Best Albums of 2009: #26, God Help The Girl's God Help The Girl

Rank: #26

Album: God Help The Girl

Artist: God Help The Girl

Label: Matador

With multiple artists creating retro, or classic soundscapes as of late, many may start to wonder when it gets tired. Luckily, we're not at that point of saturation yet, and thus, can truly appreciate God Help The Girl. The charming, '60s-esque project, headed by Belle and Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch, is warm and familiar, and gives a nod to simpler times. Even better is how well the large collection of vocalists harmonize, especially with very little experience.

Though God Help The Girl is made up mostly of original work, there are some Belle and Sebastian tracks here as well. Old favorites "Funny Little Frog" and "Act of the Apostle" are reworked by the wonderful Brittany Stallings and Catherine Ireton, respectively, into sprightly love ballads that truly enhance the collection of gorgeous arrangements. Even with the concepts of lost love and loneliness playing consistently throughout, the album as a whole manages to be an upbeat and pleasant listen. Tracks like "God Help The Girl" and "Come Monday Night" shine with Ireton's -- sure to be a rising star at this point-- youthful glow, and classic-sounding voice. Unlike many of the releases of today, God Help The Girl is a timeless venture, literally enjoyable to music fans young and old.

Best Track: "Funny Little Frog"

[Previously on Animal Noises: Best Albums of 2009: #27, Crystal Antlers' Tentacles]

God Help the Girl Now Streaming

Surprisingly busy Friday here at Animal Noises. Our latest piece of valuable information (as deemed by yours' truly)? As we spoke about last week, Stuart Murdoch (of Belle and Sebastian) has a side project called God Help the Girl. Well, with just days to go before its highly-anticipated (at least by me) release, Matador Records has done us the service of streaming it online to help diehards get their fix, and those on the fence make up their minds come purchase time next week. Check it out here, and check it out in stores June 23rd via the aforementioned Matador.

Stuart Murdoch's God Help The Girl

Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian decided last year that he wanted to make an album and movie following a narrative he wrote about two girls and a guy.  After auditioning numerous young ladies, Brittany Stallings, Dina Bankhole and Catherine Ireton all got the job, and equal opportunity to contribute on an album which, from what I've heard in the clip below, is nothing short of intriguing.  I, like so many other fans of music, can always enjoy when someone decides to leave their comfort level in a natural progression, to produce something original or organic.  This seemingly fits the bit, in what I hear as a 1960s-style re-conceptualization of Belle and Sebastian, and life, in general.  If you're still skeptical, check out the short back story documentary about it below, and maybe you'll change your mind.  God Help The Girl is out June 23rd via Matador.  I'd recommend it.  See the website for more info.