God Help the Girl

First off, how anyone can give this less than a 5 star is beyond me. Open to new ideas, even if they are recycled from years gone by. What blows my mind with this collection of songs is the very strong cohesive melodies that bind the collection of songs as a whole. The beautiful harmonies that swiftly intertwine each song is breaththaking. I find these songs stuck in my head long after the stereo has been turned off.So if someone is reading these reviews here, hopefully it's to gain some insight on what the disc is like and whether or not they should purchase it. For any Belle and Sebastian fans, the dice could roll either way. I am a diehard B & S Fan...but not a fan of EVERYTHING they have done in the past (Though the new release gets my vote for 5 stars as does The Life Pursuit and If You're Feeling Sinister).This collection of songs, though obviously B&S influenced - same songwriters and musicians - have a different 60's feeling air about them. It's all very nostalgic but with a modern feel. All I can say is, if you like to sing along to music while driving in your car, this is a good one for it. Most of the songs are upbeat and cheerful and the lyrics couldn't be more clever and witty.The EP's all contain songs that work well as tracks 15-20 on here, I excluded Baby Your Blind though it's a really good song, it doesn't fit with the feel of this disc.To each their opinion....not everyone is bound to like this. I give it a very strong 5 stars and highly recommend it. Cheers.

The best album I bought in 2012, was released in 2009: "God Help the Girl" was the project of scotsman Stuart Murdoch, one of the founders of Belle & Sebastian. He auditioned largely unknown singers from all over the world to form a "girl group," to perform songs he'd written, both old and new, with a retro feel to it -- specifically the years 1962 to '72. It's part Shangri-Las, part Dusty Springfield, and part Karen Carpenter. The feel is pitch-perfect, Murdoch's story lyrics are both sharp and witty, and the ensemble of vocalists is sublime. Plus, the "girls" are clearly having a grand time. Chief among them is Catherine Ireton, who sings lead on most of the tracks. But Celia Garcia and Alex Klobouk are also terrific. And Brittany Stallings performs a boffo cover of Belle & Sebastian's "Funny Little Frog." Stuart Murdoch, Neil Hannon, Anna Miles, Dina Bankhole and Asya also contribute vocals to this rarest of recording phenomena these days -- a perfect album!

A friend of mine randomly suggested I check this album out. I have never listened to Belle & Sebastain, though I know of them - so I had no preconceived notions about what this album might sound like. I absolutely fell in love with God Help the Girl. The women vocalists are utterly divine - very reminisce of 60s era style singing. I honestly can not get enough of any of the songs. I also enjoy the lyrics as they're not your typical pop love songs, some of them tell stories, some are cute, some are whimsical. Most of the songs are upbeat and cheerful. I find I always feel better about life after listening to this. Nothing but love for this album.

This ambitious side project from Belle and Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch plays right off Brill Building sensibilities in its don't-go-breaking-my-heart aches of romance from the female point of view. Murdoch enlists six different singers to enhance the universality of these experiences. The addition of chamber orchestra with the guest musicians imparts the atmosphere of a somewhat cloying high-school play with 60s girl-group overtones. Beneath the nonchalant sheen burns a "pick me! pick me!" cross-your-fingers-and-hope-to-die wish for love that's both charming and dated in its innocence. "I Just Want Your Jeans" finally looks beyond the hula hoops and puppy love - but just for three minutes. ***

The concept here is cute (a soundtrack for a film that doesn't yet exist) and it's executed well (a grab bag of 60's girl group stylings filtered through ultra-cool pop sensibilities), but this album really only catches fire once and that's on the tune that (on paper, at least) seems least likely to succeed: a cover (of Belle and Sebastian's "Funny Little Frog") sung by an internet contest winner (American vocalist Brittany Stallings).To me, the reason boils down to the album's vocalists. Catherine Ireton (the vocalist on 90% of the tunes) has an pure, beautiful voice capable of all kinds of acrobatic wonders but there's little passion in her delivery. Stallings, on the other hand, crawls deep inside the tune she's given and fills it with so much passion and exuberance that it expands into something far greater than B&S maestro Stuart Murdoch probably ever anticipated.In all, the effect is much like listening to a 60's soundtrack album where Julie Andrews sings a bunch a show tunes and there, in the middle, you come across a sultry Dusty Springfield gem. Once you're exposed to that kind of pure and powerful soulfulness, regular skilled singing just doesn't measure up.That's most certainly why "Funny Little Frog" was the first single from this release. Here's hoping Murdoch and Stallings work together again!

Super catchy tunes. If you're a fan of Belle & Sebastian, definitely listen to this. The film was great too.

I heard the title song on the local public radio station and was intrigued. You know how sometimes you hear one song on the radio and love it so much you buy the album and then you're disappointed by the rest? Well, that's not the case here. All the songs, taken together, tell a story. It's an interesting story. The characters are complex and likable. And the music is beautiful.

Reminded me a bit of Abba.

Good value

f

Thank you prompt delivery and good value

excellent

Very happy customer

God Help The Girl, so heißt das neueste Projekt von Belle & Sebastian Frontmann Stuart Murdoch und ist eigentlich der Soundtrack zu seinem gleichnamigen Musical-Film der im Jahr 2010 gedreht werden soll. Den Soundtrack dazu gibt es jetzt schon und darauf zu hören gibt es neben zwei Songs von Belle & Sebastian (als da wären "Funny Little Frog" und der Opener "Act Of The Apostle") jede Menge neue Songs aus der Feder von Stuart Murdoch und einen Song von Stevie Jackson ("Pretty Eve In The Tub"). Das ungewöhnliche an dem Album ist, dass Murdoch offen in einer Art Contest dazu aufgerufen hatte sich mit Gesangsvideos bei ihm für einen Gesangspart auf der Platte zu bewerben. Und somit dürfen wir dem wundervollen Gesang von Newcomerin Catherine Ireton oder der bezaubernden Asya, Sängerin der aus Seattle stammenden Indie-Band Smoosh lauschen. Aber auch der große Neal Hannon (The Divine Comedy) gibt sich die Ehre auf dem großartigen "Perfection As A Hipster" im Duett mit Catherine Ireton. Weitere Contest Gewinner sind Brittany Stallings und Dina Bankole, sowie Celia Garcia und Alex Klobouk die an diesem ungewöhnlichen, großartigen Werk witgewirkt haben. Unverkennbar klingt die Handschrift von Stuart Murdoch durch. Bestechend sein Gefühl für große Melodien, hier perfekt in Szene gesetzt und unglaublich gut arrangiert und mit großem Orchester gespielt. Nichtzuletzt fühlt man sich an die Songschreiber Qualitäten der schwedischen Popgruppe Abba erinnert ("Musician, Please Take Heed"). Muss man haben !!!

It's a little like a musical story telling album. It is fun to listen to, great melodies, very cachy and fun. After going though it once, I find the melodies kept playing back in my head all day. Watch the more recent movie too, that includes most songs from this album.

Stuart Murdoch en fait-il trop?Être le leader du groupe si prolifique et désormais culte Belle and Sebastian ne lui suffit pas?God help the girl est un projet diablement ambitieux, puisque conçu en parallèle de B&S comme une comédie musicale sur les états d'âme d'une fille anorexique, qui devrait aboutir à un film en 2011. Cet album est dans l'intention le premier d'une série de 5!Alors que vaut-il?Soyons clairs, si vous n'aimez pas B&S, que vous n'éprouvez aucune affection pour la pop variété des années 60-70 et que vous êtes un fan de musique électronique ou noisy, n'écoutez pas cela, vous allez détester.Je suis un fan de B&S, j'adore leurs tonalités de pure pop anglaise et pourtant j'ai eu du mal à autant l'apprécier que « Life poursuit » dans un premier temps.Stuart Murdoch enfonce encore plus le clou par rapport à sa production habituelle : encore plus de référence évidentes à la musique de son enfance, comme si le rock et le punk n'avaient jamais existé. Il y a du jazz (Unified theory), de la musique traditionnelle anglaise (Pretty Eve in the tub). Mais la tonalité générale est pop, parfois très près de la variété, avec des chœurs, des cuivres et des cordes comme à la télé dans les années 70. Les superbes voix féminines amplifient encore le phénomène. Il ne manque plus que le Guy Lux ou le Jacques Martin britannique de l'époque...Une année est passée. La sortie du dernier album de B&S me pousse à réécouter God help the girl.Eh bien je dis finalement quel culot ! Oser faire cela en 2009 !Et puis quelle production, quelle qualité dans les arrangements...On peut penser que Stuart Murdoch est un crétin prétentieux. Je pense qu'il a un talent évident et qu'il a l'audace de faire ce qu'il aime et sait si bien faire. Il ose nager à contre courant. N'est-ce pas cela un artiste?

Geschmäcker sind ja subjektiv. Daher kann ich nur durch die Anzahl der Sterne einen kleinen ergänzenden Beitrag zum Gesamteindruck aller Rezensenten (heißt das so?) leisten.

A few years ago I went into Music Zone in Doncaster to look for albums by an artist I had read about in a magazine (Rodrigo y Gabriella) but I couldnt remember the name, so at the counter I explained it was a duo, a girl and a boy, they were (I thought) South American, and they were really talented guitarists. The staff gave me the headphones and played me "Dear Catastrophe Waitress". As soon as I heard "Stay Loose" I was hooked, and now, 10 albums later (I still have to get Tiger Milk and a couple of the singles) I would describe myself as a fan, I am even signed on with their website. For anybody who doesnt know who B&S are, they are Glasgows finest (without the accent), and they are probably the biggest global act from GB, though you dont see or hear too much about them in the media. They have a dedicated fan base (this boy in London wants to know when you are going to grace us with a couple of nights at Wembley Arena) and the songs usually have some storyline, a snippet of their everyday life and experience, a bit like Ray Davies and a little bit like Lennon-McCartney, especially when they do the really sweet tune with the barbed sarcastic lyrics. Still I suppose it shows you cared! Musically B&S are pirates, taking influences from everybody, but especially the 1960s, making something new and always original. "God Bless The Girl" is a soundtrack for a movie (of the same name I believe) distilled from the bands' catalogue and particularly Stuart Murdoch's experiences. It would be worth buying for the "soul" production of "Funny Little Frog" on its own, which at some point in time will hit the charts. Great album, cant wait to see the film, cant wait to see the band!

Lovely CD, always appreciated this version of the songs more than the ones that got to the final cut of the movie. I feel so very lucky to have acquired this CD.

Un album parfait. On avait Neil Hannon (Divine Comedy), unique véritable successeur des brillantissimes mélodistes qu'ont été les Lenon, Mc Cartney, Davies (Ray), Anderson (Ian, de Jetho Tull). Et je tombe totalement sous le charme de cette collection de chansons époustoufantes d'inspiration (d'ailleurs, Neil Hanon apparaît dedans...). Un régal, sans réserves.

素敵でした。フレンチポップにも聞こえるような曲もあって、オリジナルとは違った雰囲気を楽しめました。

ベルセバのイメージで聴くより，ここはやはり女性ボーカルを堪能したいですね。あの名曲「ファニー・リトル・フロッグ」がこんなにファンキーになるなんて。これ聴くだけでも買う価値あると思います。スチュワートが歌う「ファニー…」もとても良いのですが，他の人の声で聴くとますます曲自体の良さが際だちます。車の中で黙ってかけておくと，どこまでも走れそうです。

I have to disagree!! I cannot listen to this syrupy musical stuff! I am a huge Belle and Sebastian fan but this! There a couple of poor sickly covered Belle songs on here and the the rest really is unlistenable!!Remember Boy with the Arab Strap? Lazy painter Jane? Funny little Frog? (thats on there) These women on this album are not really that good and it's all meant to be a soppy story! The whole thing really gets on my nerves!!