The Boy with the Arab Strap
Studio album by
Belle & Sebastian
Released7 September 1998
StudioCaVa Studios, Glasgow
Genre
Length45:27
LabelJeepster / Matador (USA)
ProducerTony Doogan
Belle & Sebastian chronology
3.. 6.. 9 Seconds of Light
(1997) 		The Boy with the Arab Strap
(1998) 		This Is Just a Modern Rock Song
(1998)

The Boy with the Arab Strap is the third studio album by Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian, released in 1998 through Jeepster Records.

Background and recording

Belle and Sebastian released their second studio album If You're Feeling Sinister in November 1996, two months after signing to London-based label Jeepster Records. It was issued in the United States in early 1997; the choice to do this delayed the follow-up, with the band instead opting to release a trio of EPs – Dog on Wheels, Lazy Line Painter Jane and 3.. 6.. 9 Seconds of Light (all 1997). The EPs were successively climbing the UK chart while If You're Feeling Sinister was gaining traction at colleges in the US; the band performed in America for the first time at the CMJ Festival in late 1997.[3]

Stuart Murdoch recalled the recording process for this album felt very different from the previous two. The group spent several months working on it versus the previous albums which were recorded in just a number of days. The music itself was somewhat more experimental as well as more collaborative with some tracks written by Stevie Jackson and Isobel Campbell and more members of the group contributing vocals. Stevie Jackson sings lead on both "Seymour Stein" and "Chickfactor", Stuart David gives a spoken word performance on "A Space Boy Dream", whilst Isobel Campbell sings lead on "Is It Wicked Not to Care?" and duets with Murdoch on "Sleep the Clock Around".[4]

The inspiration for the album's name came from the band Arab Strap, who are also from Scotland and briefly toured with Belle and Sebastian. An Arab strap is a sexual device for retaining an erection, a fact unknown to Murdoch at the time.[5] Arab Strap were reportedly less than pleased with their inclusion in the title of the album. When questioned about it, Arab Strap's leader/singer, Aidan Moffat said, "They have a sense of humour." Malcolm Middleton, the band's instrumentalist, added, "Because Arab Strap is quite an interesting name. The words go well together. That's why we chose it as a band name. We're friends with them, but there's a limit to putting someone else's name on an album. They're taking away something from us." He also mentioned that the album had been confused as a collaboration between the bands.[6]

Release

On 20 November 1999, the band made their TV debut, appearing on Apocalypse Tube.[7]

The album's cover photo was taken by Murdoch and shows band member Chris Geddes. The photo was taken as the group spent an afternoon near the River Ayr near Auchencruive.[4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[8]
The Guardian[9]
Los Angeles Times[10]
NME8/10[11]
Pitchfork0.8/10 (1998)[12]
8.5/10 (2018)[13]
Rolling Stone[14]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[15]
Spin8/10[16]
The Village VoiceA−[17]

In October 2011, NME placed the title track at number 130 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[18] The album sold 200,000 units through 2006.[19]

Track listing

The Boy with the Arab Strap track listing
No.TitleLength
1."It Could Have Been a Brilliant Career"2:24
2."Sleep the Clock Around"4:58
3."Is It Wicked Not to Care?"3:22
4."Ease Your Feet in the Sea"3:35
5."A Summer Wasting"2:06
6."Seymour Stein"4:42
7."A Space Boy Dream"3:00
8."Dirty Dream Number Two"4:14
9."The Boy with the Arab Strap"5:14
10."Chickfactor"3:30
11."Simple Things"1:46
12."The Rollercoaster Ride"6:36
Total length:45:27

Personnel

Belle and Sebastian

Additional musicians

Charts

Chart performance for The Boy with the Arab Strap
Chart (1998) Peak
position
French Albums (SNEP)[20] 39
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[21] 7
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[22] 30
UK Albums (OCC)[23] 12

References

Citations

  1. ^ Butler, Will; Pollard, Alexandra (16 October 2015). "The most unforgivable Mercury album snubs of all time". Gigwise. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Boy with the Arab Strap – Belle and Sebastian". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  3. ^ Thompson 2000, p. 184
  4. ^ a b Murdoch, Stuart (28 March 2016). "Sleevenotes - The Boy With the Arab Strap". Belle & Sebastian.
  5. ^ "Belle & Sebastian: 'I Didn't Know An Arab Strap Was A Cock Ring'". 31 March 2014. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2015 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ Laurence, Alexander (May 2001). "An interview with Arab Strap". Free Williamsburg. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 3 July 2006.
  7. ^ Thompson 2000, p. 185
  8. ^ Tucker, Ken (11 September 1998). "The Boy With the Arab Strap". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  9. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (11 September 1998). "Belle & Sebastian: The Boy with the Arab Strap (Jeepster)". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  10. ^ Hochman, Steve (29 August 1998). "Belle and Sebastian, 'The Boy With the Arab Strap,' Matador". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  11. ^ Mulvey, John (3 September 1998). "Belle & Sebastian – The Boy with the Arab Strap". NME. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  12. ^ Josephes, Jason (October 1998). "Belle & Sebastian: The Boy with the Arab Strap". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 4 June 2003. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  13. ^ Plagenhoef, Scott (18 February 2018). "Belle and Sebastian: The Boy with the Arab Strap". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  14. ^ Ratliff, Ben (17 September 1998). "The Boy with the Arab Strap". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  15. ^ Wolk 2004, pp. 59–60
  16. ^ Wolk 1998, p. 140
  17. ^ Christgau, Robert (15 December 1998). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  18. ^ "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years | NME.COM". www.nme.com. Archived from the original on 6 November 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  19. ^ Plagenhoef, Scott (15 September 2007). Belle & Sebastian's if You're Feeling Sinister. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 9781441194909.
  20. ^ "Lescharts.com – Belle and Sebastian – The Boy with the Arab Strap". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Belle and Sebastian – The Boy with the Arab Strap". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Belle and Sebastian – The Boy with the Arab Strap". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 June 2021.

Sources

External links

Belle and Sebastian
Authority control databases
Categories