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Belle and Sebastian
The BBC Sessions
Campus Correspondent CD review by Alyssa Vincent,
North Central College
Belle and Sebastian are one of the most dependable bands on the scene today. Perhaps this stems from the fact that since 1996, when the band first formed, they’ve steadily released album after album of fantastic tracks. That kind of consistency is admirable and quite comforting in the erratic music world. The BBC Sessions, which compiles unreleased recordings from 1996-2001, doesn’t stray from that stability.
The guitar portion on “Wrong Love” is charmingly simple and will inspire the sing-along impulse in anyone who takes a listen. While it’s nearly impossible to pick just one song that demonstrates their lyrical capabilities, “Wrong Love” is certainly up there as a highlight. The band manages to be poetic and insightful, but never obnoxiously verbose. They write and sing with characteristic honesty.
The second disc, which includes recordings from a live show in Belfast in 2001, includes a rollicking rendition of “Me and the Major.” It’s hard to make this song sound any better than it already is, but thanks to impromptu harmonica solos, it comes close to attaining pop perfection. These discs are a must for any Belle and Sebastian fan, but won’t serve as the best introduction to this band’s sound for virgin listeners. Haven’t heard much Belle and Sebastian? Start with If You’re Feeling Sinister to get a better idea of their tone before checking out these sessions.
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