Tigermilk
Encyclopedia
Tigermilk is the 1996 debut album from Scottish
pop group Belle & Sebastian
. Originally given a limited release (1,000 copies) by Electric Honey
, the album was subsequently re-released in 1999 by Jeepster Records
. The cover photograph was taken by Stuart Murdoch, and features the same model who appeared on the cover of the Dog on Wheels
EP.
The album is named after a song that didn't end up making the cut – an instrumental that was later performed numerous times on Belle & Sebastian's early tours. All of the songs on the album were written by Stuart Murdoch
between 1993 and 1996, and originally performed solo on the Glasgow
open mic circuit. Though he performs on the album, trumpet player Mick Cooke
was not yet an official member of the band.
Pitchfork Media
included "The State I Am In" at number 17 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.
)
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
pop group Belle & Sebastian
Belle & Sebastian
Belle and Sebastian are an indie pop band formed in Glasgow in January 1996. Belle and Sebastian are often compared with influential indie bands such as The Smiths, as well as classic acts such as Love, Bob Dylan and Nick Drake. The name Belle & Sebastian comes from Belle et Sébastien, a 1965...
. Originally given a limited release (1,000 copies) by Electric Honey
Electric Honey (label)
Electric Honey is a record label run by students studying the HNC and HND in Music Business course, as well as students studying the Advanced Diploma in Music Industry Management & Marketing course at Stow College in Glasgow, Scotland...
, the album was subsequently re-released in 1999 by Jeepster Records
Jeepster Records
Jeepster Records is a London, England-based independent record label which is currently the home of bands Parka and SixNationState. The label is noted for having been the home of critically acclaimed artists Belle and Sebastian and Snow Patrol....
. The cover photograph was taken by Stuart Murdoch, and features the same model who appeared on the cover of the Dog on Wheels
Dog on Wheels
Dog on Wheels is an EP by Belle & Sebastian, released in 1997 on Jeepster Records. The four recordings on the EP actually pre-date the band's debut album, Tigermilk, and Stuart Murdoch, Stuart David and Richard Colburn are the only long-term band members to play on the songs. The front cover...
EP.
The album is named after a song that didn't end up making the cut – an instrumental that was later performed numerous times on Belle & Sebastian's early tours. All of the songs on the album were written by Stuart Murdoch
Stuart Murdoch (musician)
Stuart Lee Murdoch is a Scottish musician, and the lead singer and songwriter for the indie pop band Belle & Sebastian. The majority of his childhood was spent a stone's throw from the birthplace of Robert Burns in Alloway, Ayr until he left school and attended university in...
between 1993 and 1996, and originally performed solo on the Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
open mic circuit. Though he performs on the album, trumpet player Mick Cooke
Mick Cooke
Mick Cooke is the trumpet player of the Scottish indie band Belle & Sebastian. Besides trumpet, Cooke plays other brass instruments, including the French horn, and occasionally plays electric guitar and bass live...
was not yet an official member of the band.
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
included "The State I Am In" at number 17 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.
Track listing
(all songs written by Stuart MurdochStuart Murdoch (musician)
Stuart Lee Murdoch is a Scottish musician, and the lead singer and songwriter for the indie pop band Belle & Sebastian. The majority of his childhood was spent a stone's throw from the birthplace of Robert Burns in Alloway, Ayr until he left school and attended university in...
)
- "The State I Am In" – 4:57
- "Expectations" – 3:34
- "She's Losing It" – 2:22
- "You're Just a Baby" – 3:41
- "Electronic Renaissance" – 4:50
- "I Could Be Dreaming" – 5:56
- "We Rule the School" – 3:27
- "My Wandering Days Are Over" – 5:25
- "I Don't Love Anyone" – 3:56
- "Mary Jo" – 3:29
Personnel
- Stuart MurdochStuart Murdoch (musician)Stuart Lee Murdoch is a Scottish musician, and the lead singer and songwriter for the indie pop band Belle & Sebastian. The majority of his childhood was spent a stone's throw from the birthplace of Robert Burns in Alloway, Ayr until he left school and attended university in...
- Vocals, Guitar - Stuart DavidStuart DavidStuart David is a Scottish musician, who formerly was a bassist with Belle & Sebastian and then went on to front Looper . He is the author of the novels Nalda Said and The Peacock Manifesto published by I.M.P. Fiction in 1999 and 2001...
- Bass - Isobel CampbellIsobel CampbellIsobel Campbell is a Scottish singer, cellist and composer in the indie and rock genres.-History:Campbell was a member of Belle & Sebastian from their formation in Glasgow in 1996 until 2002, when she departed the band for personal reasons. She played cello and keyboards with the band, and sang...
- Cello - Chris GeddesChris GeddesChris Geddes is the keyboardist for and a founding member of the Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian. He is a Communist and a vegetarian, the latter earning him the nickname of "Beans". He attended the University of Glasgow and regularly visits Tchai-Ovna Southside. He also likes going to...
- Keyboards, piano - Richard ColburnRichard ColburnRichard Colburn is the drummer of the Scottish indie band Belle & Sebastian. Before he joined Belle & Sebastian, he used to sell pies on match days outside Celtic Park and study Music Business at Stow College. He was also a semi-professional Snooker player. His nickname is "Rico" and he also...
- Drums - Stevie JacksonStevie JacksonStevie Jackson is a Scottish musician and songwriter. He plays lead guitar and sings in the Glasgow based indie band Belle & Sebastian. Jackson's guitar playing is distinctively retrogressive and melodic, with a heavy use of reverb and minimal effects...
- Guitar - Mick CookeMick CookeMick Cooke is the trumpet player of the Scottish indie band Belle & Sebastian. Besides trumpet, Cooke plays other brass instruments, including the French horn, and occasionally plays electric guitar and bass live...
- Trumpet
Trivia
- "I Could Be Dreaming" features Isobel Campbell reciting a passage from "Rip Van WinkleRip Van Winkle"Rip Van Winkle" is a short story by the American author Washington Irving published in 1819, as well as the name of the story's fictional protagonist. Written while Irving was living in Birmingham, England, it was part of a collection entitled The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon...
" over the outro. - "Expectations" is featured in the Academy Award-winning 2007 film JunoJuno (film)Juno is a 2007 comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. Ellen Page stars as the title character, an independent-minded teenager confronting an unplanned pregnancy and the subsequent events that put pressures of adult life onto her. Michael Cera, Olivia Thirlby, J. K....
. - "Mary Jo" is sampled by Swedish singer Jens LekmanJens LekmanJens Martin Lekman is a Swedish musician. His music is guitar-based pop with heavy use of samples and strings, with lyrics that are often witty, romantic, and melancholic. The English lyrics reflect an advanced knowledge of the language and its idioms...
in his song "Black Cab" - "We Rule the School" was featured in an episode of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your MotherHow I Met Your MotherHow I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
. - "I Don't Love Anyone" was featured in the film The Devil Wears PradaThe Devil Wears Prada (film)The Devil Wears Prada is a 2006 comedy-drama film, a loose screen adaptation of Lauren Weisberger's 2003 novel of the same name. It stars Anne Hathaway as Andrea Sachs, a recent college graduate who goes to New York City and gets a job as a co-assistant to powerful and demanding fashion magazine...
(2006).