The Life Pursuit

Studio album by Belle & Sebastian

Released

6 February 2006

Recorded

2005

Genre

Indie pop

Length

49:21

Label

Rough Trade (UK)
Matador (America)

Producer

Tony Hoffer

Belle & Sebastian chronology

If You're Feeling Sinister: Live at the Barbican
(2005)

The Life Pursuit
(2006)

The BBC Sessions
(2008)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]
Blender	^[2]
Drowned in Sound	(8/10)^[3]
Entertainment Weekly	A−^[4]
The Guardian	^[5]
musicOMH	^[6]
Pitchfork Media	(8.5/10)^[7]
Rolling Stone	^[8]
Slant	^[9]
Stylus	B+^[10]
Spin	B+^[11]
Uncut	^[12]

The Life Pursuit is a 2006 album by Scottish indie pop band, Belle & Sebastian. It was released in Europe on 6 February 2006 by Rough Trade Records and in North America on 7 February 2006 by Matador Records.

The models on the album cover are Alex Klobouk, Natasha Noramly, and Marisa Privitera.^[13]

Release and reception

The album earned the band its most successful chart performance yet, reaching #8 in the UK Album Chart and #65 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, selling 20,485 units in the first week. The Life Pursuit has been certified Silver in the UK. Lead single "Funny Little Frog" reached the top 20 of the UK Single Charts in January 2006, becoming the band's highest charting to date. "The Blues Are Still Blue" was released as the second single in April of that same year managing to peak inside the top 40. "White Collar Boy" was released as the last single in June peaking inside the top 50 of the same chart. Furthermore, "We Are the Sleepyheads" was used in MTV2 adverts. In 2009, Pitchfork Media named the album the 86th greatest of the 2000s.^[14]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Belle & Sebastian.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Act of the Apostle"	2:55
2.	"Another Sunny Day"	4:04
3.	"White Collar Boy"	3:20
4.	"The Blues Are Still Blue"	4:08
5.	"Dress Up in You"	4:23
6.	"Sukie in the Graveyard"	3:00
7.	"We Are the Sleepyheads"	3:33
8.	"Song for Sunshine"	4:06
9.	"Funny Little Frog"	3:08
10.	"To Be Myself Completely"	3:17
11.	"Act of the Apostle II"	4:20
12.	"For the Price of a Cup of Tea"	3:19
13.	"Mornington Crescent"	5:40

iTunes Bonus Tracks
No.	Title	Length
14.	"Blue Eyes of a Millionaire"	4:25
15.	"I Took a Long Hard Look"	3:36

Chart positions

Chart	Peak
United Kingdom	8
United States	65
Canada	47
Sweden	20
Germany	35
Austria	60
Switzerland	56
Australia	48
Finland	25

References

Belle and Sebastian

Stuart Murdoch Stevie Jackson Chris Geddes Richard Colburn Sarah Martin Bobby Kildea Isobel Campbell Stuart David Mick Cooke

Studio albums	Tigermilk If You're Feeling Sinister The Boy with the Arab Strap Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant Storytelling Dear Catastrophe Waitress The Life Pursuit Belle and Sebastian Write About Love Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance

EPs	Dog on Wheels Lazy Line Painter Jane 3.. 6.. 9 Seconds of Light This Is Just a Modern Rock Song Books Introducing... Belle & Sebastian

Compilation albums	Push Barman to Open Old Wounds The Third Eye Centre

Live albums	If You're Feeling Sinister: Live at the Barbican The BBC Sessions

Videos	Fans Only

Singles	"Legal Man" "Jonathan David" "I'm Waking Up to Us" "Step into My Office, Baby" "I'm a Cuckoo" "Funny Little Frog" "Casaco Marrom" "The Blues Are Still Blue" "White Collar Boy" "Write About Love" "I Want the World to Stop" "Come On Sister" "The Party Line" "Nobody's Empire"

Related articles	Discography Rough Trade Records Jeepster Records Bowlie Weekender Belle et Sébastien God Help the Girl Put the Book Back on the Shelf Late Night Tales: Belle & Sebastian Late Night Tales: Belle & Sebastian Vol. II God Help the Girl (film)