The Boy with the Arab Strap

The Boy with the Arab Strap
Studio album by Belle & Sebastian
Released 7 September 1998
Recorded Ca Va Studios
Genre Indie pop, chamber pop
Length 45:28
Label Jeepster (UK) Matador (US)
Producer Tony Doogan
Belle & Sebastian chronology
If You're Feeling Sinister
(1996)		 The Boy with the Arab Strap
(1998)		 Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant
(2000)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[2]
Los Angeles Times[3]
Pitchfork(0.8)[4]
Robert ChristgauA−[5]
Rolling Stone[6]
Spin(8/10)[7]
Sputnikmusic[8]

The Boy with the Arab Strap is the third album from the Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian. The inspiration for the album's name came from the band Arab Strap, who are also from Scotland and briefly toured with Belle & Sebastian. An Arab strap is a sexual device for retaining an erection, a fact unknown to Stuart Murdoch at the time.[9]

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 humor." 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.[10]

The album features several lead vocals by members of the band other than Murdoch. Stevie Jackson sings lead on both "Seymour Stein" and "Chickfactor", Stuart David gives a spoken word performance on "A Space Boy Dream" and Isobel Campbell sings lead on "Is It Wicked Not to Care?".

In October 2011, NME placed the title track at number 130 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[11]

Track listing

No. Title Length
1. "It Could Have Been a Brilliant Career"   2:23
2. "Sleep the Clock Around"   4:57
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"   3:01
8. "Dirty Dream Number Two"   4:14
9. "The Boy with the Arab Strap"   5:14
10. "Chickfactor"   3:31
11. "Simple Things"   1:46
12. "The Rollercoaster Ride"   6:36
Total length:
 45:28

Personnel

Appearances in film

The instrumental of the title track "The Boy with the Arab Strap" was later used as the theme tune for the television show Teachers. Though the title track was not played, it was referenced in the 2009 film (500) Days of Summer. Part of the song "Seymour Stein" is briefly featured in the 2000 film High Fidelity. The track was also in the movie Definitely, Maybe starring Ryan Reynolds and Isla Fisher. In the episode Return of the Shirt of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, several references are made to Belle and Sebastian, including a shot featuring the CD of The Boy with the Arab Strap.

In 2011 "Sleep the Clock Around" was used in the AMC (an American cable TV network) series "The Killing" (season 1, episode 4, "A Soundless Echo"). The scene depicted actress Kacey Rohl playing the role of Sterling listening to music from an iPod in a high school hallway.

Also featured on "Pretty Little Liars" Season 2 Episode 21 - "Breaking the Code" where Spencer played by Troian Bellisario is sat in a bar and meets her sisters ex-boyfriend by coincidence.

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ Entertainment Weekly review
  3. ↑ Los Angeles Times review
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ Robert Christgau review
  6. ↑ Rolling Stone review
  7. ↑ Spin review
  8. ↑ Sputnikmusic review
  9. ↑ "Belle & Sebastian: 'I Didn't Know An Arab Strap Was A Cock Ring'". YouTube. NME. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  10. ↑ Laurence, Alexander (May 2001). "An interview with Arab Strap". Free Williamsburg. Retrieved 2006-07-03.
  11. ↑ http://www.nme.com/list/150-best-tracks-of-the-past-15-years/248648/page/3
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