The BBC Sessions - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Fourteen gorgeous tracks recorded for the BBC between 1996 and 2001. At the time, the group rarely performed live, so all these songs are noticeably different from the studio versions. The regular CD includes an additional four unreleased songs from their classic early Jeepster period. The limited, deluxe double CD contains an entire live show broadcast on BBC Evening Session in mid-2001 with another four never before heard songs. Eight-page booklet in the regular CD (six-page booklet in the deluxe version). Gatefold HQ 180 gram vinyl.

Album Description
Deluxe Limited Edition Two CD set includes six page book plus bonus tracks. 2008 Remastered album featuring fourteen gorgeous tracks recorded for the BBC between 1996 and 2001. At the time, the group rarely performed live, so all these songs are noticeably different from the studio versions. The limited, deluxe double CD contains an entire live show broadcast on BBC Evening Session in mid-2001 with another four never before heard songs. Six-page booklet in the deluxe version.

Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...

3 out of 5 stars

a tie breaking review November 23, 2008
10 out of 12 found this review helpful

The other two reviews for this new belle and sebastian release appear to represent completely opposing viewpoints. I think the truth about this release requires a little more balance. If you are a big belle fan you would probably enjoy the bbc sessions release because first of all, there are 7 previously unreleased tracks (some live on disc 2 and some bbc session tracks on disc 1) and secondly, big fans of any band usually welcome a chance to hear different takes of songs (be it live or otherwise). With that said, both reviewers spoke some truth. The live performances are, at times, strained or labored. The band's version of the Beatle's Here Comes the Sun lacks the clarity and peaceful energy of the original. It feels as though they were either nervous or too tired to perform because it has the sound of distraction and preoccupation with something other than the song at hand. However, big fans may simply enjoy hearing the cover!
The Magic of a Kind Word is a very fun, poppy song reminiscent of some of Belle and Sebastian's b sides that ended up on Push Barman to Open Old Wounds (see Legal Man as a late sixties reference and Jonathan David as an energy reference).
The fact that some of disc two's performances are lacking in sheer execution/ feel (and by the way, a cover of The Boys are Back in Town helps to validate any suspicion of 70's rock influence on the Life's Pursuit) is made up for by solid bbc sessions that recall some of the band's earlier trademark sound.
Overall, if you enjoyed the b sides B & S released in the past and you cared enough to buy Push Barman (which had no previously released songs at all) you would likely not regret spending the money on this.

2 out of 5 stars

What's the point? November 20, 2008
8 out of 26 found this review helpful

There's very little new here. It's mostly just sloppy versions of the original songs, and just because it sounds a bit different doesn't mean that it's any good. I'll pick up Storytelling before I listen to this again.

Ohhhhhh, so disappointing. How I wish Belle & Sebastian would come back.

5 out of 5 stars

With apologies to Donny Osmond, this is sweet and innocent November 21, 2008
5 out of 8 found this review helpful

I have all of B&S's full-length releases so I've heard most of this but the feel of these versions totally took me back to why I fell in love with this band the second I heard 'Stars of Track & Field' back in the late 90's. They totally remind me of fellow Scots, Orange Juice feat. Edwyn Collins - Sloppy (in a good way) and beautiful. I highly recommend this release!

4 out of 5 stars

Old songs ring true in the BBC format November 24, 2008
3 out of 5 found this review helpful

First, a disclaimer: I love hearing rougher, more live versions of a band's repertoire. Among my favorites on this compilation are the Peel session tracks from 2001. It's great to finally have them out on an official release.

5 out of 5 stars

A shinning star among other shinning stars December 1, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

Call me a chump, but with the exception of Storytelling, I put everything that B&S has put out (all the E.P. releases too) on the highest ebb of all musical performances, with an emphasis on their earlier work from the 90's. I think a real turning point for this band's sound happened with the release of Dear Catastrophe Waitress. Isobel Campbell, the female accompanying vocalist and part time writer for the band has her last appearance in a few songs on that album. She leaves later, forever changing the sound of the band. Following, comes the CD The Life Pursuit and it's accompanying E.P.s, which have a much more upbeat, pop-rock feel to them; Good in it's own right, but very different. Only seldom do you hear a song that could be preformed in a cafe on any of that stuff.

I have been a fan since the beginning. My heart is with the earlier stuff that this band has produced. One of the things about B&S that I hope will never change is their ability to catch you listening closely to a song you may have heard 100 times before, but never quite understood until the circumstances of your life situate you correctly. I love listening to the older albums because, often times, I still find new meaning in them.

This album was particularly important to me because It offers some of their older music in a new and different way, and this CD marks the release of several songs from their Jeepster record label days. I don't know how many more little songs from the early days remain unreleased - this may mark one of the last times that you will be able to hear new songs from the band in its original form. Take it in.

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