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. andrewm
    Feb 7, 2006
    10
    B&S get better with each release! Love it already.
  2. dodobird
    Feb 7, 2006
    10
    This may arguably be the best album that B&S has put out.
  3. BradK
    Mar 6, 2006
    10
    I'm going to just go ahead and say this is the best Belle and Sebastian CD I have heard (including Sinister). With energy and vitality to spare, the hooks grab and the harmonies move. Looking at its worst three reviews, you see they come from Rolling Stone and Blender -- not , in my book, sources of trustworthy reviews -- and Alternative Press, an emo/punk magazine that for some I'm going to just go ahead and say this is the best Belle and Sebastian CD I have heard (including Sinister). With energy and vitality to spare, the hooks grab and the harmonies move. Looking at its worst three reviews, you see they come from Rolling Stone and Blender -- not , in my book, sources of trustworthy reviews -- and Alternative Press, an emo/punk magazine that for some reason decided to review every genre. I hope metacritic isn't weighting those critics at an average or high level.… Expand
  4. JohnK
    Feb 7, 2006
    10
    Great, great album.
  5. BernardA
    Mar 8, 2006
    10
    This cd proves once again why I think that the B & S are one of the best bands of the last decade & a half. I know many people will compare this to IYFS & DCW but it is great on its own terms. Songs like Another Sunny Day, Funny Little Frog & Dress Up in You are classic B & S. Most of the other songs show the band going in a different directions with lots of success. I do hear some glam This cd proves once again why I think that the B & S are one of the best bands of the last decade & a half. I know many people will compare this to IYFS & DCW but it is great on its own terms. Songs like Another Sunny Day, Funny Little Frog & Dress Up in You are classic B & S. Most of the other songs show the band going in a different directions with lots of success. I do hear some glam influences in songs llike The Blues are Still Blue. Another great release by the B & S.… Expand
  6. BrendanD
    Dec 27, 2006
    10
    Simply put, this is the best record of the year, and quite possibly it's the best pop record of the decade. Honestly, I know there are a lot of B&S fans out there, but I've never, ever been one of them. They were always to cute, to precious, too twee for me, which is kind of funny, considering I absolutely adore the Sea and Cake. So I turn on "The Life Pursuit," and I'm Simply put, this is the best record of the year, and quite possibly it's the best pop record of the decade. Honestly, I know there are a lot of B&S fans out there, but I've never, ever been one of them. They were always to cute, to precious, too twee for me, which is kind of funny, considering I absolutely adore the Sea and Cake. So I turn on "The Life Pursuit," and I'm listening to the first track. Ho-hum. La-de-da. Then the chorus of "Act of the Apostle" comes in, replete with its ringing organ and Carol Kaye-esque bass line, and I get kind of happy. 'Okay,' I think, 'This might not be too bad.' And then, "Another Sunny Day" comes on and absolutely blows my mind. I remember distinctly that it was springtime here in Chicago. I remember that because it was nearing the end of my last year in college, the trees were coming back, the weather was warming up, and I wasn't sober a day. And Belle & Sebastian made it all the better. I'd walk down the street listening to "The Life Pursuit" on my now dearly-departed iPod, smiling irrepressible smiles because the music made my so freakin' happy, like the Beach Boys' "Sunflower" or any number of Polyphonic Spree live shows I've got. Art Brut's got the chops, the Secret Machines have the emotion; Grandaddy's got the sentiment, and Jenny Lewis has the beauty. But Belle & Sebastian get my vote -- easily -- for album of the year.… Expand
  7. stanh
    Feb 10, 2006
    10
    Love them, and love the album!!!!
  8. tommyph
    Feb 27, 2006
    10
    This album is likely to be in my top 10 of '06 and top 200 of all time! Nice bluesy feel!
  9. Shane
    Feb 6, 2006
    10
    A pop masterpiece.
  10. [Anonymous]
    Feb 7, 2006
    10
    A masterpiece!
  11. ALittleMulroneycakesSoBeguiling
    Feb 8, 2006
    10
    "And lo, for the mighty Stuart of Murdoch and his Apostles did finally Release a New Album. And there was much rejoicing, for The Mulroneycakes did return to Metacritic to proclaim that it was good." Yes, it's Dear Catastrophe Waitress 2 and it's ace. Look how many people have called it "their best since If You're Feeling Sinister". It probably is, too. I loved Dear "And lo, for the mighty Stuart of Murdoch and his Apostles did finally Release a New Album. And there was much rejoicing, for The Mulroneycakes did return to Metacritic to proclaim that it was good." Yes, it's Dear Catastrophe Waitress 2 and it's ace. Look how many people have called it "their best since If You're Feeling Sinister". It probably is, too. I loved Dear Catastrophe Waitress to little bits as well (to the extent that I actually posted an epic review of it on Christmas Day of all times). The Life Pursuit takes the template of DCW and uses it to build an album that leaves its predecessor in the dust. Anyone else notice that their influences seem to be moving forward in time as they go on? Early B&S was sixties as anything, but now we seem to be up to the mid-seventies - savour the squelchy glam-funk of White Collar Boy, or the frankly glitter-covered The Blues Are Still Blue, which features Murdoch doing quite a commendable impression of Marc Bolan, and the band doing an equally good impersonation of T-Rex with tambourines. And then there was Sukie in the Graveyard. The title, the lyrics, suggest another mid-paced, catchy, whimsical, string-drenched quasi-ballad about another sensitive girl. What we get is boisterous snyth-funk, half-rapped by Stuart Murdoch. Even knowing B&S' propensity for surprise, I was shocked at that first burst of power-Geddes. Not that they've left behind the fey indie pop with strings and horns and that simultaneously annoying and endearing thing where Stevie scrapes his finger across the guitar strings - Dress Up In You and Another Sunny Day will satiate your Feeling Sinister urges (if you don't mind a chorus centred around a swearword on the former, and why should you?). Oh, and then there's Funny Little Frog, which almost went top ten in this country and deserved to as well. I should point out that Sarah Martin's backing vocals are, at times, almost indistinguishable from the dear departed Isobel's by this stage. All that's missing is Stevie's song and Sarah's song - Murdoch's front and centre on all of these. Not that that's a bad thing - Stevie has a B-Side on the Funny Little Frog CD single, fact fans, and Sarah practically duets We Are The Sleepyheads - which incidentally is a highlight, another piece of lyrical dummy selling, reading like a creepier Fox In The Snow, but playing something like an energised Bowie pre-Eno. So many famous names glide through the listener's head as the album wears on...Bolan, Slade, Bowie, George Clinton for heaven's sake - Clinton collaborating with Stevie Wonder on Song for Sunshine. And yet it's all uniquely Belle and Sebastian in the final analyisis, and all the better for it. Blimey, even Playlouder like it, and they rode the post-Peasant B&S hatred bandwagon like they had Sitting Bull on their tail. What am I talking about? Look, speaking as Recognised Authority On Belle And Sebastian (in the Plymouth postal district), I can confirm: This Album Is Good. In fact, it probably IS their best since Sinister. There's a turn-up. Peace.… Expand
  12. RobP
    Feb 8, 2006
    10
    Lovely. 13 great pop songs on one album. Not as long lasting as their old stuff.
  13. AbrahamJ
    Feb 8, 2006
    10
    I really like this albums sincere enthusiasm for the music we call pop. It's their best since 'If You're Feeling Sinister'. Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan's new album is great too!
  14. Jamie
    Feb 9, 2006
    10
    This bit of pop perfection ties with Tigermilk as B&S' most coherent LP in my book. And it's a friggin' blast to listen to.
  15. sk
    Apr 2, 2006
    10
    it could be their best album
  16. kickstand
    May 16, 2006
    10
    Features the best song ever written about laundry ... what more can you ask for?
  17. time
    Aug 8, 2006
    10
    Score another point for the greatest indie band in the world.
  18. Guy
    Jan 4, 2007
    10
    Best album of the year hands down.
  19. MathewB
    Feb 11, 2006
    10
    Amazing, easily their most diverse record. Musically they experiment with numerous styles ("Song for Sunshine" actually sounds like a song by "Sly and the Family Stone" if you can believe that) without a single mis-step. Every song is great. And as musically expansive as this record is, it all blends together perfectly while always mainting the unique qualities of all previous "Belle and Amazing, easily their most diverse record. Musically they experiment with numerous styles ("Song for Sunshine" actually sounds like a song by "Sly and the Family Stone" if you can believe that) without a single mis-step. Every song is great. And as musically expansive as this record is, it all blends together perfectly while always mainting the unique qualities of all previous "Belle and Sebastian" work. This is the milestone record that they will be known for.… Expand
  20. berdk
    Feb 15, 2006
    10
    great great great
  21. guyh
    Feb 8, 2006
    10
    love it!!!!!
  22. JESSEB
    Feb 9, 2006
    10
    The best Belle and Sebastian album since Tiger Milk. Ignore the critics who think Belle and Sebastian have changed their formula for the worst. This album shows a more mature and yes, fun side of the group. The Life Pursuit represents a band that is further expanding the art of pop music, giving the finger to the indy critics, and having a blast at the same time.
  23. CaitieF
    Mar 16, 2006
    10
    Fantastic. Definitely one of the best albums of the 2000s by far, with catchy song after catchy song throughout the album. I bought this on a whim and was instantly in love with it on the first listen. "The Blues Are Still Blue" was stuck in my head for days and is by far the best song on the record, but that's not to say less of the rest of it, it has a wonderful combination of Fantastic. Definitely one of the best albums of the 2000s by far, with catchy song after catchy song throughout the album. I bought this on a whim and was instantly in love with it on the first listen. "The Blues Are Still Blue" was stuck in my head for days and is by far the best song on the record, but that's not to say less of the rest of it, it has a wonderful combination of uptempo songs and wistful ballads. I was never into B&S prior to this, but now I think I shall do a bit more exploring of their stuff!… Expand
  24. JaimeZ
    May 23, 2006
    10
    The first B&S that made me smile for an hour or two....Morrissey meet The Monkees in a summer resort.
  25. Ben
    Feb 16, 2006
    10
    I fail to understand anyone who finds this album bland. I haven't wanted to dance this much in ages. Particularly, I don't understand Michael's comment that this continues the wrong that begun with Legal Man, as to me Legal Man was dance-in-the-streets good. This is certainly a departure from earlier albums, but it is still thoroughly B&S. It is a more cohesive (despite its I fail to understand anyone who finds this album bland. I haven't wanted to dance this much in ages. Particularly, I don't understand Michael's comment that this continues the wrong that begun with Legal Man, as to me Legal Man was dance-in-the-streets good. This is certainly a departure from earlier albums, but it is still thoroughly B&S. It is a more cohesive (despite its eclectic sound) record than DCW - if you like, DCW was their attempt to break into a new form, and this is their success. From the crazy catchiness of "white collar boy" to the relaxing, uplifting "song for sunshine", it is a wonderfully crafted record, and the near overproduction of DCW is replaced here by a band that is well produced but still distinctly all the things that make B&S amazing. I wasn't sure where this album stood at first, but when Stuart sung "you were chained to a girl who would kill you with a look / it's a nice way to die, she's so easy on the eye", and "she said 'you aint ugly, you can kiss me if you like' / go ahead and kiss her! you don't know what you're missing!", I knew it was another gem. This is B&S as they should be, and if it lacks something from the days of Sinister, it's also gained something. I would rather listen to their sound modulate over time than have Stuart turn out a bunch of photocopies of Sinister and get stale. It is a fun, wonderful album.… Expand
  26. MarkO
    Mar 29, 2006
    10
    I have everything thing they've recorded and this is hands down their best. Variety, energy and heart make this one of the best of the year.
  27. AndrewC
    Apr 17, 2006
    10
    My favourite B&S album since 'Sinister'. Their sound has truly evolved into something great. Makes 'Dear Catastrophe Waitress' sound like a mediocre transitional album.
  28. Fall_Guy
    Jun 11, 2013
    10
    This is my first Metacritic review, and even though The Life Pursuit is 7 years old, I have to rave about this album. This is Belle and Sebastian at their best: catchy, well-crafted melodic indie-pop with thoughtful, self-aware lyrics. Highlights for me: Funny Little Frog's boppy piano pop and hilarious lyrics, and White Collar Boy's perfectly balanced mix of thumping drums, fuzzed outThis is my first Metacritic review, and even though The Life Pursuit is 7 years old, I have to rave about this album. This is Belle and Sebastian at their best: catchy, well-crafted melodic indie-pop with thoughtful, self-aware lyrics. Highlights for me: Funny Little Frog's boppy piano pop and hilarious lyrics, and White Collar Boy's perfectly balanced mix of thumping drums, fuzzed out bass line, plus its subtle and not-so-subtle social commentary.
    If you like being happy, listen to this album.    … Expand
  29. Mark
    Feb 8, 2006
    9
    A little over-produced, but, a GREAT album
  30. ZhibinD
    Feb 20, 2006
    9
    brilliant
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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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