cd sunday: belle & sebastian's the life pursuit

shortly after this album came out, i was sitting around my friend matt's kitchen.  he happened to be building a set of wheels for a bicycle...  i think it was this one.  this album came on over his computer's speakers.  i was almost instantly smitten.

i had heard the scottish band, belle and sebastian before, but i always dismissed them as being far too mellow with few catchy hooks.  this was different.  this was candy for my ears.  this was joy wrapped up in a musical project.  as each new song came on, i remember saying to matt over and over, "i gotta get this album".

some might think their music is a bit too silly.  sure, songs like "funny little frog", "we are the sleepyheads", and "white collar boy", weigh heavy on cheesy pop lyrics and borderline manic melodies, but i think that is part of the charm.

"the blues are still blue" may be one of my favorite songs from the album.  it is catchy, crunchy, and irresistible. 

i'm really looking forward to their new album - set to be released in only a few weeks.  as for how this picture relates to the album?  i guess i could say something about sunsets and the fact that there is a song called "another sunny day" on the album, but that might be stretching things a bit.  i just really like this photo of a recent pasadena sunset.


my top 20 favorite album countdown is almost over!

1. u2 - the joshua tree
2. dave matthews band - crash
3. cake - comfort eagle
4. blue rodeo - five days in july
5. the beach boys - pet sounds
6. coldplay - viva la vida
7. weezer - pinkerton
8. mates of state - re-arrange us
9. radiohead - ok computer 
10. nickel creek - this side
11. u2 - how to dismantle an atomic bomb 
12. the beatles - the white album 
13. sloan - one chord to another 
14. o.a.r. - risen
15. paul simon - graceland 
16. jack johnson - brushfire fairytales 
17. led zeppelin - iv