Belle and Sebastian, are a Scottish band that gets their name from a French book turned into a French television show about a boy named Belle and his dog Sebastian. In any case, the band has very French roots.This is relevant to the group because they don’t reflect the humor of being Scotish as well as they do give off a Parisian sense of humor. Don’t get me wrong the very dry and sarcastic Scottish-ness is there but the smug and aloof nature of the lyrics reveal their embrace of French culture.Like any good French or Coen brothers film, “Dear Catastrophe Waitress” is an album that spans many genres, often times one song treats you to a number of elements.This album includes so many styles with ease, starting from the first second of the first track, “Step Into My Office, Baby” (which also happens to be the first single, fancy that!) In the beginning of this song we are treated to marching band percussion bravado similar to that found in Fleetwood Mac’s “Tusk.”It seems like this album is a retrospective of the 50’s till the present. RealOne Player defines their genre as “Indie” but I disagree. I personally believe they are pop. I say this because even though they veer in so many different directions in this album they are always musically pleasant and deftly catchy.While I love the music I think that a lot of the depth is in the lyrics. My favorite lyrical bit in this album is also the most political of the album. In “If You Find Yourself Caught in Love” they say,”If you’re going off to war then I wish you well / but don’t be sore if I cheer the other team / because killing people’s not my scene / I prefer to give the inhabitants a say / before you blow their town away / I like to watch them play / I like to marvel at the random beauty of a simple village girl / why should she be the one who’s killed?”The lyrics are never dull in the album because as they can be silly they always have a sincerity that’s not usually seen in pop music. Full of clever word play and devotion to the song they never seem to be in on the joke; but that’s just the ingenuity of their delivery of their lyrics.For instance in “Lord Anthony” the song is about a gay transvestite youth still in school who gets beaten up for wearing a dress and make up. In the song he is beaten by students and berated by teachers and he is advised by the singer to take it because someday he’ll get his chance to flip everyone the bird and leave town.Within this one song I was able to smile, reflect, and even get so choked up I actually wept for all the little “Anthony’s” all over the world. That’s just one example of how Belle and Sebastian can get under your skin. If you have a sense of humor, love, or even just a sense of being this album may appeal to you. I think that the little touches are what make good things great. An example of this is a part in this song where up to a point the entire song uses major chords, but then says,”…and then you will die.” Right after that you hear a minor chord for the first time. It’s such a small touch musically but it affects you even if your not listening out for the small details because you can “feel” it. It’s right there and whether you like it or not it’s in your subconscious.One of Belle and Sebastian’s strong points is their ability to combine the lyrics and the music and weave them together like a rich tapestry. For example, in “Piazza, New York Catcher” the song is about Mike Piazza who was suspected of being gay and how he loves playing away games at San Francisco because he gets to hang around the Tenderloin district and make “friends.”There is one bit in the song where the lyrics talk about the lead singer being Piazza’s secret lover.”We hung about the stadium / we’ve got no place to stay / we hung about the tenderloin and tenderly you tell / about the saddest book you ever read / it always makes you cry / the statue’s crying too as well he may”This is a little acoustic track with only voice and guitar. It is as if he’s singing lyrically to Piazza about having a relationship and it’s sung as a sweet serenade. Another example of how the words and composition connect is in the song, “Wrapped Up In Books” where there is one point when the lyric sung is,”I’d write an ending without any sorrow.” But immediately after that line is sung the song changes from an upbeat ditty to a slow mournful dirge. It’s ironic, hysterical, and requires active listening to pay off.So this album may not be for everybody. It is a great album but a layered one that requires effort to reap joy from it. Like any great book it’s greatness causes some people to just be turned off by it. But for those willing to look closer there is much good to delight in.Those looking for something a bit more cerebral and self-deprecatingly pretentious in their pop music then look no further because “Dear Catastrophe Waitress” by Belle and Sebastian may rightly be what you’re looking for.