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Track Listings
| 1. Step Into My Office, Baby |
| 2. Dear Catastrophe Waitress |
| 3. If She Wants Me |
| 4. Piazza, New York Catcher |
| 5. Asleep On A Sunbeam |
| 6. I'm A Cuckoo |
| 7. You Don't Send Me |
| 8. Wrapped Up In Books |
| 9. Lord Anthony |
| 10. If You Find Yourself Caught In Love |
| 11. Roy Walker |
| 12. Stay Loose |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
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
Review
Setting their stall out early doors, opening track and forthcoming single, "Step Into My Office Baby", comes swinging in with jaunt to spare. Documenting a corporate romance like it's the soundtrack to an Ealing comedy, the song showcases a diverse range of instrumentation and a rather nifty tempo shift. Lyrically, it positively hums with pithy couplets like 'She gave me some dictation, but my strength is in administration', recalling similar territory from earlier single, "Legal Man".
The jolly mood continues on the title track, revelling in up-tempo string flourishes. "I'm A Cuckoo" packs a big brass section and a frisky drum beat that skips along like kids let out of school early. The lazy, jazz-tinged guitar which opens standout track, "If She Wants Me", has a whiff of The Style Council about it, but don't be scared. Horn manages to restrain himself here, showing an admirable light touch, adding deft dashes of strings and a couple of sparring keyboards.
"Wrapped Up In Books" shows the clearest lineage from earlier works and it's a fine, pacey number with good harmonies. Indeed, the old B&S sound hasn't been completely ditched, so diehards can breathe a (fey) sigh of relief that Horn's influence hasn't resulted in a new, high-energy disco direction.
Saving the best 'til last, "Stay Loose" is the most radical departure, letting Horn off the leash with a spiky organ line laid over the guitar and bass pulse from David Bowie's "Ashes To Ashes". And, if that wasn't curious enough, the heavily processed vocal could have been lifted from a slice of 80s synth pop and it all goes a bit Squeeze in the chorus.
Dear Catastrophe Waitress is ultimately, the sound of a band who've shifted the goalposts of their ambitions. Some may feel that the gravitas and poignancy of yore has been sacrificed for pop accessibility, but this record will pick up more converts than it will alienate purists and, whilst it may not be their finest 48 minutes, it's far from a catastrophe.
Review courtesy of 6 Music --Jack Smith
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Customer Reviews
So where does that leave DCW? I bought it simply because I happened to be in a cd buying mood on the day it came out, and my expectations weren't high-- it took me a couple of days to even get round to putting it in the player. And it's not been off since.
To say that it's a return to form would be a little misleading, since they have never sounded quite like this. Although on paper teaming up with Trevor Horn sounds horrific, it is clear he and the band were thinking along the same lines. If you are sceptical about the collaboration, wait for the moment when the horns come in on 'I'm a cuckoo', and I defy you not to start grinning like an idiot.
They seem to have recaptured the ability to write great pop songs, but have been invigorated by a new direction. It's not the radical change some would have you believe, but seems to be a calculated development. This definitely recaptures the spirit of those first few releases-- buy it now!
Well, fortunately they do. This is not a Trevor Horn album, it's a brilliant case of a producer bringing out the best in the band. Well done Trev, this is Belle & Sebastian in 2003 and sounding good. The vocals have never been stronger and the production smoother.
"I'm A Cuckoo" is the highlight; chunking guitar and sweet tune. Duff rhyme on "Thin Lizzy-o" though! And, despite what other reviewers say here, I like "Roy Walker". It's the only track that uses vocal harmonies.
Weakest, and strangest, track is 'Stay Loose', which does rather seem to be tacked on at the end. B&S does New-Wave circa 1981. And an extended guitar solo??
Only time will tell if it's as good as earlier stuff, but a definite recovery since 'Fold Your Arms' and a strong record.
Belle and Sebastian have been working hard for years now constantly churning out wholesome chunks pop goodness for the people of the world to consume at their own... Read more
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