Customer Reviews

Dog on Wheels / State I Am in / String Bean

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm almost tempted to state that Belle and Sebastian might be the masters of the EP. Certainly no other band that I know has put so much of their best work on EPs. This was their first EP and I find all four songs on the disc to be irresistible.

"Dog on Wheels" is one of my favorite songs by the band, but even so I like "The State I Am In" perhaps even more. Few bands ever have written such wonderfully melodic songs, and this is a prime example. But there really are no weak cuts on the disc.

Belle and Sebastian are often compared to such performers as Donovan and the Smiths, but I have never heard anyone contrast them with Love. But I defy anyone to listen to FOREVER CHANGES and the to the horns in "Dog on Wheels" and not hear a strong similarity. Indeed, one of the few albums full of as many marvelous melodies is Love's great classic.

I've pretty much started all of my reviews of Belle & Sebastian the same so I might as well with this, you can't go wrong with any release by Belle & Sebastian. Everything they've done thus far is brilliant and well worth your time. "Dogs On Wheels" is the most fun of all their releases. The title track is a silly sketch that plunges you into the world of Belle & Sebastian with that classic lyric "Every song I ever written, was written for you" with a great horn section. "The State I Am In" is one of my favorite of Belle & Sebastian's song and much much better then the "Tigermilk" version which sounds like the band have miserable hangovers and don't know how to play. The lyrics and music are pure magic and will win over anyone to the music of B&S. "String Bean Jean" has a Spanish guitar theme to it and "Belle & Sebastian" tells the story of the characters Belle and Sebastian. While "This Is Just A Modern Rock Song" or "Lazy Line Painter Jane" are my favorite E.P.'s, this E.P. is still brilliant along with all of B&S's other releases. Enjoy

3 1/2

Like most bands who concentrate on finding their own sound you could tell something special was there, but to be defined so well at such an early release shows genuine vision in place. It isn't the greatest of their short-lengths for sure, but might just be for significant reasons to some. But for me an arguably better, if rougher cut of Tigermilk's lead-off and the beautifully quirky self titled closer matter most.

First single by this Scotland-based Indy-pop band. This band issues singles that almost always contain new songs (not available on the albums) that are better than their album songs.

Recently they also issued a compilation of their previous singles, but for the real fans I strongly recommend the original singles because of the much clearer sound!

I've played this EP for people in the age range of 10-71.

Everyone loves it. Dog on Wheels and String Bean Jean are amazingly fun to listen to tracks, Belle and Sebastian is simply wonderful, and The State I am in, while not nearly as good as the final cut on Tigermilk, is certainly a nice alternative.

Buy this album. Buy it now.

This is my personal favorite out of the triad of EPs. Dog on Wheels soars towards the end, with a mini duet between vocals and horns. The State I Am In is a bit different from the album version, and I happen to like it better. It's a little slower, more acoustic, and more harmonies. Strin Bean Jean is a fun song to sing along to, even if you don't quite have the vocal range *embarrassed grin*. I've no idea what he's singing about, but who cares! It's a cool song. Belle and Sebastian is a cute song that probably makes more sense if you've read the story in the liner notes for Tigermilk. Lots of beautiful tracks in here. If you can only get one EP, get this one.

this one i like the most of the 'others' because it's so raw and beautiful. i don't know, pure.

feel sad; glorious; mundane; alone.