If You're Feeling Sinister

If You're Feeling Sinister is the second album by Scottish pop group Belle & Sebastian, released on the independent label Jeepster Records in the United Kingdom and Matador Records in the United States. The album was released to much critical praise in 1996.

Band leader Stuart Murdoch has stated in interviews that this is probably his best collection of songs, although they are not very well recorded. In 2005, Belle & Sebastian released a live version of the album entitled If You're Feeling Sinister: Live at the Barbican on the iTunes Music Store.

Critical reception

If You're Feeling Sinister has received wide acclaim. Pitchfork Media placed the album at number 14 in its top 100 albums of the 1990s.^[1] Rolling Stone magazine featured the album on its list of "Essential Recordings of the 1990s,"^[2] while Spin included the record at number 76 on its "100 Greatest Albums, 1985-2005" list.^[3] If You're Feeling Sinister also appears as an entry in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die as chosen by music critics.

In 2007, as part of the 33⅓ series, Scott Plagenhoef wrote a book about the album.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Stuart Murdoch. 

Personnel

• Stuart Murdoch – vocals, guitar, piano
• Stuart David – bass
• Isobel Campbell – cello, vocals, percussion, recorder
• Chris Geddes – keyboards, piano
• Richard Colburn – drums
• Stevie Jackson – guitar, vocals
• Sarah Martin – violin, recorder, percussion
• Mick Cooke – trumpet

References