I Could Be Dreaming: the Belle and Sebastian song-by-song, album-by-album thread

I like the drum machine; quite funny. Like a Jets song or something.

This is a good song, very chirpy. A bit too much going on, what with the mastering, again, though but it's a good post-Abba slice of Europop.
Lyric is good in a very cheesy way. 3.5/5

 

Very gauche.
Unlike yesterday's song, not of album quality, IMHO
2/5

 

I lasted 16 seconds before throwing my laptop out of the window. -1/5

(I never thought I'd hear a B&S song that I liked less than Marx & Engels, but this one proved me wrong)

 

Two Birds: 2

It's the first time I hear this, and it really rubs me the wrong way.

 

I agree with everyone else that the production (or whatever it is) is awful, but for some strange reason I quite like "Two Birds". Maybe it's so obviously naff and throw-away that once I accept that I can just enjoy the fluffy melodies.

3/5

 

Our votes for "Two Birds"

1-1
2-4
3-3
4-2
5-0
Average: 2.5

 

Today's song is "PIggy in the Middle" written by Belle and Sebastian and produced by Ben H. Allen III.

Lyrics.

another bonus track from the QUADRUPLE deluxe album.

 

Piggy in the Middle - I listened to this last night. It's pretty good 4/5

 

A remarkably unremarkable B-side.

not sure I can even rate it.

 

Certainly better than Two Birds, but I find the chorus a bit of a let down- 3/5.

 

I agree, b-side in excelsis. I suppose they knew they weren't going to release physical singles this time so this was a way to use up the second-tier songs.
3/5
Side note: does anyone else find that the song titles on this album have all either been used before by other artists, or are very similar to ones that have? I wonder if it was a conscious choice to go for familar phrases as titles, even if someone may have got there first. I grant you, "Enter Sylvia Plath" is the exception.

 

imagine having a huge 45rpm LP third disc after going thru the trouble of playing it, changing speeds and all.... this is what you get

1/5

 

For once with this album Ben Allen's production works in context (thank the deity of your choice). I would rather have had this one on the album rather than as a bonus track. 3/5

 

Piggy In The Middle 3/5

 

Point of order! I gave this minus one, as it's the worst thing B&S have ever done. Ever.

 

I know, but I recorded that as a 1.

 

I'll forgive you this once. Unless they turn out something worse than this one . . .

 

If I allow negative numbers its just a slippery slope to imaginary numbers and people using greek symbols, etc

 

In that case I'll give "Piggy In The Middle" π/5

 

I was in a work-induced foul mood this morning so I had a relisten.
3. I think they’ve probably unintentionally ripped off a Primal Scream song somewhere in the verse.

 

"Piggy In The Middle" sounds like a pastiche of something but I can't work out what. Anyway whatever it's supposed to be it's pretty ordinary, the only notable part being that it has a bridge - which is rare in a B&S song.

3/5

 

"PIggy in the Middle" starts out promising: good southern-fried soul, sounds a bit like Booker T and MG's or something: it's a good sound for this band. It's funky and cool sounding. I agree that the chorus is a bit of a let down -- it sounds more like there are two middle eights and one of htem repeats. I like this one, overall. It works mainly because of the restrained non-kitchen sink approach to the arrangement.

3.8/5

 

Our votes for "Piggy In the Middle"

1-1
2-0
3-6
4-2
5-0
Average: 2.9778

 

Today's song is "A Politician's Silence", written by Belle and Sebastian; produced by Ben H. Allen.

Lyric.
The last of four bonus tracks on the QUADRUPLE album deluxe version.

 

Ah. A Belle and Sebastian song that sounds like a Belle and Sebastian song. Not a classic one, but a good one. Should have been on the album proper. 3.5/5