When The Life Pursuit arrived in 2005 it took a lot of people with surprise, had Belle & Sebastian suddenly become a full on pop band? If you look at it closer you will see that there had been a transistion that started on the last album, Dear Catastrophe Waitress in 2003, but with producer Tony Hoffer in tow the band now had a production that fitted their unbelievable catchy songs. They had an "ooomph" to their sound all of a sudden. The tight pop production lead to an album full of floorfillers. That said, the songwriting isn't a big departure from their former records.
Another sunny day, I met you up in the garden
You were digging plants, I dug you, beg your pardon
I took a photograph of you in the herbaceous border
It broke the heart of men and flowers and girls and trees
My favourite among many on the album are the brilliant Another Sunny Day with its chiming jangly guitars. There is also some really cool Tele-picking throughout that gives the song almost a twangy feel as well. Though the production is 2005, the song itself are classic Belle & Sebastian. In my ears the band has always been able to take their influences from the 60s via the indiebands of the 80s and up to now. On their earlier records they may have sounded more ramshackle, but they have always been quite danceable and quietly groovy.
So, crank it up and dance around your livingroom.
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