Originally posted by Solo
hey, astroman, whatd you think of peter bjorn and john's writer's block?
i think it's pretty great. definitely their best work. the production is a little noisy/muddled, but the songs are choice. the whistled melody in young folks is already pretty legendary, and let's call it off is incredibly catchy.
Originally posted by manorastroman
please. explain what elements of the velvet underground are present in belle and sebastian. i see a little bit of "loaded", but that's not the sound people generally associate with velvet underground.
Ok well if it is'nt obvious to you, I will explain key obvious key elements that occur in both bands:
Integration of "classical" instuments with acoustic guitar.
Vocal/lyric centric songs
the use of simple major keys and simple 4/4 timing.
Contrast of acoustic strumming accomanied by electric guitar picking.
Male and female vocal harmonies.
It's pretty obvious that they are influenced by the Velvet underground. Now, I never claimed that B & S's only influence was Velvet underground. Like I said they have covered velvet underground .
Originally posted by manorastroman
the "it" isn't exactly complicated. the guitar playing IS primitive, the vocals ARE thin and wimpy. that's the point. think beat happening or any other twee/lo-fi band. moreover, belle and sebastian fans haven't been an elite few since dear catastrophe. you want to talk "elite few", that's cool blue halo fans. or cub fans. or 14 iced bears fans. belle is actually pretty big. [/B]
I know the guitar playing is primative and the vocals are "whimpy", that's why I said something to that nature. The thing is, they are horrible song writers. Also, Belle and Sebastian have because well known within a sub-culture of people, it seems like any "artsy" and "indie" arsehole out there loves them, still not a mainstream band though. So yeah it seems that only an ELITE few can appreciate them, like iv'e heard so many times in this forum. Now you can continue trying to convince me that they are awesome and innovative all you want. My OPINION still stands, Belle and Sebastian are nothing special, nothing new, nothing great.
Originally posted by 2D_MASTER
Integration of "classical" instuments with acoustic guitar.
Vocal/lyric centric songs
the use of simple major keys and simple 4/4 timing.
Contrast of acoustic strumming accomanied by electric guitar picking.
Male and female vocal harmonies.
do you know how many bands use these elements from the same era as the velvets? i still say burt bacharach was a more key influence.
i'm not arguing that belle and sebastian is innovative. i'm just saying that they have great melodies and fantastic lyrics.
Originally posted by manorastroman
do you know how many bands use these elements from the same era as the velvets? i still say burt bacharach was a more key influence.
That's why I called them obvious ones. You said that belle and sebastian were nothing like velvet underground, I just provided obvious similarites.
Well i did'nt disagree with your Burt Bacharach claim, you said Velvet Underground was'nt a key influence.
Originally posted by manorastroman
i'm not arguing that belle and sebastian is innovative. i'm just saying that they have great melodies and fantastic lyrics.