Written almost entirely by frontman Stuart Murdoch, Belle And Sebastian"s sixth album is a magnificently assured and diverse pop record. With nods to such influences as Cornelius, Manfred Mann, and David Bowie, The Life Pursuit mingles the folky, be-sweatered pathos of the group"s earliest work with joyfully satirical late 60"s sunshine pop, and the sophisticated 80"s-influenced work reminiscent of their prior album, 2003"s Dear Catastrophe Waitress. This limited deluxe CD comes with a six-song live DVD in special hardbound book packaging. Matador. 2006.