The Life Pursuit
by Belle and Sebastian
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 120 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 109 out of 120
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 120
  3. Negative: 4 out of 120

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  1. Jason
    Feb 17, 2006
    6
    Not bad but...is it just me or does this sound exactly like ELO?
  2. jdg
    Mar 31, 2006
    5
    I highy anticipate this album coz I love DCW. except of "Another Sunny Day" the album is disappointing. No more smart lines and forggettable tunes. Shame.
  3. AndreaB
    Mar 7, 2006
    6
    Soild, creative, refreshing, yet somehow forgetable
  4. MattA
    Aug 27, 2006
    6
    It's not nearly as bold or compelling as other pop indie rock albums (such as Of Montreal's Sunlandi Twins), and it seems like a step back to the sunshiney fluff of The Beach Boys from decades before. For what it's worth, the album sounds great even if it's fairly forgettable in comparison to much bolder Indie efforts this year.
  5. LeonardoF
    Feb 13, 2006
    5
    It's funny because the songs are not bad... but they fail to catch your attention - it's just too bland.
  6. ReubenF
    Dec 18, 2006
    6
    My first musical love was The Smiths, and so predictably enough, I kinda like Belle & Sebastian as well. I know they don't like being described as 'Twee Pop', and most likely their fans wouldn't like that description either, but it seems to me quite apt. The website World Wide Words gives the definition as follows: "It means excessively or affectedly quaint, My first musical love was The Smiths, and so predictably enough, I kinda like Belle & Sebastian as well. I know they don't like being described as 'Twee Pop', and most likely their fans wouldn't like that description either, but it seems to me quite apt. The website World Wide Words gives the definition as follows: "It means excessively or affectedly quaint, sentimental or mawkish, sometimes coupled with words like nauseatingly. It… Expand

Awards & Rankings

36
#36 Most Discussed Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Q Magazine
    70
    The presence of more filler than is comfortable does not detract from the creative health in evidence on the better songs. [Feb 2006, p.100]
  2. The A.V. Club
    91
    The band sounds reinvigorated even when returning to well-trodden turf, and even livelier when moving away from it.
    Read full review
  3. Dot Music
    80
    Hence we get an album which, musically at least, veers all over the place, from chamber pop to glam to, God help them, hotel lobby jazz. In other hands, this would be a terrible mess, but in each instance you feel like the group are inching ever closer to that perfect pop moment.
    Read full review
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