Big Orange Crayonmusical thingsBelle and Sebastian "Legal Man" Single Matador Records It's a very good thing to sound like Belle and Sebastian. Tigermilk is definitely one of the most beautiful albums I've ever listened to, If You're Feeling Sinister is one of the catchiest. This CD is a pretty good glimpse of what Belle and Sebastian sound like when they completely move away from their established feel. That's not to say that it's bad, it's just very different. Stuart Murdoch completely relinquished his frontman role for all three songs on the CD (two on the vinyl versions), which means that one of my favorite things about the band, his voice, is noticably absent. The title track is a very retro sounding affair, complete with bongos and *cough* Crosby-Stills-and-Nash-sounding harmonies on occaision. Don't worry, though, it's still catchy as all heck and even though I panicked the first time I heard it, I've grown to enjoy it. The other songs will vary depending on which version you get: the 7" has just "Legal Man" and the unfortunately named yet engaging instrumental, "Judy is a Dick Slap", the CD has those two plus "Winter Wooskie" which is probably the most traditional Belle and Sebastian sounding of the bunch (it has different vocals, but it's a story about watching a girl from a distance), and there is a twelve inch with "Legal Man" and an extended version of "Judy is a Dick Slap". After sorting through that mess of choices, I went against my instincts and got the CD. Vinyl is nice, but it sucks to lose songs. Besides, the CD is under 10 minutes - I'm sure they could have fit them all onto a 7" if they wanted to. Regardless, this is a fine bit of music, despite the fact that it sounds nothing like Belle and Sebastian. Total score: 672 out of 695 |