Belle & Sebastian - I'm Waking Up To Us

On the off chance that you are the one person in the blogosphere that still has never heard of Belle & Sebastian, I'll explain to you like I explain to my friends: I think they're one of the three or four best bands making music in the world today. Their orchestral pop folk music is instantly classic and beautiful. Since a great many of you know their story, I will skip the particulars for this morning. However, if you would like to find out more about the band, there is a ton of information available here. These Glaswegian chamber pop geniuses have released a flurry of material since 1996, and this 3-song EP released in 2001 (and now available now only as an import) is a must-have gem. In the quest for simplicity, I have chosen the title track to their I'm Waking Up To Us EP because, well...I love it. I should mention, that it was produced by Mike Hurst, a beloved British producer with a storied career (having worked with Cat Stevens and producing Petula Clark's song "Downtown" among many others). I always find that Belle & Sebastian's clever approach to their lyrics and their dark sense of humor always makes me giggle just a little under my breath. The way they enmesh the lyrics with their arrangements is a touch of high comedy, and perhaps that is why I have always loved them so.

Belle & Sebastian need a home.