Bellissimo disco di pop beatlesiano. Pur apprezzandole, non ho mai troppo amato le canzoncine esili di B&S, ma qui, rimpolpate a dovere, da elettricità ed archi, non si può non restare ammirati. Su tutte la title track, ‘If you find yourself caught in love’ e, soprattutto, la solare ‘Asleep on a sunbeam’.
Description:Dear Catastrophe Waitress was a make or break album for Belle & Sebastian. Having lost two founder members (Stuart David to Looper and Isobel Campbell to the Gentle Waves) and produced a couple of endearing but not hugely exciting albums (their soundtrack to Todd Solondz's Storytelling film and their own Fold Your Hands Child, YouDear Catastrophe Waitress was a make or break album for Belle & Sebastian. Having lost two founder members (Stuart David to Looper and Isobel Campbell to the Gentle Waves) and produced a couple of endearing but not hugely exciting albums (their soundtrack to Todd Solondz's Storytelling film and their own Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant), the pressure was on for the Scottish indie-pop six-piece to provide a startling return to form.
The presence of Trevor Horn (the man behind Tatu and Frankie Goes to Hollywood) as producer suggested that a stylistic leap was imminent. But would it be at the cost of the group's unique charm? Thankfully not. Chief songwriter Stuart Murdoch has clearly been listening to a lot of Randy Newman and Joe Jackson, along with a touch of Thin Lizzy, and Horn manages to meld these new influences with the trademark B&S sound. "Step into My Office Baby" is orchestral pop with a cheeky, almost raucous bent. "If She Wants Me" pulls off a flirtation with Orange Juice-style funk, while "Stay Loose" could be Squeeze covering "Space Oddity". On the more traditional B&S songs (the title track, "Wrapped Up in Books", live favourite "Lord Anthony"), the ante is upped simply by the quality of songwriting, which is a match for anything from the Tigermilk glory days.
For a band whose best work seemed long behind them, Dear Catastrophe Waitress is just what was ordered. Not simply a return to form, but a bright new future. --Ian Watson
“Bellissimo disco di pop beatlesiano. Pur apprezzandole, non ho mai troppo amato le canzoncine esili di B&S, ma qui, rimpolpate a dovere, da elettricità ed archi, non si può non restare ammirati. Su tutte la title track, ‘If you find yourself caught in love’ e, soprattutto, la solare ‘Asleep on a sunbeam’.” read more
m08221196 added this to a list 1 year, 5 months ago
"What a great band Belle and Sebastain are. They're catchy, fun, smart, write amazing lyrics, and are overall just totally loveable. "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" is no different"
jupiter meow added this to a list 4 years, 5 months ago