Belle & Sebastian – The Life Pursuit (2xLP)

By the time Belle & Sebastian released The Life Pursuit in 2006, they had already established themselves as one of the most beloved indie pop bands of their generation. Known for their wistful storytelling, intricate melodies, and twee-pop sensibilities, the Glasgow-based band took a more bold, energetic, and groove-driven approach on this album.

Produced by Tony Hoffer (who had worked with Beck and Air), The Life Pursuit finds the band incorporating elements of glam rock, funk, and 70s-style pop, resulting in some of their most upbeat and accessible music to date. While still rich with Stuart Murdoch’s witty lyricism and delicate melodies, the album swings and struts in a way that sets it apart from their earlier work.

Reviews

"Here, Belle & Sebastian dabble in glam rock, lazy lounge jazz, and ersatz blues, enhancing their swinging '60s pop fixation with horn charts, the occasional flute, and Motown rhythms, while even rocking harder than ever before (but that's on a relative scale, of course). This results in a fresh, lively listen, but a rich one too, since there's more to hear in the music as well as the words upon repeated listens. It's not a radical departure for Belle & Sebastian -- there are several intimate, folky numbers that would comfortably fit on their previous records. But having these tunes surrounded by songs that successfully stretch the group's sound gives The Life Pursuit an unexpected, wholly welcome vitality that not only produces a satisfying album, but suggests that a decade removed from their masterwork, If You're Feeling Sinister, Belle & Sebastian have managed to find a way to grow without changing their identity." Allmusic