Pitchfork

[Posted Friday, September 19th, 2003 06:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Those truly fantastic modern minstrels, Belle and Sebastian, are gettin' crazy with the Cheez Whiz with the fall releases. Obviously, there's Dear Catastrophe Waitress, the first official full-length B&S; release since 2000, not counting their excellent but limited soundtrack to Todd Solondz's Storytelling last year. That's still on for October 7th, but with a drastically overhauled tracklisting. Clearly Murdoch wasn't digging the flow. "Roy Walker" and "Piazza, New York Catcher" swap sides (bet you didn't think Piazza would get traded), and the country-rock jangler "(I Believe In) Travellin' Light" is a goner. Updated tracklist:

01 Step Into My Office, Baby
02 Dear Catastrophe Waitress
03 If She Wants Me
04 Piazza, New York Catcher
05 Asleep On A Sunbeam
06 I'm A Cuckoo
07 You Don't Send Me
08 Wrapped Up In Books
09 Lord Anthony
10 If You Find Yourself Caught In Love
11 Roy Walker
12 Stay Loose

Continually serving the fans, the erstwhile Waitress has formally invited all of you to some official album release parties. At the National Pop League in Glasgow on September 26th, frontman Stuart Murdoch himself will be emceeing a prize-packed quiz show. There will also be some album launch parties in London on October 3rd and again in Glasgow on October 5th. Until then, some UK clubs will be throwing their own little shindigs, featuring advance listens to the record and other treats. For more information on all these lover-ly parties, keep checking the band's official site.

Word on the street is that the album's first single, "Step Into My Office, Baby" will be hitting stores via Sanctuary on November 4th. Information is at a crucial low; all we know is that there's two other tracks besides the single, which is already making waves as an exceptionally funny faux-sexist anthem laden with terrible puns and double-entendres. No idea yet on whether the two b-sides will be more album previews or studio outtakes (raise your hand if you vote for "Travellin' Light"), but we'll let you know.

The band has also contributed a cover of Young Marble Giants' "Final Day" to an upcoming 25th anniversary album in tribute of Rough Trade Records entitled Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before.... Released on October 7th in the US (at just under ten bucks) and October 20th in the UK (at a mere five pounds), and featuring other great artists like Adam Green and British Sea Power, it sounds like a steal.

Finally, we have some information for you on the imminent Belle and Sebastian DVD as well. Titled Fans Only, the comprehensive disc promises to be filled to the rim with Brim with "videos, live performances, interviews, out-takes, TV appearances, early documentary footage, exclusive material and behind-the-scenes insights into the evolution of the band." The DVD will be released in the UK October 20th on their ex-label Jeepster Records. Due to rights issues, all the footage will be from the band's time with Jeepster only (If You're Feeling Sinister and onward). Jeepster is "currently negotiating" a U.S. release, possibly through Matador.

Along with the new album, this new information is quite refreshing for those of us who were worried that when Belle and Sebastian lost their Belle, they might lose some steam as well. While we're all glad to see the band moving on, you should also look out for Isobel Campbell's solo album, Amorino. That one will be released through Instinct Records on October 7th in the U.S. and through Snowstorm Records in England on October 27th. According to Campbell's management, Amorino has been in the development stage for three years now, and the final result is the finest in orchestral twee. Campbell herself describes it as influenced by "French girl singers, psychedelia, Jimmy Webb, Antonio Carlos Jobim, The Graduate, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and of course, the most universal of all themes-- even in these cynical times-- love." Wait a second...Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid?!