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Album Details

• Artist: Belle And Sebastian
• Album: Dear Catastrophe Waitress
• Label: Rough Trade / Sanctuary
• Year of Release: 2003
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2004-01-14

There has been a little change in the Belle and Sebastian camp. They have moved away from Matador Records for the first time in their career. Now with a new label under their belts in the form of the classic Rough Trade, they are ready to take the world by storm once more. Dear Catastrophe Waitress is their strongest album in years. It starts out with one of the best Belle and Sebastian songs ever, "Step Into My Office, Baby". It is upbeat and charming in the same breath. Producer Trevor Horn steps up to the plate too, with some of the best production work this group has ever experienced. There just seems to be a new life breathing through them. The third track in, "If She Wants Me", shows the group maturing as well, with the backbeat rhythm on the guitar and strong vocals. Dear Catastrophe Waitress just seems like a much deeper and more intense album than they have ever done. It's a rare thing for a band to come back from a slump with this much renewed creative powers. Each song bring something new to the table. They are able to make music that lets the sun into every crook of your house. Even the gentle "Piazza, New York Catcher" is just vocals and acoustic guitar and it still is able to sound full and charming. Who would have thought that their career highlight would have come this late in their career, but it has. Don't miss out thinking that they are done. It's an album that you can actually enjoy the entire thing, which is rare this day and age.

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