God Help The Girl

God Help the Girl | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 23, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Matador Records
• ASIN: B002736YNA
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,834 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Spanning glam, soul, country, and 70s AM rock...Murdoch is at his best detailing his famously quirky characters" --Pitchfork

Product Description

After the success of the most recent Belle And Sebastian album, "The Life Pursuit", band leader/singer/songwriter Stuart Murdoch decided to pursue his dream of writing a rock musical scored for female singers. After auditioning vocalists via Internet contests, he made his choices and, with all members of Belle And Sebastian backing him up, recorded this breathtaking record. It combines the strengths and feel of early Belle And Sebastian records in a broader musical palette, which draws equally on musicals, 60s girl groups, 80s indie, and most of all, classic pop.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely production fulfills Murdoch's potential, June 26, 2009

By 

WPH - See all my reviews

This review is from: God Help The Girl (Audio CD)

This album is an absolute masterpiece of postmodern honesty - equal parts hope and despair, to spectacular result. The album has the same thrilling qualities many people might attribute to some of the best work of the Smiths or others who combine a healthy touch of 60s-70s baroque with silky smooth singing and dead clever lyrics. Some of Stuart Murdoch's most achingly sweet productions and melodies come to life here with the dreamily perfect smorgasbord of expertly executed female vocals and impressive musicianship as well. This is a film soundtrack that does not need a film. God, I wish I could see that film! Beautiful craftsmanship like this is sadly uncommon in modern popular music. This will be a delightful and simply fun classic for years to come.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a quick overview, June 27, 2009

By 

R. Demerjian - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: God Help The Girl (Audio CD)

To start, I agree with what the other reviewer has said. As I am only the second person to review this album, I thought I'd give some basic info potential fans may be wondering about...
1. If I am a Belle and Sebastian fan, will I find traces of their music in this and like it as a result? YES, many traces indeed, from Stuart Murdoch's actual singing to his clever lyrics to his lyrical phrasing to some very intelligent and proper British songwriting (Pretty Eve in the Tub is reminiscent of I Love My Car in it's cleverness). Some nice harmonies too from the group of female vocalists assembled.
2. Are the B & S songs on this album basically xeroxes of the original versions found of the Life Pursuit? NO. Acts of the Apostles is considerably different and Funny Little Frog is a slower, more soulful 70's version with lots of strings. Well worth the addition of them on this disc- not just filler.
3. Are there any throwaway tracks like on B & S's other peripheral project "Storytelling?" Sort of- there is a jazzy instrumental but it is only 1 minute long and it's actually kind of catchy in a pseudo Brubeck Time Out sense (nowhere near the level of that of course). Considering the amount of tracks on this disc, 1 quick filler song isn't bad.
Overall, this album contains extremely fun and smart British songwriting that made albums like XTC's Skylarking and Shelleyan Orphan's Century Flower so enjoyable in their time. It is not mired down in the self pity and pseudo despair that Smith lyrics are often consumed with so enough of the Smiths comparisons please! Lastly, there are some very strong female vocals on this album, most notably from a woman named Catherine Ireton who takes most leads and does a beautiful job with them. Not your typical B & S female vocalist- her voice is a pleasantly surprising soulful one. Well worth the money and a follow up.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Contemporary Art-Pop, August 6, 2009

By 

Thomas Bumbera (Maplewood, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: God Help The Girl (Audio CD)

This is possibly Stuart Murdoch's finest production yet. I can hardly add to the superlatives awarded to this gem by other reviewers; even if you are not a Belle and Sebastian fan, you'll enjoy this if you like melodic pop with witty and moving lyrics. Brill Building, Girl Groups, 60s Brit-pop, 70s soul - are of these influences are present but meld into a unique and cohesive musical style. It was a joy to listen to this disc (literally, as I bought the vinyl, which is beautifully mastered and pressed). THIS is the type of writing Stephin Merrit should be doing instead of car commercials (sad).