A Bit of Previous

A Bit of Previous is the eleventh studio album by Scottish band Belle and Sebastian, released on 6 May 2022 through Matador Records. It was preceded by the singles "Unnecessary Drama",[1] "If They're Shooting at You"[13] and "Young and Stupid".[14] A non-album single, also called "A Bit of Previous", was released in June 2022.[15]

A Bit of Previous
One of four similarly themed covers issued for the album[1]
Studio album by
Belle and Sebastian
Released6 May 2022 (2022-05-06)
Length47:55
LabelMatador
ProducerBelle and Sebastian
Belle and Sebastian chronology
What to Look for in Summer
(2020)		 A Bit of Previous
(2022)		 Late Developers
(2023)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic78/100[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Clash8/10[4]
DIY[5]
Exclaim!7/10[6]
The Line of Best Fit6/10[7]
NME[8]
Pitchfork7.5/10[9]
PopMatters6/10[10]
Under the Radar[11]
Slant Magazine[12]

Background

Belle and Sebastian intended to record A Bit of Previous in Los Angeles until the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to stay in their home city of Glasgow, making the album their first to be recorded there since 1999. The album title is a phrase used by the father of bassist Bobby Kildea to "winkingly acknowledge past relationships",[9] although NME interpreted the title to be a reference to the Buddhist concept of reincarnation in that "you may already have 'previous' with people you meet".[8]

Critical reception

On review aggregator Metacritic, A Bit of Previous received a score of 78 out of 100 based on 16 critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.[2] Quinn Moreland, writing for Pitchfork, felt that the "lyrics share a tight thematic focus" characterised by Belle and Sebastian's "clear, aphoristic language", although musically, "A Bit of Previous touches on a little bit of everything".[9] Gary Ryan of NME highlighted the "universally lovely melodies and earworm choruses" and concluded that "All of the well-worn Belle and Sebastian hallmarks are present, but what's truly impressive is how effortless it all sounds this time around."[8] Steve Erickson characterised the album as an "endearingly self-aware nostalgia trip", summarising that it "strikes a balance between the band's familiar sound and proving they still have something to say".[12]

Bella Fleming of The Line of Best Fit wrote that due to the circumstance of being recorded in Glasgow it at first appeared "set to be standout, yet ultimately misses the mark". Fleming judged that while "carrying the same overall feel of If You're Feeling Sinister and The Boy With the Arab Strap, it lacks the depth and storytelling brilliance that originally made this band so exciting".[7] Reviewing the album for PopMatters, Hayden Merrick stated that from the first track, A Bit of Previous "refutes the assumption that this is a return-to-form album. [...] Even the album title [...] seems to admit that golden age Belle and Sebastian will have only a bit part in this new release." Merrick felt that the band still only have "some" of what they used to.[10]

Track listing
A Bit of Previous track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Young and Stupid"2:54
2."If They're Shooting at You"4:31
3."Talk to Me, Talk to Me"4:27
4."Reclaim the Night"3:13
5."Do It for Your Country"3:50
6."Prophets on Hold"4:46
7."Unnecessary Drama"4:16
8."Come on Home"3:54
9."A World Without You"3:03
10."Deathbed of My Dreams"3:48
11."Sea of Sorrow"4:58
12."Working Boy in New York City"4:15
Total length:47:55
Japanese edition bonus tracks[16]
No.TitleLength
13."A Bit of Previous"3:49
14."Sometimes"3:45
Total length:55:36

Charts
Chart performance for A Bit of Previous
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[17] 50
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[18] 85
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[19] 162
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[20] 31
Scottish Albums (OCC)[21] 3
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[22] 27
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] 31
UK Albums (OCC)[24] 8
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[25] 3
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[26] 15

References
  1. Clarke, Patrick (2 March 2022). "Belle And Sebastian talk new album 'A Bit Of Previous' and share lead single 'Unnecessary Drama'". NME. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  2. "A Bit of Previous by Belle and Sebastian Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  3. Thomas, Fred. "A Bit of Previous – Belle and Sebastian | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  4. Miller, Isabella (5 May 2022). "Belle And Sebastian – A Bit Of Previous | Reviews". Clash. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  5. Goggins, Joe (6 May 2022). "Belle & Sebastian – A Bit Of Previous review". DIY. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  6. Hudson, Alex (3 May 2022). "Belle and Sebastian Sound Quintessentially Like Themselves on 'A Bit of Previous'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  7. Fleming, Bella (4 May 2022). "A Bit Of Previous misses the spark of Belle and Sebastian's past". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  8. Ryan, Gary (5 May 2022). "Belle and Sebastian – 'A Bit of Previous' review: some of their most vivid songwriting in years". NME. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  9. Moreland, Quinn (6 May 2022). "Belle and Sebastian: A Bit of Previous Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  10. Merrick, Hayden (2 May 2022). "Belle and Sebastian: A Bit of Previous (Album Review)". PopMatters. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  11. Saalman, Austin (5 May 2022). "Belle and Sebastian: A Bit of Previous". Under the Radar. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  12. Erickson, Steve (2 May 2022). "Belle and Sebastian A Bit of Previous Review: An Endearingly Self-Aware Nostalgia Trip". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  13. Ackroyd, Stephen (12 March 2022). "Belle and Sebastian share new single 'If They're Shooting At You' to support those affected by the war in Ukraine". Dork. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  14. Soutar, Elise (13 April 2022). "Belle and Sebastian Share New Single, 'Young and Stupid'". Paste. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  15. "Belle and Sebastian release standalone video and single 'A Bit of Previous'". XSNoize. 8 June 2022.
  16. "BEATINK.COM A Bit of Previous". Beatink.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  17. "Austriancharts.at – Belle and Sebastian – A Bit of Previous" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  18. "Ultratop.be – Belle and Sebastian – A Bit of Previous" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  19. "Ultratop.be – Belle and Sebastian – A Bit of Previous" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Belle and Sebastian – A Bit of Previous" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  21. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  22. "Spanishcharts.com – Belle and Sebastian – A Bit of Previous". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  23. "Swisscharts.com – Belle and Sebastian – A Bit of Previous". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  24. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  25. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  26. "Belle and Sebastian Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
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