New Belle & Sebastian hit the stores today and despite my lukewarm feelings towards their last album (Dear Catastrophe Waitress) I was still keenly anticipating this new record and I think the boys and girls in the band have come up trumps with this one. I've only given it a once through so it's early days but tracks 1-3 are probably better than anything on DCW and the second track has my favourite line "We're playing for our lives the referee gives us fuck all".

Track 4 "The Blues are Still Blue" is probably the weakest song on the record and then they tread water for a couple more songs until track 8 "Song for Sunshine" which sounds like an homage to Sesame Street and the 70's and is quite unlike most B&S songs. I like it a lot. Track #9 "Funny Little Frog" is also a keeper and it sounds like an old fave from their first record 10 years back but sounding just as fresh today. Nary a weak track to take us through the rest of the record with 14 tracks in all.

Whatever you do don't pick this up through e-music or any other downloadable option. Buy the disc, get the lyric sheet, enjoy the irreverent fan questions in the liner notes and revel in the three Scots lassies who adorn many of the come hither photographs in the CD booklet. Wish they were playing somewhere other than the Docks as I'd be more than happy to see them live a second time.