I’m not going to lie. Reviewing a band as diverse and unique as DeVotchKa is a little intimidating; not to mention this being their first album I’ve listened through. I personally can’t describe the band any better than their Wiki page: “DeVotchKa is a four piece multi-instrumental and vocal ensemble that fuses Romani, Greek, Slavic, Bolero, and Mariachi music with American punk and folk roots.” See what I mean by diverse and unique? They started off playing burlesque shows before breaking it big with “How It Ends” and playing at the Bonnaroo music festival in ‘06. Now they’re kicking off their biggest tour yet at Coachella, this April.

My expectations for A Mad & Faithful Telling weren’t entirely high so there wasn’t any chance of disappointment for this album, but I’ve listened through it a few times now and this is truly a work of art. They really separate themselves from the crowd with something so much more different but it comes out divine. It is a universally beautiful album in the sense that everybody will enjoy it. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the average person can listen to this on their way to work, but if they had to, they wouldn’t be complaining. The vocals, the instruments, the rhythm–it’s all just a wonderful blend and mixture of an audible-harmony.

Personally, no track sticks out as a favorite because they were all rendered so well. Each individual song shines bright enough to light up a small city. A Mad & Faithful Telling is a melting pot of far too many genres to give proper comparison, but it shouldn’t really matter since you will get this album and see for yourself ;). Now, you’re getting sleepy.. your eyes are growing heavy.. you’re opening the iTunes store..

Belle and Sebastian had solidified a place high, very high on my list of top bands after Dear Catastrophe Waitress. After acquiring The Life Pursuit, I had high expectations, and found that after a few listens; “Another Sunny Day” was constantly on repeat time after time.

Belle and Sebastian have strayed far from their original sound as heard in Tigermilk, If You’re Feeling Sinster, and The Boy With the Arab Strap. Songs like “White Collar Boy” and “Funny Little Frog” are much more upbeat while Stuart Murdoch’s unique voice that has a light Scottish accent is quite bouncy.

Lyrically, these songs are well worded, meaningful, and very emotionally provoking in such songs as “Dress Up In You.” In “The Blues Are Still Blue” and “For the Price of a Cup of Tea,” we hear catchy choruses and excellent drumming. I like the way the songs are ordered, almost as if it’s a story in its own. The Life Pursuit begins with “Act of the Apostle 1” followed by some fairly lively songs and ends with a more relaxing “Act of the Apostle 2” and “Mornington Crescent”.

“To Be Myself Completely” is another song that Stevie Jackson sings lead. In the previous album, Dear Catastrophe Waitress, Jackson sings lead in “(I Believe In) Travellin’ Light” which did not fit the tone of the album too well. I didn’t get the same feeling here. Stuart Murdoch provides an excellent background voice as demonstrated at 1:12 of “To Be Myself Completely.”

This wonderful group have achieved great succes in Scotland, their home country and its spreading quickly as they begin touring here in the States. In January 2005, Belle and Sebastian were voted Scotland’s greatest band in a poll by The List, beating Simple Minds, Idlewild, Travis, Franz Ferdinand, and The Proclaimers, among others. The Life Pursuit is bold and inspiring.

The Words are intellectually stimulating. Belle and Sebastian has once again succeeded in creating a fun, riveting, and emotionally involving record using many instruments to convey this tone.

Most albums take a few listens to catch on, but this one had my attention the first time around and that’s what it’s all about, really. That’s what makes them special.

When I first conceptualized (what was to be) Indie Read about two years ago. I reviewed the two recent (at the time) Belle & Sebastian albums. The first being, Dear Catastrophe Waitress. But before I just copy/paste what I wrote, I just want to say the Belle & Sebastian should be on any indie lover’s playlist. They are a rather large and pretty old band that has influenced many whom have come after. In 2006, I was privileged to watch them play at the Hollywood Bowl. The opening act was The Shins and this had to be one of the most epic shows that I have ever attended. So without further ado…

With a new signing to Rough Trade Records, Belle and Sebastian have developed a different sound. It’s noticeably more polished and takes on a more pop-friendly role in contrast to their previews three albums which leaned toward the folky end.

Dear Catastrophe Waitress was nominated for the 2004 Mercury Music Prize along with other bands like Keane, Snow Patrol, and fellow Scottish band Franz Ferdinand who ended up winning the award.

Songs like “I’m a Cuckoo” and “Step Into My Office Baby” were released as singles, and rightly so. “Step Into My Office baby” immediately connects you with them as the lyrics are worded familiarly, describing sexual frustration and loneliness. At about 1:45, the song changes tone. The only song seemingly different than the rest is “Lord Anthony,” but that was written years earlier and was not given a proper release until its appearance here.

The guitar riffs in “If She Wants Me” goes along with Stuart Murdoch’s relaxing vocals. “Asleep on the Sunbeam” is, I believe, the first time multi-instrumentalist Sarah Martin sang lead and WHAT A VOICE! I can only hope we hear her singing solo more often in future albums. Stevie Jackson also sings lead in “(I Believe In) Travellin’ Light.” While great, this track feels odd on this album. His voice is not very poppy and very folky which makes me feel that it would belong more on a previous record. This is followed by “I’m a Cuckoo.” This song has me at a loss for words…

“You Don’t Send Me” brings back Mick Cooke’s trumpet. Murdoch and Jackson take turns singing in “Wrapped Up In Books.” “Stay Loose” is a mixture of the many aspects of their music, plus mild suggestions of electronica. It’s not the first time they’ve done that. We heard it in “Electronic Renaissance” which appeared on “Tigermilk.”

This complete new sound is very inviting as Belle and Sebastian seem to have emerged out of nowhere. Welcome Back.

Hitting popularity through the soundtrack of the popular movie Juno, Antsy Pants is a collaboration of Kimya Dawson (the other piece of The Moldy Peaches), a few of her friends, and a twelve year-old. Even though Kimya didn’t take the album that seriously, it still managed to sound great.

Antsy Pants is a fun and sweet album that will manage to even appeal to the uninterested. With such a quaint charm, the CD takes you to a warm and cozy place where your problems are too trivial to ever worry about. The lyrics aren’t the deepest but that’s what adds to the appeal of the whole thing. They keep it simple and they do it right. With songs about riding bikes (”The Mission”), falling out of trees (”Henry Kelly”), and vampires without fangs (”Vampire”), the immaturity of Antsy Pants sends out a vibe positive empathy that brings back old times when you were just a kid and your biggest responsibility was coloring in between the lines.

Antsy Pants mostly takes advantage of just a guitar/ukulele, but will seldom whip out the drums, or better yet, their twelve year-old singer, Leo (as heard in “Leo’s Mouth”), for a beat-boxing-style acappella. Kimya Dawson’s soothing voice and soft strumming makes no wonder why they decided to spread her all over the Juno soundtrack.

If you are like me, where melodies, beats, and vocals are far more important than actual song meanings and lyrical prose, then you will certainly enjoy Matt Costa. Unfamiliar Faces, his second album is more Mika than Jack Johnson.

This album shows the multifaceted talents of Matt Costa. Likewise, the album is a great mix of an upbeat modern sound, as in “Mr. Pitiful” and “Lilacs,” and then switching back to the mellow, bluesy, folksy, singer-songwriter feel in “Never Looking Back” and “Vienna.” I don’t want to call him out on cliché lyrics, as this is the case with too many artists these days, but I wasn’t particularly blown away by this aspect of the album.

Armed with only a guitar, harmonica, and piano, Costa was more creative in the musical side of the album. He has received a lot of undue criticism for being “too experimental” and not “creating a distinct sound.” I’d like to know how this is a bad thing. Anyone who has ever looped a Jack Johnson album while driving will know exactly what I’m on about. I usually throw a cd in and consciously listen only when I’m stopped in traffic. There is always this feeling of “ugh, this song again???” You don’t get this feeling with Unfamiliar Faces. For this, I must give him praise.

“Heart Of Stone” creates a strange feeling of desperation while “Miss Magnolia,” which follows, has a cheerful tempo. These two songs have a hint of southern influence and perhaps is an indication of the direction his music is going in. I liked it.