Dear Catastrophe Waitress - Belle & Sebastian
Dear Catastrophe Waitress Image
Metascore
79 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.7 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 36 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Summary: The veteran Scottish band's first album for Sanctuary (after a long run on Matador Records) is also their first without singer/cellist Isobel Campbell. The 12 tracks here were produced by Trevor Horn.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 25
  3. Negative: 1 out of 25
  1. Uncut
    100
    By far the strongest collection of songs the band have ever assembled. [Nov 2003, p.114]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Dot Music
    80
    It's a rich, bright, clever and engaging album that should trash those lame prejudices against Belle & Sebastian once and for all.
  3. Under The Radar
    60
    This bold misstep is evidence that even the greatest bands on the planet occasionally display mortal chinks in the artistic armor. [#5, p.98]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Playlouder
    20
    This is a dog of an album, by anyone's standards, but if you play it next to 'If You're Feeling Sinister', which we did, then it is the sort of dog that shits all over the kitchen and has constant mange.

See all 25 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. cupofbeans
    10
    An absolute gem of an album without any weaknesses. A pop album of the very highest quality and perhaps the moment when Belle and Sebastian finally delivered and came of age. I can't recommend it highly enough. The production by Trevor Horn has to be recognised as playing a big part in turning a good pop group into a great one with this album.… Collapse
  2. time
    10
    Another flawless effort.
  3. bend
    8
    not nearly as good as if you're feeling sinister or the boy with the arab strap. the melancholy from those albums is absent and it sounds a bit sugary. however, it does have the ability to grow on you and is actually a very solid record despite this.… Expand
  4. Vampire25
    7
    Dear Catastrophe Waitress has to be the most experimental Belle Sebastian record. From the lyrics to the instrumentation to even the vocals, everything seems tinkered with in a way. All In All, I enjoyed this record, but it will never top "If You're Feeling Sinister"… Expand

See all 27 User Reviews

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