For the month of November, I’ll be selecting songs in conjunction with the music Twitter challenge: #WelcomeToTheOccupation.
Belle & Sebastian has made a career out of crafting volumes and volumes of character-based stories with a folk, 60’s-inspired flair. So leave it to Belle & Sebastian to write an eccentric letter to an eccentric character. The album of the same name had more well-known B&S staples like “Piazza, New York Catcher” and “If She Wants Me”. But “Dear Catastrophe Waitress” rises above them all.
“Dear Catastrophe Waitress” just does its own thing. Characteristic of the album as a whole, the song feels more polished and produced than previous B&S recordings. This title track is like a jovial slice of old Hollywood, incorporating musical embellishments such as horns and synth strings. While the unusual time signature and melody are what we expect from the band, the instrumental choices weren’t their standard fare.
“You'll soon be leaving this town to the clowns who worship no one but themselves.”