[rating=8.00]
You have to give Belle and Sebastian credit for their sheer perseverance. Over the course of their 22 years and umpteen numbers of albums and EPs, they’ve kept their consistency when it comes to a sound that’s so unfailingly effusive. They remain at the forefront of those that set the standard when it comes to the essence of quintessential British pop.
So why haven’t Belle and Sebastian gained the wider appreciation their music decidedly deserves? Could it be that their ongoing emphasis on writing songs with craft and care actually works to their detriment? Back in the day, when pop radio ruled, Belle and Sebastian would surely have found permanent placement in the Top Ten. Today, however, nuance bows to novelty and songs that dare to be intelligent and well crafted sadly don’t count for as much as they did back in the day.
There’s also the possibility that maybe they’re taken for granted. Having set such a high bar, many critics relegate them to a specialized niche, disregarding the fact that this is one band that’s always at their best. How To Solve Our Human Problems proves that point, but it also begs the question of where Belle and Sebastian can go from here? Suffice it to say if this album doesn’t reap the recognition it deserves, then nothing else well. These beautiful, beguiling melodies are as good as it gets. How To Solve Our Human Problems is an album so rich and regal in both style and shimmer, it’s simply stunning.
It’s all but impossible to hear songs like “Sweet Dew Love,” “The Same Star,” “We Were Beautiful,” “The Girl Doesn’t Get It” or literally anything else they have to offer and not come away awed by the artistry and execution. Problems solved. Prepare to be enraptured.
