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Belle and Sebastian — Sleep the Clock Around
Album: The Boy With the Arab Strap
Avg rating:
6.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 490









Released: 1998
Length: 4:50
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Comments (105)add comment
Well, if the placement of this song in the current mix was an experiment consider it a successful one. I almost found myself enjoying a B and S song. ALMOST!
Posted 13 years ago by Sasha2001    [ Reply ]
 camatcba wrote:
Definitely an RP song in every way!  {#Motor}
 
Out of MY way.

Posted 13 years ago by Barman    [ Reply ]
 Hippostar wrote:
The harmonies are composed of largely root notes of four unremarkable chords repeated throughout the entire song and layered with additional synth voices little more than root notes.

Yep, I vote crap.
  I'd like a copy of whatever you've done.


Posted 13 years ago by boober    [ Reply ]
 Hippostar wrote:
The harmonies are composed of largely root notes of four unremarkable chords repeated throughout the entire song and layered with additional synth voices little more than root notes.

Yep, I vote crap.
  
That also describes about 96% of pop and/or rock music. 
"Unremarkable chords"? 
Posted 14 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 keller1 wrote:
That makes no sense at all. Attempted humor from deep space.
 

{#Whisper} you should probably go and see a doctor about that?

Posted 14 years ago by arserocket    [ Reply ]
awesome!
Posted 14 years ago by warderblu    [ Reply ]
One of those songs that's so bad and yet not bad. For me!
Posted 14 years ago by C019740    [ Reply ]
The content of this song is not just simplicity...because simplicity can be a great thing. This is just laziness and boredom at it's very best.

Posted 14 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]

Posted 14 years ago by Netto    [ Reply ]
like this ..such a simple child-like song...and graceful and nobal.....best song to play at 3.00pm...{#Wave}  {#Wave}  {#Wave} 
Posted 14 years ago by King-Tut09    [ Reply ]
utter barf......{#Puke}
Posted 14 years ago by Glencoe_JC    [ Reply ]
 mybaldbird wrote:
Always expecting these lyrics to come:

They will see us waving from such great
Heights, 'come down now,' they'll say

But, that would be a different tune...
 
I never noticed that before, but you're right :)
Anyway, Belle & Sebastian's take on this chord progression was about 5 years earlier.

I really love this song. To me, it feels like a mix of the Velvet Underground and Peter Schilling (don't hit me).


Posted 14 years ago by spaceman    [ Reply ]
This is one of those enigma bands; they have a few songs that are just wonderful and more songs that I cannot stand, yet it is the same band! This song sucks, but take the title song from this album...just wonderful!
Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]

Posted 14 years ago by Netto    [ Reply ]
more belle & sebastian! woo!
Posted 14 years ago by andrewmi    [ Reply ]
Definitely an RP song in every way!  {#Motor}
Posted 15 years ago by camatcba    [ Reply ]
The harmonies are composed of largely root notes of four unremarkable chords repeated throughout the entire song and layered with additional synth voices little more than root notes.

Yep, I vote crap.


Posted 15 years ago by Hippostar    [ Reply ]
Maybe I am just old, but I gave it a chance. Simplistic and derivative.Nope...don't like it.


Posted 15 years ago by maroubra    [ Reply ]
I concur but less forthrightly...

Cm

 tg3k wrote:
To me, this is crap. Well-made crap, done with lots of effort and intention, but crap nonetheless. It's catchy, but then again, so is the flu. Then again, are strictly personal opinions, so YMMV. If you love 'em, cool.
 

Posted 15 years ago by tulfan    [ Reply ]
To me, this is crap. Well-made crap, done with lots of effort and intention, but crap nonetheless. It's catchy, but then again, so is the flu. Then again, are strictly personal opinions, so YMMV. If you love 'em, cool.
Posted 15 years ago by tg3k    [ Reply ]
 appy_monkey wrote:
Not sure why I like this band but I do.
 
Not sure why I don't like this band, but I don't.

Posted 15 years ago by Dinsdale    [ Reply ]
 weez wrote:
It's interesting that this album name - The Boy With the Arab Strap - is the same name as a Guster tune. Anyone know the significance? Is it a story?

 

From Wikipedia:
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.

Posted 15 years ago by cosmiclint    [ Reply ]
It's interesting that this album name - The Boy With the Arab Strap - is the same name as a Guster tune. Anyone know the significance? Is it a story?

Posted 16 years ago by weez    [ Reply ]
Always expecting these lyrics to come:

They will see us waving from such great
Heights, 'come down now,' they'll say

But, that would be a different tune...
Posted 16 years ago by mybaldbird    [ Reply ]
 so gooood.... 
Posted 16 years ago by 2noir    [ Reply ]
 holborne wrote:
Don't get the chorus of hosannas surrounding these guys. They're sort of monochromatic and soporific, to me.
 
I agree, and so twee.  I just can't over it.  I SHOULD like this band because because people who love the music I love, love B&S.  but I just can't. 

Posted 16 years ago by KitKat    [ Reply ]
 dionysius wrote:
Still...

Twee Are The World
 
{#Lol} ...but I still love the band.

Posted 16 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
Don't get the chorus of hosannas surrounding these guys. They're sort of monochromatic and soporific, to me.
Posted 16 years ago by holborne    [ Reply ]
Not sure why I like this band but I do.
Posted 16 years ago by appy_monkey    [ Reply ]
 dionysius wrote:
Still...

Twee Are The World

 

Yah.  Still, there's something engaging about it.
Posted 16 years ago by tonypf    [ Reply ]
spaceman wrote:
You should probably go and see a doctor about that.
That makes no sense at all. Attempted humor from deep space.
Posted 16 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
keller1 wrote:
These guys, Radiohead and Cake are the only artists on the RP playlist that send me diving for the mute button EVERY TIME they're played.
You should probably go and see a doctor about that.
Posted 16 years ago by spaceman    [ Reply ]
These guys, Radiohead and Cake are the only artists on the RP playlist that send me diving for the mute button EVERY TIME they're played.
Posted 16 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
I always imagined this song was about killing yourself. Just my guess.
Posted 16 years ago by DoctorHooey    [ Reply ]
9. The trumpets do it for me everytime.
Posted 16 years ago by gpvos    [ Reply ]
Darkmatter wrote:
In case you haven't noticed, he has a stick through his chest.
Hm. I always thought it was an old man poking his walking stick at his grandson, yelling "get a job, you lazy git". And the young man just opening his mouth to tell him to shut up and go defend his lawn or something. I never had any violent associations with this cover. Record covers could be the Rorschach tests of our age...
Posted 16 years ago by spaceman    [ Reply ]
Obviously this song is quite polarizing - some hate it, others love it. I know it's simple and some of the keyboard/synth stuff is cheesy, but there's something about this song that I like. Catchy stuff.
Posted 16 years ago by TimeWaster    [ Reply ]
I don't like to trash the tunes here. To each his own, right? But this Belle & Sebastian stuff really turns me off.
Posted 16 years ago by UUMike    [ Reply ]
2 | | V 1 This is only my fourth 1. Neil
Posted 16 years ago by NeilBlanchard    [ Reply ]
Wizzuvv_oz wrote:
hmm... I would not have guessed elevendy on this song from you, but on a closer listen....7 to 8
No idea why. Totally subjective. I associate it with a specific place & time. Plus I love the bagpipe. And it's obvious they like Stereolab, which makes me like them more.
Posted 16 years ago by DoctorHooey    [ Reply ]
DoctorHooey wrote:
I. LOVE. THIS. SONG. 10 plus elevenfinty
hmm... I would not have guessed elevendy on this song from you, but on a closer listen....7 to 8
Posted 17 years ago by Wizzuvvoz    [ Reply ]
pret-a-porter wrote:
is that belle or sebastien on the cover?
The band is never on their album covers. I think most of the photos they use are found photos.
Posted 17 years ago by crinky    [ Reply ]
The album cover is highly bizarre. I don't like it. But the song is catchy....weeeee!
Posted 17 years ago by musikalia    [ Reply ]
Needs Cowbell!
Posted 17 years ago by ryuujin23    [ Reply ]
I. LOVE. THIS. SONG. 10 plus elevenfinty
Posted 17 years ago by DoctorHooey    [ Reply ]
mandolin wrote:
...also catchy...
I thought so too .... no no wait... Sorry, it sounded ok at first, then I started gagging.
Posted 17 years ago by Coppertop    [ Reply ]
ah, Bell and Sebastian, my great find of 2006. While some their older stuff is a bit minimalistic (like this track) their most recent album 'The Life Pursuit' is a blast and I highly recommend it. Reminds me a little of some of the great bands of the 60s but without the often insipid themes.
Posted 17 years ago by RobGraham    [ Reply ]
...also catchy...
Posted 17 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
Hmm...kind of an...odd...tune. That's all. Just...odd.
Posted 17 years ago by shakitten    [ Reply ]
Still... Twee Are The World
Posted 17 years ago by dionysius    [ Reply ]
Nice Vocals. Relaxing.
Posted 17 years ago by Whirlpool    [ Reply ]
pret-a-porter wrote:
is that belle or sebastien on the cover?
Oh, that's thrown me a bit, I thought it was the boy. God knows what's happend to the Arab strap though! Any ideas?
Posted 17 years ago by firerytrigon    [ Reply ]
TexasAggies wrote:
In the grand search for the song that perfectly matches the tempo of the dancing banana, this comes pretty close...
Posted 17 years ago by musikalia    [ Reply ]
Darkmatter wrote:
In case you haven't noticed, he has a stick through his chest. Anyway, good song. One of Belle & Sebastian's better ones.
is that belle or sebastien on the cover?
Posted 17 years ago by pret-a-porter    [ Reply ]
Bagpipes? I love bagpipes...
Posted 17 years ago by RoryBK2311    [ Reply ]
In the grand search for the song that perfectly matches the tempo of the dancing banana, this comes pretty close...
Posted 17 years ago by TexasAggies    [ Reply ]
djblitz wrote:
Did he need to look stoned to take the album cover art picture?
In case you haven't noticed, he has a stick through his chest. Anyway, good song. One of Belle & Sebastian's better ones.
Posted 17 years ago by Darkmatter    [ Reply ]
one of my favourite tunes ever...greatly amazing album...9..that's it
Posted 17 years ago by mirkolazza    [ Reply ]
Alphonso wrote:
this song is garbage. putrified baby music.
I gave this song a 1 for the terrible sounds. Are those synth keyboards trying to sound like bagpipes? Doesn't matter. Hated the results.
Posted 18 years ago by pianocomposer    [ Reply ]
NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:
No. didn't get that but I guess you are referring to something off "before and after science", one of my favorite albums of all time, if not my absolute favorite. I do hear a vague sort of connection. Really like this (first time through). Hope it comes up on rotation frequently.
That's funny. Because that is exactly what I got, the album and everything.
Posted 18 years ago by horstman    [ Reply ]
If this was written and performed as irony, then well done - because all I want to do while this plays is to sleep - so as not to hear it any more.
Posted 18 years ago by eskles    [ Reply ]
sfdba wrote:
Does anyone else here any Brian Eno at the start of this tune?
YES! I hear Brian throughout this tune. Reminds me alot of Before and After Science. Excellent song.
Posted 18 years ago by horstman    [ Reply ]
One of my absolute favourites, despite its shortcomings. A lot of my ratings are based entirely on context, and this song reminds me of several sublime moments.
Posted 18 years ago by thewaxtadpole    [ Reply ]
this song is garbage. putrified baby music.
Posted 18 years ago by Alphonso    [ Reply ]
mamby pamby (2)
Posted 18 years ago by peyotecoyote    [ Reply ]
haven't heard this in a long time. excellent
Posted 18 years ago by pedro    [ Reply ]
I love the intro
Posted 18 years ago by Krispian    [ Reply ]
Did he need to look stoned to take the album cover art picture? This is downright awful, I don't give out many 3's but this is certainly worthy of that. Amateur garbage....
Posted 18 years ago by djblitz    [ Reply ]
Growing on me. Like the "woooooo" sounds in the background. hehe Okay, nothing spiritually meaningful or politically charged, or commercially exploitable. But this is fun.... weee.... WOOOOOO!
Posted 18 years ago by maLeFunKtion    [ Reply ]
Sorry, doesn't work for me. It's got a monotonous melody and kindergarten chord progression that goes nowhere. As a bonus, the male/female voices an octave apart have always been one of my pet peeves, and one of the reasons I've yet to hear a Belle and Sebastian song that I'd willingly play. This song just doesn't have any endearing (to me) qualities. To each their own, I guess. Guess I'd better duck out before one of the RP Music Gods like andrewpickford81 explains how unsophisticated and backwards I am because I don't like the same music he likes. Of course, I bow at the altar of musical insight and omnipotence created by a Music God of his caliber.
Posted 18 years ago by tg3k    [ Reply ]
resonator wrote:
This guy can sing as well as I do. That's not a compliment.
Yes, but he's the one with the record deal... :)
Posted 18 years ago by Gregorama    [ Reply ]
ONE OF MY FAVORITES!!! yay
Posted 18 years ago by trollboy    [ Reply ]
sfdba wrote:
Does anyone else here any Brian Eno at the start of this tune?
No. didn't get that but I guess you are referring to something off "before and after science", one of my favorite albums of all time, if not my absolute favorite. I do hear a vague sort of connection. Really like this (first time through). Hope it comes up on rotation frequently.
Posted 18 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
This guy can sing as well as I do. That's not a compliment.
Posted 18 years ago by resonator    [ Reply ]
sfdba wrote:
Does anyone else here any Brian Eno at the start of this tune?
Of no relation, but I hear the Cure in some parts of the guitar in this song....
Posted 19 years ago by Helchat    [ Reply ]
Does anyone else here any Brian Eno at the start of this tune?
Posted 19 years ago by sfdba    [ Reply ]
twd3lr wrote:
This has got to be one of the lamest songs I've heard on RP. The music is extremely repetitive with very little in the way of any kind of structure that makes the song go anywhere. The only thing I anticipate is the next song by someone else. I must say it's been awhile since I've heard such awful, nasally, off-pitch singing. This is what gives indie rock a bad name.
Are we listening to the same song? This is incredible! 10 in my Book...
Posted 19 years ago by warderblu    [ Reply ]
10 10 10!!! love belle and sebastian! more!!
Posted 19 years ago by mikedill    [ Reply ]
Same here - this is one of my 2-3 favorite songs of theirs. For me it isn't the simplicity that kills the song (especially when so many of B&S's songs are incredibly complex), it's what makes it great.
Posted 19 years ago by njr    [ Reply ]
The diverse tastes of RP listeners never fails to amaze me. I enjoy this song very much (and listen to Belle & Sebastian often). To each his (and her) own!
Posted 19 years ago by orionblu    [ Reply ]
This has got to be one of the lamest songs I've heard on RP. The music is extremely repetitive with very little in the way of any kind of structure that makes the song go anywhere. The only thing I anticipate is the next song by someone else. I must say it's been awhile since I've heard such awful, nasally, off-pitch singing. This is what gives indie rock a bad name.
Posted 19 years ago by twd3lr    [ Reply ]
Posted 19 years ago by Jujufruit    [ Reply ]
Thanks RP! Good song from a great album.
Posted 19 years ago by samrex    [ Reply ]
i love Belle & Sebastian, but this is far from my favorite song.
Posted 19 years ago by ladybugg    [ Reply ]
not really sure why these guys get such a huge amount of airtime around here. this number's the worst of the lot.
Posted 19 years ago by daveesh    [ Reply ]
shayde wrote:
Eh. Dull and formulaic. Which means its so-so for RP, but would be a HIT TRACK on a Clearchannel station. Lost Classic! or some other nonsense.
I don't know where you're from but in the US Belle & Sebastian don't get any air play on commercial radio / MTV! I doubt if the Clear Channel people even know who they are. Great band, amazing album, thanks for playing!!!!
Posted 19 years ago by warderblu    [ Reply ]
newwavegurly wrote:
Is it just me, or does this have a kind of 80s feel to it... something about the instrumentation...
Try the 70's: Kraftwerk Autobahn. -Dinsdale
Posted 19 years ago by Dinsdale    [ Reply ]
Eh. Dull and formulaic. Which means its so-so for RP, but would be a HIT TRACK on a Clearchannel station. Lost Classic! or some other nonsense.
Posted 20 years ago by shayde    [ Reply ]
8)
Posted 20 years ago by R_P    [ Reply ]
I somehow can't stand the over-nasal voice and the low background-"whoo"-noises. Makes me feel uncomfortable. This is one of the very few songs where I actually switch the radio off until the song ends. Sorry.
Posted 20 years ago by Konrad    [ Reply ]
jruhnke wrote:
What an odd and unfriendly comment.
Thank you.
Posted 20 years ago by andrewpickford81    [ Reply ]
andrewpickford81 wrote:
All the wisdom one expects from a Phil Collins fan
What an odd and unfriendly comment.
Posted 20 years ago by jruhnke    [ Reply ]
rah wrote:
no more of that, please.
All the wisdom one expects from a Phil Collins fan
Posted 20 years ago by andrewpickford81    [ Reply ]
no more of that, please.
Posted 21 years ago by rah    [ Reply ]
PaulG wrote:
This song's ok but this album has some much better tracks, notably the title song and 'Dirty Dream'. RP should try out some songs from B & S's debut album as well: 'Tigermilk'. Lyrically, these guys are geniuses and I think that comes out best on that album.
Yes, nice recommendation!
Posted 21 years ago by ireneect    [ Reply ]
newwavegurly wrote:
Is it just me, or does this have a kind of 80s feel to it... something about the instrumentation...
they're called keyboards :P
Posted 21 years ago by Eul0gy    [ Reply ]
Is it just me, or does this have a kind of 80s feel to it... something about the instrumentation...
Posted 21 years ago by newwavegurly    [ Reply ]
should play this one after The Kinks. very similar sound (in my ears at least).
Posted 21 years ago by Platypus    [ Reply ]
This song\'s ok but this album has some much better tracks, notably the title song and \'Dirty Dream\'. RP should try out some songs from B & S\'s debut album as well: \'Tigermilk\'. Lyrically, these guys are geniuses and I think that comes out best on that album.
Posted 21 years ago by PaulG    [ Reply ]
Not nearly as good as the title song off this CD.
Posted 21 years ago by ludwig7    [ Reply ]
Not really their best song, in fact a below par offering from b&S, strange choice
Posted 21 years ago by andrewpickford81    [ Reply ]
it\'s a perfectly inoffensive song. wouldn\'t buy the album, but i wouldn\'t switch the station if it came on, either.
Posted 21 years ago by downbylaw    [ Reply ]