Albums by this artist

Storytelling (2002)

Sing...Jonathan David (2001)

Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant (2000)

Belle & Sebastian

Sing...Jonathan David

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» A.K. GOLD | STAFF WRITER

Belle & Sebastian Sing...Jonathan David Matador, 2001 RiYL: Nick Drake, High Llamas

The shy, literary eight-piece pop orchestra from Glasgow offers up another in a long line of EP releases. The uptempo "Jonathan David" rides the wave of a terribly catchy piano line and Stuart Murdoch's choral harmonies, which offset the strangeness of Stevie Johnson's lead vocals. Murdoch takes over lead vocals on the more melancholy, but prettier "Take Your Carriage Clock And Shove It" which also showcases a weeping pedal steel and a lovely string arrangement. Finally, "The Loneliness Of A Middle Distance Runner" falls somewhere between the other two tracks in instrumental mood, as Murdoch reflects "the future's looking wonderful / It's the wonder of a businessman's conspiracy to / sell you wares."

Both angelic acoustic finger picking and a whiny, but cutting electric guitar solo mirror the spectrum of the band's sound and emotions. There's nothing groundbreaking or revolutionary from Belle and Sebastian on Sing...Jonathan David, but despite that fact, they remain more sonically pleasant and vocally smart than virtually any other band out there.

A.K. GOLD | A.K. Gold lives in Washington, D.C., where she slaves away for a non-profit organization and constantly compares everything to New York City or Chicago. She's earned her "cred" as a college radio and pre-1960 country music DJ, committed indie label street teamer, sporadic zinemaker/contributor, retired mail-order filler and occasional freelance writer. From time to time, she publishes Anecdotal Evidence, a per zine that will some day be considered for the National Book Award, or possibly not. If you want to buy a copy, or desire to write to her for some other reason, email criticgirl@hotmail.com.