Dear Catastrophe Waitress

Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Studio album by Belle & Sebastian
Released	6 October 2003
Recorded	Summer 2003
Genre	Chamber pop
Length	48:17
Label	Rough Trade
Producer	Trevor Horn
Belle & Sebastian chronology
Storytelling (2002) Dear Catastrophe Waitress (2003) Push Barman to Open Old Wounds (2005)

Dear Catastrophe Waitress is the sixth studio album by Belle & Sebastian, a Scottish indie pop group, released in 2003 on Rough Trade Records. Producer Trevor Horn, former member of The Buggles and producer of groups like Yes and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, oversaw the production of the album, and gave it a more polished, pop-friendly sound. This stood in sharp contrast with their previous lo-fi, folky albums (although songs like "Lord Anthony" hearkened back to their old sound.) In particular, the danceable track "Stay Loose" proved to be the first in a series of songs (such as "Your Cover's Blown" and "Sukie in the Graveyard") that further diverged from their roots.

The album was nominated for the 2004 Mercury Music Prize, while the song "Step into My Office, Baby" was shortlisted for an Ivor Novello Award in the Best Song category.

Track listing

1. "Step into My Office, Baby" – 4:12
2. "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" – 2:22
3. "If She Wants Me" – 5:05
4. "Piazza, New York Catcher" – 3:03
5. "Asleep on a Sunbeam" – 3:22
6. "I'm a Cuckoo" – 5:26
7. "You Don't Send Me" – 3:08
8. "Wrapped Up in Books" – 3:34
9. "Lord Anthony" – 4:14
10. "If You Find Yourself Caught in Love" – 4:15
11. "Roy Walker" – 2:57
12. "Stay Loose" – 6:41

Reception

• Allmusic link
• BBC (positive) link
• Blender link
• Mojo link
• PopMatters (very positive) 11/4/2003
• Rolling Stone link
• Stylus (A) link
• Tiny Mix Tapes link
• Uncut link

References