- Record Label: Matador / Rough Trade
- Release Date: Feb 7, 2006
User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 120 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 109 out of 120
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Mixed: 7 out of 120
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Negative: 4 out of 120
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Jun 11, 2013
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Apr 1, 2012
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JTRJul 2, 2007It's always nice to be reminded why you love a band. This is such a solid album, so full of joy, wit, and inspiration.
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RGMar 29, 2007great b & s album, they have been on a downhill slump, dear catastrophee was ok ( loved i m a cuckoo) but this is looking back at a great age of pop and making great pop for today. they are very comfortable with themselves, and i think dear castrophee helped with that. def their best album since if you are feeling sinister
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GuyJan 4, 2007Best album of the year hands down.
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BrendanDDec 27, 2006
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DDec 19, 2006They made it!
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ReubenFDec 18, 2006
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ArikKDec 11, 2006The pop melodies are well crafted and well produced. The lyrics are amazing and fit extremely well, and the album as a whole flows together incredibly. Probably one of my favorite albums this year.
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ScottEOct 18, 2006Not their best overall, but certainly better than anything since Sinister -- the above reviews have it right.
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MattAAug 27, 2006It's not nearly as bold or compelling as other pop indie rock albums (such as Of Montreal's Sunlandi Twins), and it seems like a step back to the sunshiney fluff of The Beach Boys from decades before. For what it's worth, the album sounds great even if it's fairly forgettable in comparison to much bolder Indie efforts this year.
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timeAug 8, 2006Score another point for the greatest indie band in the world.
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MarioPJun 29, 2006
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JaimeZMay 23, 2006The first B&S that made me smile for an hour or two....Morrissey meet The Monkees in a summer resort.
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kickstandMay 16, 2006Features the best song ever written about laundry ... what more can you ask for?
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AaronQApr 28, 2006Solid pop record. Makes me want to explore the band's entire catalog.
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TomBApr 28, 2006Without a doubt, B&S's best album. I really liked this when it came out, and now I utterly love it. Probably the most charming album I've heard, ever.
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RichardAApr 19, 2006Cracking stuff, a really joyous and infectious record. Takes them far beyond the old stuff, and all the better for it.
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AndrewCApr 17, 2006My favourite B&S album since 'Sinister'. Their sound has truly evolved into something great. Makes 'Dear Catastrophe Waitress' sound like a mediocre transitional album.
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psstApr 15, 2006i like it a lot. a bit too much hysteria.
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AntApr 9, 2006While not as lyrically funny as Dear Catastrophe Waitress, this album is incredibly catchy and addicting. I really can't stop listening to it.
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BlayzeHApr 4, 2006Great, an improvement on the songwriting from Dear Catastrophe Waitress, just if they had the same producing.
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skApr 2, 2006it could be their best album
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jdgMar 31, 2006I highy anticipate this album coz I love DCW. except of "Another Sunny Day" the album is disappointing. No more smart lines and forggettable tunes. Shame.
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SimonMar 30, 2006This is one of Belle & Sebastian's best albums, withiout doubt. The song writing is strong as is the musicianship. The band plays to their strenghts but equally creates something fresh and very today. Definitely one of the best pop bands of the modern era.
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MarkOMar 29, 2006I have everything thing they've recorded and this is hands down their best. Variety, energy and heart make this one of the best of the year.
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PiotrWMar 20, 2006Brings a beatiful springtime to still winter Poland... Each song seems like a different separate jewel... Makes me smile every time I put this into my player.
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DanB.Mar 19, 2006A third of it is like a Bowie tribute album, but it's more awesome than derivative. I love 'sukie in the graveyard' best, at the moment.
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CaitieFMar 16, 2006
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BernardAMar 8, 2006
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AndreaBMar 7, 2006Soild, creative, refreshing, yet somehow forgetable
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BradKMar 6, 2006
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MasterPMar 1, 2006Good upbeat good-times music. Less, well... gay than earlier albums, but gay enough for "upbeat good-times."
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tomislavsFeb 28, 2006i'm their fan for a quite long time, and i have to say though i thought i'll be quite dissapointed with the album cause i heard some roumors that they've changed since their famous tracks the boy with the arab strap and similar - i think they stayed true to themselves and they are still b&s. So glad for you guys! Lots of luck.
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tommyphFeb 27, 2006This album is likely to be in my top 10 of '06 and top 200 of all time! Nice bluesy feel!
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JoeyMFeb 26, 2006This is the best-sounding record of the year! I'm smiling each time I listen to it. It really puts me in a positive mood. Beautiful melodies and witty lyrics.
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BradPFeb 23, 2006
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ZhibinDFeb 20, 2006brilliant
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JasonFeb 17, 2006Not bad but...is it just me or does this sound exactly like ELO?
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BenFeb 16, 2006
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MurrayCFeb 16, 2006A very welcome return to form- and then some. Lots of excellent music here for a sunny spring day (as hoped), and at least a couple surprises that make you want to groove long after the sun has set! Who would've foreseen "The Blues are Still Blue" from this band!? Great stuff.
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AndrewFeb 15, 2006Really good album. A happy dissonance between the words and the music.
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DaveFeb 15, 2006For me, it's the album Dear Catastrophe Waitress wanted to be. Happy poppy fun, plenty of hooks, infectious beats and Stuart's smart lyrics.
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berdkFeb 15, 2006great great great
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NickDFeb 15, 2006
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MichaelFeb 14, 2006
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LeonardoFFeb 13, 2006It's funny because the songs are not bad... but they fail to catch your attention - it's just too bland.
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AndyFeb 13, 2006Possibly my favirote so far. Not as timeless as Sinister and the writing isn't as unique as DCW but it is definitely the most fun they have ever had on an album.
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AlexFeb 12, 2006What a pleasant surprise. The lyrics are rich and smile-provoking, and the melodies are varied and catchy. The atmosphere of wistful melancholy isn't as conspicuous as it was pre-Catastrophe Waitress days, but the songs are still beautiful.
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MathewBFeb 11, 2006
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MattBFeb 11, 2006After three full listens, the new album went from good to great to brilliant. It's as confident and exciting as Dear Catastrophe Waitress, but the new producer returns to the band its magical and mysterious aura. It's a fantastic meld of early and current B&S. It will surprise you, it will comfort you, it will make you very, very happy.
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steveFeb 11, 2006I am old enough to share Stuarts nod. Teriffic pastiches,hugely entertaining. I laughed outloud at least twice at the delicious irony. Wonderful lyrics,tunes I whistle. Pop has got its brains back. Murdoch is the new Ray Davies? No of course not.But you know what I mean. Staring at falling snow as I write and listen.Appropiate .Buy it.
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stanhFeb 10, 2006Love them, and love the album!!!!
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AdriansREvengeFeb 10, 2006Belle and Sebastian
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ScottPFeb 10, 2006Pretty good, but they have done better.
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JustinBFeb 10, 2006this is a great album...the songs are fun, everyone who listens will enjoy this.
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JamieFeb 9, 2006This bit of pop perfection ties with Tigermilk as B&S' most coherent LP in my book. And it's a friggin' blast to listen to.
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JESSEBFeb 9, 2006The best Belle and Sebastian album since Tiger Milk. Ignore the critics who think Belle and Sebastian have changed their formula for the worst. This album shows a more mature and yes, fun side of the group. The Life Pursuit represents a band that is further expanding the art of pop music, giving the finger to the indy critics, and having a blast at the same time.
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JaredS.Feb 8, 2006With the first couple of listens to this album I thought it was the same bubble-gummish stuff that made DCS very good but kind of sickeningly sweet at times. Upon further examination I found the depth that I had always loved in B and S and felt they had been missing with DCS. What a great, deep examination of faith it expresses. And another great album from those lovable Scottish intellectuals.
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mattaFeb 8, 2006
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guyhFeb 8, 2006love it!!!!!
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ALittleMulroneycakesSoBeguilingFeb 8, 2006
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AbrahamJFeb 8, 2006I really like this albums sincere enthusiasm for the music we call pop. It's their best since 'If You're Feeling Sinister'. Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan's new album is great too!
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RobPFeb 8, 2006Lovely. 13 great pop songs on one album. Not as long lasting as their old stuff.
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MarkFeb 8, 2006A little over-produced, but, a GREAT album
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PhilFeb 8, 2006Absurd - reminds me of The Monkees, The Partridge Family, or Brady Bunch. Can't you just see the polyester slacks, floral print shirts, and the stupid smiles on their face as they sing sing sing so merrily these delightful little ditties. Ugh. Save me, please.
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CulleySFeb 8, 2006
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KeriHFeb 8, 2006This is how pop used to be done in the 60's and 70's. Lots of good infuences used on thei album to good effect. An album to lift your mood!
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MattFeb 7, 2006Yes, it's different, but it's a good example of how pop doesn't have to be superficial.
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ChrisC.Feb 7, 2006Solid. I think overall it is more consistent than DCW. It can't touch IYFS or Tigermilk though.
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MachuzzlewitSweedlepipeFeb 7, 2006Another collection of melodies and lyrics that any songwriter would give their left lung for. Slightly more genre-hopping than previous albums but no less charming.
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TobyMcGFeb 7, 2006pretty decent
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JohnKFeb 7, 2006Great, great album.
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CarlosMFeb 7, 2006Ver good, definitively is the second albm of the rebirth of Belle and Sebastian (after the Storytelling soundtrack). The femenine chorus are reallyt catchy and, sometimes, sublime. Really deserves to be number one in UK. And this album proves that, basically, Stuart Murdoch is a pop genius. Period.
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dodobirdFeb 7, 2006This may arguably be the best album that B&S has put out.
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LanaMFeb 7, 2006This is my favorite band. B&S never disappoint me. Their new album lives up to their existing high standards and was completely worth the wait.
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[Anonymous]Feb 7, 2006A masterpiece!
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PeterPFeb 7, 2006It's fun.
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andrewmFeb 7, 2006B&S get better with each release! Love it already.
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ShaneFeb 6, 2006A pop masterpiece.
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JJFeb 6, 2006belle & sebastian are overrated. none of their stuff actually sounds good.
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PeterHFeb 6, 2006This has some of their best work on it. It also has some tracks i find indifferent. These aremy intital thoughts which could change....
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Awards & Rankings
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Q MagazineThe presence of more filler than is comfortable does not detract from the creative health in evidence on the better songs. [Feb 2006, p.100]
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The band sounds reinvigorated even when returning to well-trodden turf, and even livelier when moving away from it.
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Hence we get an album which, musically at least, veers all over the place, from chamber pop to glam to, God help them, hotel lobby jazz. In other hands, this would be a terrible mess, but in each instance you feel like the group are inching ever closer to that perfect pop moment.