It doesn't matter what I tell myself to do, I'll end up calling
It's not easy being a completist. There's a certain self-loathing that comes along with doing what I'll be doing today: putting down perfectly good money for music that I already have, for the sole reason that it's packaged differently. The new package in question is Push Barman To Open Old Wounds, the compilation of Belle and Sebastian singles and EPs, every single song of which I have in both mp3 and CD format. I'm such a sucker that I'll even buy the limited edition version. And keep it in the plastic. Hell, no need to unwrap it.
But to those of you not well-versed in Belle and Sebastian, this is a must-have. As allmusic.com points out, this is just behind If You're Feeling Sinister and Dear Catastrophe Waitress in necessary B&S releases. Here's a couple of songs that probably won't change your mind, but should:
"Legal Man"
Kind of a novelty song, it's true. But it's fun as hell, and great for those who think that Belle and Sebastian do nothing but quiet, pretty music. I should have put "Le Pastie De La Bourgeouise" here instead, but...I didn't. We'll just have to accept things as they happened, huh? I hope you've learned a valuable lesson.
"Slow Graffiti"
Stuart Murdoch showing both his limited vocal range and phenomenal songwriting/melody-writing skills. I'd love to hear someone with a really powerful voice cover this. Okay, okay...I'd like to hear Neko Case cover this.
12 comments:
Keep it in plastic? Why do such a thing? That would really negate the only purpose in getting this album, which is to enjoy the new packaging surrounding these songs you already have. Anyways, I share your disease. I'm fully expecting to plunk down my money for both the new Sleater-Kinney and Stephen Malkmus albums, even though I'm fully expecting to not like either (as I didn't like SM's last one much at all and haven't been thrilled about a S-K album since "Dig Me Out".) I need help.
Instead of keeping it in plastic, why not "lend" it to me? Then technically you could still say you own it and your B&S collection is complete...it would just live at my place. Meanwhile, since I don't have any of their other music, I would actually listen to it.
In fact, feel free to consider this option whenever you buy a CD to which you'll never listen. You can even keep the packaging...just send me the disc.
Too bad you don't live in DC, Scott. Pretty much every CD I buy gets spun once: when I burn it on my computer. After that, it sits in a to-be-filed pile, never to be filed.
As a little uncompensated endorsement for both B&S and Olssons: why not buy this DOUBLE CD at Olssons for the low-low sale price of $12.95! That's right! Only $12.95 for 25 classic Belle and Sebastian hits like:
Lazy Line Painter Jane!
Jonathan David!
Legal Man!
Century of Fakers!
...and much much more! But don't dawdle! Don't delay! This sale won't last much longer! So hurry down to your nearest Olssons and get Push Barman To Open Old Wounds by Belle and Sebastian...TODAY!!
Or you can just be a fucking sap like me and pay $20 for the limited edition that I probably won't even even listen to.
Oh, and Christian, I have one word for you: collectable. If I keep it wrapped with the original promo sticker on it, it could be worth as much a the non-sale price! You think I'm going to throw away 2-3 bucks just like that?! We're not all made of money like you, Mr. Moneybags.
Actually, as fun as it would be to keep it in mint condition, you're right: why not actually get the thrill of thumbing through the pages of the booklet, sniffing the CDs, slowly caressing the spine until...uh, sorry.
I'm proud to say that I've rid myself of the sleater-kinney disease. I, too, haven't been that excited about anything since dig me out. My solution is to stop buying their records.
I guess my shortage of disposable income is a factor, but I've been able to lay off of the single compilation by Superchunk as well.
I thought that both The Hot Rock and All Hands On The Bad One were excellent albums, but I couldn't stand One Beat. I don't know if it just struck me the wrong way because it was a certain time and a certain place, but it was like the great songwriters of the previous three albums had been replaced with some college sophomores and the associate boring musicianship and inane, preachy, immature "political" lyrics. It was like another band altogether.
I'll be curious to hear what you think of this new one, Christian.
I agree with Reid. I think I listened to One Beat twice...the first and the last time. It was just unlistenable to me. But I still enjoy All Hands and The Hot Rock. I can't resist buying the new Stephen Malkumus. He's precious to me. Holds a special place in my heart along with Peter Krause and Cherokee Parks for his resemblence to Tad.
I'm no psychology expert, but I think that it's exactly the same impulse...I don't like to take the plastic off the muppets, either. Rowrrr!
Fuck off, lady!
I told you you look like that foxy Velvet Underground dancer, Mary Woronov, and I get Small Head Cherokee Parks and Longface Malkmus?
dang, can't we all get along?
Tad, just be glad that Susan didn't compare you to Christian Laettner. At least Cherokee Parks is rumored to be heterosexual. It would suck to have one's own wife calling him a dude-kisser. I mean, my girlfriend calls me gay all the time, but that's only because she just doesn't understand my strictly platonic relationship with Fozzy Bear.
On the Stephen J Malkamus tip, I didn't even know there was a new one. I don't really know that I care. I got the Jicks record, but that's all I have from SJM post-Pavement.
If you want, the entire Steven Malkmus record is streaming on that awesome Dutch site . I was listening last night...it's pretty proggy in spots. The minute-long "Baby C'mon" was the only song that really struck me.
Not quite ready to say whether either record is good or not, but I will share my initial impressions. The Stephen Malkmus is somewhere between the immediate accessibility of the first Jicks record and the prog-ed out freakiness of the second. The Sleater Kinney record is probably the single LOUDEST album in my collection. It's kinda ridiculous. It's the kind of thing that makes you think "wow, I really need to dust off my stylus", until you realize that, wait, you're actually playing a *cd*.
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