber pop, and Belle and Sebastian are definitely one of the flag bearers for the genre.

Beautiful record. Timeless.

I appreciate that Belle and Sebastian have their own sound - not quite like anything else we've listened to on this project, though not massively unique. Listening to this, I liked it but don't think it's anything I would go back and listen to again. Just not my thing.

This album had some ok moments ... more like 2.5 stars for me ... but not enough interest to push it to 3!

Excellent

For being released in 1996, this album gave me similar vibes to that of the indie folk genre that was really popular in the early 2010s (Lumineers-esque). My favorite track was "She's Losing It"

I did like how the songs really jumped around style wise

This album is *pretty* but otherwise really not for me

An unknown band brought to light by the 1001 Must Hear List, this is what it’s all about! Tigermilk is a great debut from Belle & Sebastian, quirky, jaunty, and original alt pop that catches you right away. (3.8*s) Evidently I’m liking the Scots.

This is a way too soft and wimpy. Makes Simon and Garfunkel sound like hardcore metal. Not bad strings and trumpet here and there but good god I'm sleepy. "Electronic Renaissance" and "My Wandering Days Are Over" picked it up a bit and saved it from getting a lower score than Sex Packets. With 6 artists making up the band you would expect more from a record. Maybe it's just Murdoch on lead vocals...Lou Reed on Ambien. How is this a must listen before I die? 1.23 stars.

Not sure what to say about Tigermilk. The music was relatively pleasant. At the same time it was pretty minimalistic and I don't see it having any staying power in my mind. I guess I enjoyed the listen but at the same time I can't ever see myself thinking about going back to revisit this. A couple songs I enjoyed, but an hour after listening to it I'm not sure I could tell you the name of a single one. Tigermilk, and Belle & Sebastian by extension, feels like an OK indie pop album that would have a song featured in a popular indie movie that falls out of the cultural zeitgeist or doesn't age well and gets lost to time (maybe like Garden State?). Even if it has its moments, when the dust settles it ends up as a middle of the pack entry. 2.55 stars

Excelente. Este álbum exala uma energia jovial imensa. Não confunda jovial com imaturo, as composições aqui são de fato maduras, realistas, adultas. Mas as temáticas possuem em si uma jovialidade contagiante, o tipo de música que te faz levantar e dançar feito idiota sem motivo algum. Um estilo de ‘Baroque Pop’ que me agrada profundamente, semelhante à grupos como Beach Boys ou duplas como Simon & Garfunkel. Vocais sussurrados, instrumentalizações simples e letras comoventes e mordazes. A única falha deste disco é sua duração, pois vamos combinar que exposição prolongada desse tipo de música pode irritar gravemente. Não chega a ser o caso aqui, mas foi por pouco, acredito que sua primeira metade seja bem mais forte que a segunda. É um álbum com canções mais lentas e monótonas e outras mais animadas e eletrônicas, sempre mantendo sua atenção. E vale a pena prestar atenção, gostei bastante das letras deste álbum, algo que eu não costumo notar. Enfim, uma ótima estréia de uma banda tremendamente charmosa e confortável. 4.5/5

Good listen. Strong 60s vibes revisited in the 90s. Strong VU and Nico influence.

Om

Top Songs: Expectations You're Just A Baby My Wandering Days Are Over

The music was quite pleasant. However, there wasn't a single track that made me want to listen to it again. The whole album hovered between nice and boring. 3/5

God I love this band so much, and it's a joy to hear such a well-developed debut album. Like it isn't as good as their 2nd or even 3rd releases, but my God it's super impressive to have a identifiable and clear sonic identity right from the get-go. And the writing is so delightful, Stuart Murdoch creates these worlds for the sad and misfits of life but pairs these outcasts with a cheerful and amazingly catchy melodies. Yeah this is just so wonderful. It's a bittersweet feeling, like walking around an old hometown where you moved away from, or going back to your university after graduating and remembering all those good old days. 22/01/26

4 stars; wasn't crazy about them the first time i heard the sinister album, but they've grown on me a lot. abby liked dancing to the horns with her arms up!

Always wanted to give this band a try and glad to be able to finally listen. Liking what I’m hearing. I need to pay a bit more attention to the lyrics, hoping not too depressing. Never would’ve guessed Scottish…

I love Belle and Sebastian. While Tigermilk is a good album, I definitely prefer their sophomore effort, If You’re Feeling Sinister.

If there's one thing that I learned when I still a child it's to take up hiding.

2/5 fav song: electronic renaissance it was okay, had good elements but not the best thing i’ve ever listened to

Murdoch is a killer lyricist right out the gate, and although I’m not consistently convinced by his vocals at this stage in the game (I know he eventually sounds a bit stronger), I don’t think they’re a massive turnoff either. Highlights for me on first listen are “The State I Am In”, “You’re Just a Baby”, “I Could Be Dreaming”, “My Wandering Days Are Over”, and “I Don’t Love Anyone”. This is an album that I can see rising in estimation for me if I end up becoming a fan of this group as a whole. 3.5/5

Favourite Songs: She's Losing It My Wandering Days Are Over

I liked this. I wish I could do 3.5 stars.

Langweilig 🥱

Pretty good! I think the upbeat tones of the music worked well in the broad scheme of things.

And I thought I liked Belle and Sebastian before

Meh

Pretty good and entertaining! If I had grown up listening to this band, it would likely be 5 stars. I will say it didn't quite have enough sticking power for me to give it full marks, but it was good enough that I will likely go back to it and maybe eventually give it a 5. But for now.

A pretty chill listen with some nice moments. Not a lot that stood out above the crowd but I still enjoyed it well enough.

Liked Songs: - Expectations - We Rule the School Intriguing vibe and style, but just kind of boring and too similar

This album is really boring at times. I did not think I would like this and, even though some songs were nice (and with beautiful arrangements too), they were a very small part of a not that nice overall. In general, the album lacks of having some kind of hook. It just kicks off with a very bland song and goes on an on repeating the same kind of music. For me, it is a very uninteresting music. I do not get anything much of my like, the delivery does not feel much impressive for me and I cannot find a single song that makes me love it, so, even if there are some nice songs, they are not that great for me to think this album deserves a bit of a much in depth listening. With one is enough. And it is not that this album is bad, but it is not of my taste, definitely.

A surprising four-star performance, although I admittedly might be rounding up because of the album art.

Pretty chill music but probably not something I would revisit

I feel like a Alex g fan will absolutely love this album and I liked it, I don't know if I'll listen to songs from this album, but overall it was good

Admittedly, I judged a book by its cover so I was wary, I actually liked it more than I thought I would. It felt very 70s imo but in a good way, I saved 6/10 songs so 3 stars ⭐️

Very forgettable. 2.5/5

It was fine background music, but I don’t really understand why it was on this list.

Open your mouth and sing. Stop trying to sound cool

Finally some good fuckin songs!!!!! I forgot how much I liked this album and it's full of funky little 90s indie tunes. How nostalgic can you even get??? I DON'T LOVE ANYONE...WELL MAYBE MY SISTER. like yeah, that's exactly how you feel as a teen, like 100% spot on. Other than pure nostalgia, it's also just a decently interesting album with fun synthy twinkles and distortion... also lovely Scottish spoken word overlays - I think I skipped those bits as a teen but now I'm like.. nice one, SPEAK, GIRL. 10/10 (/4*s lol)

I mean, this was catnip as a sad sad angsty 14 year old, I still know this album back to front. Re-listening as an adult, yeah some of it is way too twee for a 31-year-old palette, but you know what a lot of it holds up, particularly the more experimental synthy bits and when they kick up the energy a bit with the guitar

Reminds me of Sufjan Stevens, quite good

Оно, конечно, и не раздражает, но и не вызывает абсолютно никаких эмоций.

A really beautiful album

This record, as far as I've listened to it, is perhaps not quite as precious as I figured it would be. Although that's not to say that it's not cutesy or precious at all; it certainly does hit some of those notes. But it is a bit less obnoxious than I anticipated. I do enjoy some of the pop hooks, but I'm also a little annoyed that the record never really moves out of any folksy, hipster patterns of songsmanship. I also enjoy the thoroughly Scottish accent, but the artist does lean on that aspect of the music pretty hard. For me, I think I'd rather just listen to Frightened Rabbit to get my Scot fix and not have to wrestle with the precious aesthetic here so much. 3/5

It's interesting. I enjoyed the variety of style from song to song, but the overall tone stayed mostly the same.This is not something that I would ever intentionally listen too.

Oh, I didn’t like that at ALL. Whiney to my ears.

Tight album and very sweet with the sound

é um debut bão viu eu gosto d+ de belle & sebastian puta merda

indie pop de melhor qualidade aqui. não tem jeito, eh bão demais e poucas bandas conseguem ser igual, apesar de ser simples! eu gosto MUITO deles, viu. não sei se eh nostalgia ou o quê. mas eh doideira que teoricamente eh tudo que eu mais tenho preguiça de escutar, eh calmim demais. mas eh tão bão...... dito isso, só não é 5 porque não eh o if you're feeling sinister.

Need to give it another listen. I felt like I was listening to VU. Some catchy songs but didn't love anything in particular.

Inte hemskt att lyssna på men liiiite trist

Mysigt! Inget som direkt överraskar eller sticker ut idag men ett album som jag gärna lyssnar på och känns som en inspiration för mycket som kommit efter.

Härlig känsla rätt igenom!

Trevligt mjukt sound!

I actually really like the vibe of this band, and actually found Expectations good. But otherwise, I found the rest of the tracks rather lacking. I liked another track but from a completely different album. I don't know, this was fine but I couldn't be bothered with the songs.

I love the album If You're Feeling Sinister and for years I tried to like anything else by them and it never happens. On this record, the vibe is very poppy but it doesn't have the requisite hooks to pull it off.

A little too twee for me.

You took a sausage out of the freezer and have time to kill while it thaws so you throw on this album while you have a shower. You work on perfectly aligning your head under the stream so it flows over both ears cutting out all other sounds, but you remember you're supposed to be listening to this album so later that evening you start it again from the beginning to hear what you missed. You missed nothing.

This album was amazing, the lyrics were engaging and different to how lyrics are used now. If the eagles, bauhaus and bowie had a secret music love child. 100% recomend .

How does this sound so modern

sise, prevelke pa vise :( omot i kafansku šaljivdžijskost na stranu, ovo je odlično i sad mi je toliko žao zašto nisam na svoju inicijativu slušao, a V. mi je puštala. usb, smiješno automobilsko sučelje kojim kao suvozač tu-i-tamo baratam. zažmirim dok slušam i eto me u tom malom crveno-bijelom autu, na varaždinskim ulicama, na putu do virja, u možda naj-suncem-obasjanijim uspomenama koje uzgajam. bilo, prošlo, umrlo, a ipak... nevjerojatno koliko glazba može uskrisiti. osjećam nekakvu sretnu sjetu, sjetnu sreću dok ovo slušam. možda zbog mojih asocijacija, a možda i ne. u svakom slučaju na mene djeluje upravo kako glazba uopće i treba da djeluje. dobit će lijepu peticu od mene, premda su mi peta i šesta stvar nešto slabije. ko ga jebe. najbolja mi je možda "expectations", al sve su osim maločas spomenutih manje-više nedorasle a samostalne divotice

The musical aspects of this album were very nice, with the guitar, drums, flute and other instruments creating an upbeat rhythm that I’m sure would be fun to play. The lyrics, however, were pretty weird. They were the kind of things that I might be embarrassed to sing in public, which is not a good look for this album. Overall, I enjoyed it, but there were a few things missing that prevented it from being a “good” album. A high 3.

About half of the tracks had really good music with bad lyrics. About half had pretty boring music with bad lyrics. High 3. Favorite Track: The State I Am In

curti

padrão, foca mais em contar histórias pessoais do que em melodia. a mais diferente é eletronic renaissance. não é ruim de escutar, mas nada revolucionário também.

I was put off right off the bat as his soft, indie voice floated onto the first track… but I was quite quickly won over actually. That first track has something about it – and basically all later tracks have some kind of thing about them, be it a good melody or an interesting use of instrumentation or something else. The second track brings in violins and trumpets, but there’s also great use of synths as well. The whole thing is upbeat and fun. Part of my brain is worried about being outed as a ‘twee’ indie-rock enjoyer, but screw it. I have to give this some real credit for being such a diverse, creative album, and also a very listenable one. 3.5 rounded up.

This album is so heavenly. It’s just so soft and adorable but it still manages to have some really great creativity to it. Also I think this album really shows that having 30 people on stage has some advantages sonically. It feels like they really did everything they could inside this album. Like as if they built a box and bounced off all the walls at their own pace and it’s refreshing. This album didn’t become my new fascination, but I did listen to it on repeat several times cause I just enjoyed being in this album, it feels warm and the music feels excited to see you.

I already know I like this group and there are a couple songs on this album that are in my top tracks of 1996 playlist. "The State I Am In" stands a good chance of being in my top 500 favorite tracks of all time. Currently I have it ranked at 23 for 1996. The album as a whole is pretty decent but not something I would actively seek out to listen to in it's entirety. I would give it 3 out of 5 stars most likely.

Sweet and savory

I haven't heard anything about this band, I'm going in fresh. The state I am in - lowkey gives Mountain Goats and Angus and Julia stone vibes a little 😛, I'm a sucker for indie music so I find this rlly catchy, lowkey I'm also getting Paper Kites (like they're more recent stuff) Expectations - more upbeat, lowkey kinda ska maybe a little bit idk 🤷‍♀️, I rlly like the addition of the strings later, and trumpet ???? okkk!! this one is nice :) She's losing it - ok snaps, just in general this is a nice chill listen, the trumpets are back !! (me in another life 😛), I like the layering as the song goes, it keeps building You're just a baby - more upbeat, I like that the drums come in slightly later, ok claps, still rlly good but I think I just prefer some other songs over this one, ok it's growing on me a bit Electronic renaissance - ok electronic, idk how I feel about it tho tbh 😬, actually a bop nvm I take it back I'm sorry I doubted you, maybe cuz it's lowkey 80s a little bit so that's why I like it now 😛 I could be dreaming - the paper kites are back, the background synth bits are a nice touch, I also like the guitar riffs very catchy :), yes lalalalalassss We rule the school - the piano is a nice switch from the guitar, nvm the guitar is back lol, this one is very pleasant, very calming and relaxing, ok flutes My wandering days are over - this one is also rlly nice, more upbeat but more fun kind of, sounds like a song for characters in a movie going on a journey montage sorta thing I don't love anyone - yes strong guitar, this sounds like opening of teen movie montage of them getting ready for school, also more upbeat but still enjoyable 😛 Mary jo - FLUTE IS BACK, bruh I keep saying they're all enjoyable cuz they all are, I hear those strings again 👀, ok guitar break kind of, wow great album OVERALL: I also already listen to a lot of indie music, so it wasn't a surprise that I would like this album, it reminded me of a lot of other indie artists that I enjoy but it was still slightly different from them, lowkey I was just enjoying the songs instead of thinking what to write about them so that probs says how much I liked it 🤷‍♀️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5

Not offensive, but just kind of a waste of time. Like each new song kicks in, and the instrumentation and production sounds decent enough, but the lyrics and vocals leave much, MUCH, to be desired. Never changes style, never actually "sings", and doesn't have the grit, insight, humour, or distinction to be interesting.

Really liked: I could be dreaming You’re just a baby

I love the sound from this band. They remind me a lot of the Kinks, in the singing and storytelling within the songs. I'm excited to hear more from this band. Standout Tracks: Expectations, She's Losing It, My Wandering Days Are Over.

Snooze

Catchy chamberpop with a series of songs that make you smile. As an album essentially thrown together by a group of musicians also thrown together the songs are surprisingly lively with Murdoch’s vocals a little thin but not unpleasant. It is easy to see why this record was an indie hit. While not sonically impressive, it doesn’t really matter as the songwriting is so strong. Essentially this was Scotland’s answer to the Chills.

To start with a positive note, I like this album - I like this band. Songs are cozy and charming. Unlucky, despite wanting to say that I notice the evolution that “Belle and Sebastian” has experienced album after album, that’s not the case. Each album sounds like the previous one. Maybe that’s my only rant.

Boring

It’s fine. I hate not having half stars. It just means pretty crappy and pretty good get the same goddamn rating.

Es bien! Tranquilero y melódico

Fairly average 90s folkish-rock. A few standout songs and makes me want to hear the band’s later albums, but I wouldn’t call it essential.

The state im in is a great opening song and a career highlight. However the rest although passable fare errs very strongly on the wrong side of twee. An acquired taste.

Has a song from the Juno soundtrack. Have to be in the mood for this

It's fine, won't be listening again. Lyrics are more interesting than the melodies. 3/5.

If your Spotify Wrapped says that you're into "Twee Millennial Indie Pop That Was Probably Used In An Episode Of Scrubs Or A Mumblecore Movie", then this is probably your favorite artist. You also may actually be Zach Braff himself.

I hated this.

Fan-fucking-tastic!!!! Sheer genius! Stewpot & company shine on this amazing debut album!

coffee shop music (no offense)

Decent album.

Second album proposé après 'If You're Feeling Sinister' que j'avais détesté (noté 1/5 - totalement inintéressant, je n'avais même pas réussi à aller au bout). Ce nouvel album part donc avec un certain désavantage ... Cette fois j'ai terminé l'album. Les morceaux sont assez dynamiques, donc un peu moins lassants. Et sur quelques morceaux on a un chorus de trompette plutôt réussi (+1), par exemple dans 'My Wandering Days Are Over'. Ce n'est pas suffisant pour me donner envie d'y revenir. =>2/5

they have better ones

A high 3 for me

Decent, gentle album. Mostly pleasant but nothing in here is particularly exciting. Favorites: The State I Am In,

This was my first time hearing Belle and Sebastian. I never knew it's not a duo. Nice style! I especially liked the songs with the trumpet. Interesting voice. It's almost androgynous.

Lugn

Interesting. I liked the melodies.

A bit wishy washy but nearly a 4 as folk like a bit of wishy washy. The intimate narrative of the songs is outstanding and definitely should be in the list.

Meh

2.0 - Weak

A mix of really interesting stuff and fading into the background. I think if we have a second listen or so, this could be something that I grow to love. 8/10

Album #1: Tigermilk - Belle and Sebastian. Genre (according to Wikipedia): Indie pop, chamber pop Singles?: No. Have you heard any songs from this album or group before? No. Thoughts?: Right now, the album sounds like songs I’d hear in a coffee shop. Not that it’s a bad thing, it’s a relaxing experience. I love the chamber pop influences, I think that’s contributing to its “coffee shop” sound. This album may not have the staying power of other albums, but it is decent enough background music. As for the lyrics, they’re pretty good, but again, the vocals are buried within the mix and this becomes coffee shop music. Favorite songs: The State I Am In, Electronic Renaissance As a writer, what can you use this music for when honing your craft?: I could potentially use the album for rainy days, based on the titular Apple Music playlist. Also, because of its laidback indie pop status, I could use it for specific scenes, particularly ones inside coffee shops (see a theme here?). File correlations: Files #007-009: Tallis Tales, Silvercrest Services (depends on the scenes), Force Devils (Mainly Brent and Bianca focused).

Mellow vibes

Whatever. It's okay but kind of generic and boring. A few of the executions missed for me too - there was one song where there was talking in the background but it had me wondering if something was playing in a different tab, not that there was talking in the song. 1/5 stars.

It sounds like the part of IKEA where your parents HAVE to browse the furniture. 2/5

Thought they were French the whole time. The fact that they’re not bumps them up a star.

The greatest advert for the benefit of a government scheme that recognises that art and music are worthwhile. Modern politics could never. Leaving aside the (amazing) backstory to this album, let's just focus on the songs themselves. I really think there isn't a weak spot across the whole thing - it opens exceptionally well, probably with as close to a mission statement as Belle and Sebastian ever get. I think it really peaks in the middle, with Electronic Renaissance leading beautifully into I Could Be Dreaming (what a rush the end of that song is by the way). All told, it's just great music, great writing, performed as only they can. The fact it wasn't even the best album they released this year, and yet still gets a perfect score, says quite a lot.

Polite music with a little edge to it 😈

Fav: The State I Am In Least Fav: You’re Just A Baby This is so good I'm kinda lost for words! How do you make every song sound so damn good

To write a Belle & Sebastian song, your lyrics need to qualify be at least two of the following: - about a girl - about childhood - about school - about church - about depression Mix and match these traits about 10 times over, and you get a really good album. 4/5

lovely! loved this. i’ll have to check out the rest of their discography.

The album cover is so???? Either way, I don’t feel any particular way about this album.

Never heard of this group. It's hard to describe this music. Parts are kind of modernized folk-pop and parts seem to be a mash up of Nick Drake and Elvis Costello. Overall, not bad to listen to.

A bit of a mixed bag, but pretty nice.

Thought it was good. Didn’t really get into it too much. Will need to revisit, just wasn’t in the mood for this album when listening

#179/1001. I think this is a beautiful example of a young fresh Independent band showcasing all of their ideas, which for them were fresh and new. This is BS in a way that I’ve never had it before. It did sound like a demo of a band which just came out of the crypt. Fresher than the later ones I’ve heard. OK this was a drunk review, I have to admit. perhaps I was wrong, perhaps I was right, perhaps I was somewhere in the middle.

Fajne

These guys are very good at what they do, though it's not really my thing. The jangly upbeat music contrasts with the grim lyrics about everyday life and its troubles. I enjoyed the listen, and even added one track to my playlists (Expectations). I preferred the TV show.

There's something very special about Belle & Sebastian

great album from a versatile band

this album was officially funded by the scottish government. Look it up

7/10

What a pleasant surprise, I love these opportunities to listen to someone for which I had absolutely no awareness. I really enjoyed this album, thank you for that experience.

Just some good old boppy, enjoyable indie pop rock

If I was a guy that ordered a double Tito's with just a splash of water and essence of lime when everyone else is drinking Busch Light, I'd probably love this album. It has a beautiful well crafted sound, but it feels so pretentious.

good stuff. I enjoyed this album

Very chill indy music done well. Not as strong as the other two albums I have heard from this band.

Some good tracks but too slow for my taste.

The songs just sorta blend into each other in an okay way. Saved a song: N RYM: N

I really enjoy the combination of the retro vibe with modern day lyrics and themes. A strong debut album that didn't sound like the music being produced at the time.

Love Belle and Sebastian, but only in small doses. This album is like being served your favorite meal 12 times in a row. By the 4th time, you start wondering if it’s actually your favorite. By the 12th time…

I like how much ground this record covers; you get unexpected doses of sound. The production feels tight and thoughtful, focusing on the guitar and violin textures. Vocally it leans toward breathy and overly delicate, singing everything as a lullaby. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions The State I Am In Expectations She’s Losing It

Glad to have hear this album.

This one developed unexpectedly from the unassuming start. Another band that toes the line between the morose and the joyful. Didn’t necessarily gel with it but feel I might get there with a repeat listen. Full fat musical expression but a difficult one to digest.

Soft indie band crying over spilt milk. Everything that was bad about the 90's exists here. Electronic renaisance - What is this rubbish it literally asualted my ears. Guitair style really grates for me as its a jolly strumming that just never ends or varies. typical of the genre and time. Best thing about this album is the album cover!

This is a pleasant sounding indie album that stands out amongst it's contemporaries for being more intimate and considered than I'd expect from the mid nineties. I don't think the album would turn many heads if it was released ten to fifteen years after it was but in context it is admirably original. It's a little sickly sweet and some lyrics are a tad too pretentious for my tastes but its a nice, if not ground-breaking, album nonetheless.

This album starts off incredibly strong. The back half is still good, even if not at the same level as the opening 4 tracks. I actively disliked Electronic Renaissance, otherwise I'd happily return to any of these songs.

Enjoyed it. No Arab strap though

Pleasant in places, dull in places. Straight down the middle then.

One of the toughest of their albums to get into as it generally lacks the catchy songs that they would go on to perfect. However, it is still a great listen with some beautifully written songs. Top Track: I Don’t Love Anyone

Catchy not complicated, simplicity done really well, and with their own unique vibe. Just something about it feels like a warm hug. This album has more of an upbeat vibe than some later stuff I’ve heard. So I’ll stick here and enjoy.

Did not enjoy it

I feel like this was slightly more upbeat than their other album on the list. Still a little too slow for me, but it is well made music. Just not something I would go back to. 2.5/5 Probably won't listen again

This is more varied than I would have anticipated from the first song. I like the songs with horns and appreciate the melodies.

Pretty boring but okay as music during another activity. 3 stars or C.

10/10

A good album, I liked You're Just A Baby, Electronic Renaissance, I Could Be Dreaming, I Don't Love Anyone and Mary Jo the most.

The music was happy with vignette stories. However on the first listen it didn't grab my attention. I expect it could on a different day though.

I'm not quite sure what I make of it. It's nice, peculiar in a good way. Low 3 I think

My favourite Belle & Sebastian

Better than their second album in my opinion

I like Belle & Sebastian in this preppy, peppy, low key energetic mode. They have great songwriting chops and even on this debut have a unique, instantly recognisable sound which is theirs alone and still intact today. My favourite of their records, Dear Catastrophe Waitress, amps up the silliness and theatricality in a way that I always crave elsewhere across their discography. I could always handle them being slightly more unhinged!

Belle and Sebastian in with another 4 for me, a lower one than If You’re Feeling Sinister which may have risen to a low 5 for me, going to re-evaluate now

should’ve paid a bit closer attention but liked it

I’m not totally studied on the history of alt pop but this feels ahead of its time. Fun to listen to but almost nothing jumped out at me. 3.5

Didn't have much of an impact on me either way. Album cover is awkward though

Plutôt sympa mais rien choquant

moauiiifff

La cover de salopard Un peu trop mou à mon goût mais bon mood

I think some later B&S albums are even better (Sinister, Arab Strap), but this still an amazing debut, and an easy five stars

This is outstanding. But not their best.

Belle and Sebastian were big on the “Juno” soundtrack which I listened to for some reason when the movie came out. Teenage angst music for gay kids? Songwriting is pretty good and some of the songs are catchy but it kind of seems like the same song 12 different ways. I didn’t hate it by any means but it’s nothing I’ll be coming back to. 2.5

2.0 Liked the titties, didnt like the songs

Belle and Sebastian was an integral part of my courtship with my partner. Their albums were on frequent rotation as we sipped wine and got to know each other. Twenty-five years and two kids later, we still both smile when we put them on. Sometimes nostalgia is an integral part of how we all experience music. This band makes music that makes me happy. Tigermilk is the debut album from the band with an origin story that is wild enough that Pitchfork made a documentary about it. Pop is not typically my main jam, but Belle and Sebastian grabbed me from the first time I stumbled across their music accidentally while attending a music festival shortly after its release. This album is full of catchy tunes with arrangements unique enough to be interesting. The lyrics are smart and often moving, sometimes witty, and the singing is gorgeous. Some have likened the music to a more upbeat version of The Smiths, which is apt. The entire album is remarkably cohesive, especially considering that it was recorded over three days at a time when the band was not even fully realized. It still holds up for me almost 30-years later. If you like this album and were previously unfamiliar, I strongly recommend it follow up, If You're Feeling Sinister, released shortly afterwards. 9/10. A great album, but the rating includes a personal bias bump because I love my wife more every day and this album reminds me of where it all began.

Fantastic album...love B&S. This one is honestly bangers front to back. 4.5/5

love B&S - not my favorite of their albums though

Inoffensive - not something I'd rush back to listen to but happy to have it on in the background

This is their debut album, but when it was first released in 1996, only 1,000 copies were pressed. It wasn’t until 1999 that a larger label picked it up and gave it a proper re-release. Overall, it’s classic chamber pop, and Belle and Sebastian are definitely one of the flag bearers for the genre.

Simon and Garfunkel for Fedora wearing Brits

103 Un día, chata de estar escuchando pura música que me carga en este challenge, decidí que iba a saltarme la lista de discos y poner este disco porque tenía hartas amigas a las que les gustaba esta banda y... meh. Sorry. Tuvo momentos entretenidos, no lo odio, pero...meh?

Oh yeah. What a treat. From the first note, absolute class.

was a good background album but found it boring

I liked it a lot

This was good. Chill and solid work.

112/1001 Belle and Sebastian - Tigermilk Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❎ Twee Scottish indie is not the one.

One of my all time faves

Belle and Sebastian walked so Sufjan Stevens could run. There is a ton to like about this album and the more you listen to it the better it gets. “I Don’t Love Anyone” is a seriously underrated track. A great songwriter, Murdoch is not quite a strong enough singer to carry this off himself though. Very good, almost great.

youre such a baby baby girl

Sounds childish.

Twee as fuck and yet still one of my favourite albums. For the most part, this are simple vignettes set to a back beat that canters amiably behind the words. The exception is Electronic Renaissance, which is like being at a terrifying rave. If this album was a cardigan, it would have a front zip, leatherette elbow patches and pockets. It’s got couthy charm, loose arrangements and a massive debt to Donovan. Love it!

the state i am in- 5 expectations- 5 shes losing it- 5 youre just a baby- 5 electronic renaissance- 5 i could be dreaming- 5 we rule the school- 5 my wandering days are over-5 i dont love anyone- 5 mary jo- 5 ok