Saint Etienne | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Like most bands founded by former music journalists, Saint Etienne were a highly conceptual group. The trios concept was to fuse the British pop sounds of 60s London with the club/dance rhythms and productions that defined the post-acid house England of the early 90s. Led by songwriters Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs, and fronted by vocalist Sarah Cracknell, the group managed to carry out their concept, and, in the process, Saint Etienne helped make indie dance a viable genre within the U.K. Throughout the early 90s, Saint Etienne racked up a string of indie hit singles that were driven by deep club beats -- encompassing anything from house and techno to hip-hop and disco -- and layered with light melodies, detailed productions, clever lyrics, and Cracknells breathy vocals. They revived the sounds of swinging London as well as the concept of the three-minute pop single being a catchy, ephemeral piece of ear candy, in post-acid house Britain, thereby setting the stage for Brit-pop. Though most Brit-pop bands rejected the dance inclinations of Saint Etienne, they nevertheless adopted the trios aesthetic, which celebrated the sound and style of classic 60s pop. The origins of Saint Etienne date back to the early 80s, when childhood friends Bob Stanley (born December 25, 1964) and Pete Wiggs (born May 15, 1966) began making party tapes together in their hometown of Croydon, Surrey, England. After completing school, the pair worked various jobs -- most notably, Stanley was a music journalist -- before deciding to concentrate on a musical career in 1988. Adopting the name Saint Etienne from the French football team of the same name, the duo moved to Camden, where they began recording. By the beginning of 1990, the group had signed a record contract with the indie label Heavenly. In the spring of 1990, Saint Etienne released their first single, a house-tinged cover of Neil Youngs "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," which featured lead vocals from Moira Lambert of the indie pop band Faith Over Reason. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" became an underground hit, receiving a fair amount of airplay in nightclubs across England. Later in the year, Saint Etienne released their second single, a cover of the indie pop group Field Mices "Lets Kiss and Make Up," which was sung by Donna Savage of the New Zealand band Dead Famous People. Like its predecessor, "Kiss and Make Up" was an underground hit, helping set the stage for "Nothing Can Stop Us." Released in the spring of 1991, "Nothing Can Stop Us" was the first Saint Etienne single sung by Sarah Cracknell (born April 12, 1967), whose girlish vocals became a signature of the groups sound. Cracknell was the main vocalist on the bands debut, Fox Base Alpha, which was released in the fall of 1991. Following that release, Cracknell officially became a member of Saint Etienne; she had previously sung in Prime Time. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" was re-released in conjunction with Fox Base Alpha and cracked the lower end of the British pop charts. Saint Etienne were beginning to gain momentum, as the British press generally gave them positive reviews and their records gained them a strong fan base not only in England, but throughout Europe. Throughout 1992, the group released a series of singles -- "Join Our Club," "People Get Real," and "Avenue" -- which maintained their popularity. In addition to writing and recording music for Saint Etienne, Stanley and Wiggs became active producers, songwriters, remixers, and label heads as well. In 1989, Stanley founded Caff Records, which issued limited-edition 7" singles of bands as diverse as Pulp and the Manic Street Preachers, as well as a number of other lesser-known bands like World of Twist. In 1992, Stanley and Wiggs founded Ice Rink, which intended to put out records by pop groups, not rock groups. The label released singles from several artists -- including Oval, Sensurround, Elizabeth City State, and Golden, which featured Stanleys girlfriend Celina -- none of which gained much attention. Preceded by the single "Youre in a Bad Way," Saint Etiennes second album, So Tough, appeared in the spring of 1993 to generally positive reviews and sales. Over the course of 1993, the group released three more singles -- "Who Do You Think You Are," "Hobart Paving," and "I Was Born on Christmas Day" -- which all charted well. In 1994, the trio began to lose momentum, as their third album, Tiger Bay, was greeted with decidedly mixed reviews, even as singles like "Like a Motorway" continued to chart well. After completing a new track, "Hes on the Phone," for their 1995 singles compilation Too Young to Die, as well as the French-only single "Reserection," Saint Etienne took an extended break during 1996. Sarah Cracknell pursued a solo project, releasing a single titled "Anymore" in the fall of the year. Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs began a record label for EMI Records, with the intention of releasing music from young developing bands. In the fall of 1996, Saint Etienne released a remix album, Casino Classics; a new studio effort, Good Humour, followed two years later, and the trio returned in 1999 with an EP, Places to Visit. The full-length Sound of Water appeared in mid-2000, featuring guest appearances by Sean OHagan (of the High Llamas) and To Rococo Rot. After a successful U.S. tour in support of Sound of Water, the group issued Interlude, a collection of new tracks, instrumentals, and B-sides, in early 2001. A year later, the trio followed up with Finisterre, and Tales from Turnpike House arrived in 2005. Following a seven-year break during which the bandmembers worked on making films, doing remixes, and various solo projects, musical and otherwise, the band resurfaced in 2012 with Words and Music by Saint Etienne, an album loosely based on the concept of how music can affect and shape lives unexpectedly, both positively and negatively. It would be another five years before they released new music, but, as ever, the bandmembers kept themselves busy with other projects in the meantime. Cracknell signed to Cherry Records, and released the solo album Red Kite in 2015; Stanleys second book, Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!: The Story of Pop Music from Bill Haley to Beyoncé, was published in 2014; and Wiggs contributed the soundtrack to the film Year 7. After the band played a series of shows in 2016 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Foxbase Alpha, they decided it was time to record some new songs. They selected producer Shawn Lee and began writing songs inspired by the counties in the southeast of England where each of the bandmembers spent their teenage years. Working quickly with Lee and his studio full of vintage instruments, the record, titled Home Counties, was finished in three weeks and released in June of 2017 by Heavenly. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 37 Title: Foxbase Alpha Released: 1991-09 Tracks: 13 Duration: 48:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 This Is Radio Etienne (00:43) 2 Only Love Can Break Your Heart (04:29) 3 Wilson (01:59) 4 Carnt Sleep (04:44) 5 Girl VII (03:46) 6 Spring (03:44) 7 She’s the One (03:07) 8 Stoned to Say the Least (07:41) 9 Nothing Can Stop Us (04:20) 10 Etienne Gonna Die (01:29) 11 London Belongs to Me (03:57) 12 Like the Swallow (07:39) 13 Dilworth’s Theme (00:39) |
| Foxbase Alpha : Allmusic album Review : Despite a handful of classic pop singles, Saint Etiennes debut album, Foxbase Alpha, is a tentative fusion of club culture and swinging 60s pop. Lead vocalist Sarah Cracknell hasnt been fully integrated into the bands lineup -- she doesnt even sing on their astonishing Euro-disco cover of Neil Youngs "Only Love Will Break Your Heart," which is not only cleverly ironic, but also works -- yet the filler remains thoroughly enjoyable, even if it rarely reaches the heights of the irresistible girl group pop of "Kiss and Make Up." | ||
 | Album: 2 of 37 Title: You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone Released: 1993-02 Tracks: 11 Duration: 49:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Who Do You Think You Are (03:50) 2 Archway People (03:21) 3 California Snow Story (04:20) 4 Kiss and Make Up (06:19) 5 Duke Duvet (03:12) 6 Filthy (05:33) 7 Join Our Club (03:20) 8 Paper (04:09) 9 People Get Real (04:45) 10 Some Place Else (03:42) 11 Speedwell (06:31) |
| You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone : Allmusic album Review : Continuing the trend of Beach Boys-inspired album titles that started with 1992s So Tough and continued through 1997s Good Humor, 1993s You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone is a straightforward singles collection covering St. Etiennes first two or three years. Originally released as a bonus disc with vinyl copies of So Tough, You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone collects 11 single A- and B-sides that had made it neither onto that album nor onto their full-length debut, 1991s masterful Foxbase Alpha. This includes alternate single mixes of "Kiss and Make Up" (St. Etiennes debut single, from before Sarah Cracknell installed herself as the groups full-time vocalist) and "People Get Real" from the debut, and a slinky mix of So Toughs "Join Our Club." The album also features the otherwise non-LP single "Who Do You Think You Are," one of St. Etiennes most groove-oriented tunes. You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone doesnt have the satisfying wholeness of either of St. Etiennes first two "proper" albums, which are extremely well sequenced and properly paced; in comparison, this sounds like the odds-and-sods collection that it is. That said, the songs themselves are uniformly fine, and at times brilliant. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 37 Title: So Tough Released: 1993-02-22 Tracks: 15 Duration: 48:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Mario’s Cafe (04:38) 2 Railway Jam (04:14) 3 Date With Spelman (00:18) 4 Calico (05:12) 5 Avenue (07:40) 6 Youre in a Bad Way (alternative mix) (02:43) 7 Memo to Pricey (00:23) 8 Hobart Paving (05:03) 9 Leafhound (04:05) 10 Clock Milk (00:14) 11 Conchita Martinez (04:02) 12 No Rainbows for Me (03:56) 13 Here Come Clown Feet (00:22) 14 Junk the Morgue (05:12) 15 Chicken Soup (00:20) |
| So Tough : Allmusic album Review : St. Etiennes second album, So Tough, is a remarkable step forward from Fox Base Alpha, boasting a stronger set of songs and a sharper focus. Not only are the pop melodies catchier than before, the groups mastery of swinging 60s arrangements and Eurodisco rhythms is positively infectious, and Sarah Cracknells light, airy vocals are alluringly dreamy, giving the record a wonderful, floating quality. The cool club beats, occasional samples, and synthesized textures provide an inviting sonic backdrop for Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs infectious pop songs, and while the singles "Youre in a Bad Way" and "Hobart Paving" stand out, there are several other tracks here that are nearly as good, making So Tough an irresistible set of danceable, well-constructed pop. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 37 Title: Who Do You Think You Are Released: 1993-05 Tracks: 8 Duration: 47:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Who Do You Think You Are (03:50) 2 Who Do You Think You Are (Roger Sanchez) (07:01) 3 Who Do You Think You Are (quex-rd) (08:06) 4 Hobart Paving (04:54) 5 Who Do You Think You Are (Nu Solution mix) (07:47) 6 Who Do You Think You Are (Saturday Night Fever dub) (06:59) 7 Your Head My Voice (Voix Revirement) (04:12) 8 Who Do You Think You Are (radio remix) (04:29) |
 | Album: 5 of 37 Title: I Was Born on Christmas Day Released: 1993-12 Tracks: 4 Duration: 14:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 I Was Born on Christmas Day (03:11) 2 My Christmas Prayer (03:27) 3 Snowplough (03:43) 4 Peterloo (04:26) |
 | Album: 6 of 37 Title: Tiger Bay Released: 1994-02-28 Tracks: 12 Duration: 46:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Urban Clearway (03:58) 2 Former Lover (03:48) 3 Hug My Soul (04:14) 4 Like a Motorway (05:42) 5 On the Shore (04:06) 6 Marble Lions (04:34) 7 Pale Movie (03:52) 8 Cool Kids of Death (05:48) 9 Western Wind (01:33) 10 Tankerville (04:01) 11 Western Wind (01:33) 12 The Boy Scouts of America (02:56) |
| Tiger Bay : Allmusic album Review : After three years (and two albums) of stunning development, Saint Etiennes disco-llision of 60s pop, 70s dance, and 90s club reached the peak by which they still are judged, with an album that is alternately heartwarming, heartbreaking, electrifying, and impossibly captivating. From the dramatic opener "Urban Clearway," to the mysteriously Kraftwerk-ian "Like a Motorway," and on through "Pale Movie" (that could make Valentino weep), Tiger Bay is everything that two generations of post-Beatles wannabes have labored to create, but have always been too in awe to complete: a melding of mood with momentum, emotion with eccentricity, and an endless succession of divine verses sliding into sad and sexy hooks. Tapping veins of nostalgic romance that bring a tear to the eye before you even know what the lyric is (once you do know, youre a goner, no questions asked), the tracks then explode out of rhythms that could make a dead dog dance. Tiger Bay is alternately seductive, silly, and sassy. But it was also constructed with such an eye for sensuous detail that any attempt whatsoever to toy with the track listing can only shatter the crystal. [A U.K. reissue in 1996 added three extra tracks and none of them really fit, while the 1994 U.S. edition did the record an even greater disservice; its own additions forced the removal of two of the albums finest moments: the luxurious drift of "Western Wind" and "Tankerville" -- one an exquisitely haunted Sarah Cracknell vocal, the other a sweeping instrumental with a melancholic edge as dark as the edge of town. To hear "Boy Scouts of America" finally break through at the end of that is to witness sunrise at the end of the bleakest night. However, 2017 saw the release of a two-CD digitally remastered Deluxe Edition of Tiger Bay that restored "Western Wind" and "Tankerville" to the track listing and included bonus B-sides, rarities, and more.] | ||
 | Album: 7 of 37 Title: I Love to Paint Released: 1995-02 Tracks: 12 Duration: 43:25 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Flight to Tashkent (03:00) 2 Sushi Rider (05:27) 3 Deutscher Kendals (00:51) 4 Think Twice (03:10) 5 Studio Kinda Filthy (05:06) 6 We’re Coming in Loaded (03:24) 7 Fife Coast (03:51) 8 Fake ’88 (05:03) 9 Parliament Hill (02:41) 10 Everything I Touch Turns to Gold (03:28) 11 Schroeder (03:45) 12 Stranger in Paradise (03:34) |
 | Album: 8 of 37 Title: Fairy Tales From Saint Etienne Released: 1995-05-10 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:00:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Pale Movie (03:52) 2 This Is Radio Etienne (00:43) 3 Only Love Can Break Your Heart (04:29) 4 Nothing Can Stop Us (04:20) 5 Mario’s Cafe (04:38) 6 Avenue (07:34) 7 You’re in a Bad Way (03:03) 8 Hug My Soul (04:14) 9 Lika a Motorway (05:42) 10 California Snow Story (04:20) 11 Duke Duvet (03:12) 12 Join Our Club (03:20) 13 Some Place Else (03:42) 14 Who Do You Think You Are (03:50) 15 I Was Born on Christmas Day (03:11) |
| Fairy Tales From Saint Etienne : Allmusic album Review : This 1995 Japanese import from Saint Etienne collects ten of the groups fan favorites like "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," "Avenue" and "Who Do You Think You Are," as well as a couple of deeper album cuts and three B-sides. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 37 Title: Too Young to Die Released: 1995-11 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:00:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Only Love Can Break Your Heart (04:29) 2 Kiss and Make Up (04:08) 3 Nothing Can Stop Us (04:20) 4 Join Our Club (03:20) 5 People Get Real (04:45) 6 Avenue (07:34) 7 You’re in a Bad Way (03:03) 8 Who Do You Think You Are (03:50) 9 Hobart Paving (04:54) 10 I Was Born on Christmas Day (03:11) 11 Pale Movie (03:47) 12 Like a Motorway (03:41) 13 Hug My Soul (03:53) 14 He’s on the Phone (05:10) |
| Too Young to Die : Allmusic album Review : Although their albums were considerably more consistent than most dance-pop acts, Saint Etiennes high points were always their singles. Released prior to a quiet, lengthy hiatus, Too Young to Die collects all of their singles, from their debut disco cover of Neil Youngs "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" to their last, "Hes on the Phone," providing a thoroughly entertaining chronicle of the groups career. Much of the music sounds somewhat dated -- which is always a problem with dance music -- but Saint Etienne was essentially a very good Euro-pop band, reveling in kitsch and style in equal measure. At their best -- "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," "Youre in a Bad Way," "Join Our Club," "Who Do You Think You Are," among others -- they found the heart in nightclubbing. The quality of the music dips slightly in the latter half of the album, but there is prime pop throughout the disc. [Initial pressings came with a bonus disc of remixes, all of which are worthwhile for dedicated fans.] | ||
 | Album: 10 of 37 Title: Casino Classics Released: 1996-10-07 Tracks: 19 Duration: 2:26:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Like a Motorway (Chekhov Warp dub) (09:11) 2 Join Our Club (Chemically Friendly Zoom mix) (06:45) 3 Pale Movie (Secret Knowledge Trouser Assassin mix) (10:14) 4 Speedwell (Flying mix) (06:08) 5 Only Love Can Break Your Heart (A mix of Two Halves) (08:49) 6 Who Do You Think You Are (quex-rd) (08:06) 7 Avenue (Variety Club mix) (06:20) 8 Hug My Soul (Kodacolour House mix) (08:43) 9 Like a Motorway (David Holmes mix) (12:59) 1 Angel (Way Out West) (06:35) 2 Filthy (Monkey Mafia mix) (05:54) 3 People Get Real (Death in Vegas) (07:21) 4 Nothing Can Stop Us (Lionrock mix) (05:46) 5 Sometimes in Winter (remixed by Psychonauts) (04:17) 6 The Sea (PFM mix) (09:36) 7 Burnt Out Car (Balearico mix) (04:19) 8 Hes on the Phone (Primax Bungee dub mix) (06:02) 9 Cool Kids of Death (Underworld mix) (14:30) 10 Angel (Broadcast mix) (04:18) |
| Casino Classics : Allmusic album Review : Britains premier dance-pop band of the 1990s; the Shangri-Las with synthesizers; the only group who can make you fall in love, break your heart, and dance your butt off simultaneously, Saint Etienne marked six years of consistent brilliance with a two-CD collection that pegged out 17 songs for the attention of the remix community, and wound up with a reinvention that defies any kind of categorization. Employing both newly commissioned mixes and older cuts drawn from past singles and such, Casino Classics was previewed with a bonus disc offered with early copies of the Too Young to Die hits collection -- the same discs reappearance here did spike some grumbling at the time, but the entire package remains a virtual history of U.K. remix tendencies throughout the first half of the 1990s. Contributions from the Chemical Brothers, Aphex Twin, David Holmes, Death in Vegas, Lionrock, and Underworld either predate or at least coincide with those acts own mainstream breakthroughs, while Andrew Weatheralls "A Mix of Two Halves" assault on "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" spirals off Saint Etiennes first 12" single, released in summer 1990. Elsewhere, Monkey Mafias revision of "Filthy," from a hard-to-find compilation, recaptures one of the groups earliest rarities, and a clutch of new songs -- "Angel," "Burnt out Car," "The Sea," and "Sometime in Winter" -- offer the unusual experience of hearing the remix before youve even encountered an original version. For anybody spellbound by the purity of Saint Etiennes "regular" releases, great swathes of this collection will certainly feel less than essential -- possibly unique among the club bands of its age, Saint Etienne works as ideally away from the dancefloor as it does on it, and hearing those exquisite arrangements and hooks hacked into electronic collops can be distracting -- maybe even infuriating. But, if you put your feet before your ears, Casino Classics has a perfection all of its own, and never a dull moment either. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 37 Title: Continental Released: 1997-06-21 Tracks: 13 Duration: 52:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Shad Thames (03:33) 2 Burnt Out Car (04:18) 3 Sometimes in Winter (04:11) 4 Winter Melody (04:44) 5 Public Information Film (01:02) 6 The Process (03:09) 7 He’s on the Phone (04:07) 8 Stormtrooper in Drag (05:27) 9 Star (04:02) 10 Down by the Sea (03:13) 11 The Sea (07:16) 12 Lonesome (03:25) 13 Angel (04:16) |
| Continental : Allmusic album Review : The trio Saint Etienne (songwriters/musicians Pete Wiggs and Bob Stanley and vocalist Sarah Cracknell) has been a popular fixture in the British indie dance scene since the release of its debut album Foxbase Alpha in 1992. Combining 60s-influenced pop and the acid house rhythms of the British club scene, the band has scored with a series of successful European albums and singles. Saint Etienne has also earned critical acclaim and a loyal cult following in America (particularly in dance clubs), though U.S. commercial success has been elusive. Saint Etienne has released a series of strong albums since the early 1990s. Continental is a superb collection of mostly previously released material, and its a nice introduction to their solid body of work. Their strong points are the combination of atmospheric (yet accessible) arrangements and Sarah Cracknells 60s girl group cooing. However, her vocals are not derivative or cutesy, instead lending substantial personality to the material. "Burnt Out Car" and "Hes on the Phone" benefit greatly from her performances, mainly because Saint Etienne rarely incorporates obvious pop hooks. Rather, the band relies more on rhythm and personality, making it considerably more complex than the average pop/dance band. Continentals best track is a house cover of Gary Numans "Stormtrooper in Drag" (it previously appeared on a Gary Numan tribute album), which is odd in concept but surprisingly effective. Fortunately, Continental surrounds that tune with equally competent Saint Etienne originals. Any of the groups studio albums, particularly So Tough and Tiger Bay, will serve as a nice introduction to the bands music, since the trios best albums stand on their own quite nicely. However, various collections of singles, remixes, and rare material have also been released, and Continental is by far one of the best. Highly recommended. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 37 Title: Sylvie Released: 1998-01-19 Tracks: 4 Duration: 15:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Sylvie (04:43) 2 Afraid to Go Home (03:27) 3 Zipcode (03:02) 4 Hill Street Connection (03:53) |
 | Album: 13 of 37 Title: Good Humor Released: 1998-04-29 Tracks: 11 Duration: 43:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Woodcabin (04:07) 2 Sylvie (04:48) 3 Split Screen (03:24) 4 Mr. Donut (03:34) 5 Goodnight Jack (04:37) 6 Lose That Girl (04:03) 7 The Bad Photographer (04:14) 8 Been So Long (03:33) 9 Postman (03:46) 10 Erica America (04:02) 11 Dutch TV (03:27) |
| Good Humor : Allmusic album Review : Good Humor has Saint Etienne back cooking up more delectable lolli-pop. From "Woodcabin," the dubby, bass-heavy opener, Good Humor is a typically arch Saint Etienne album full of easy-listening dream pop. Tracks like the shimmering "Lose That Girl" and the swirling "Erica America" show Saint Etienne at its melancholic best. There are, predictably, some near misses such as the Beatlesque "Mr. Donut," which is as sweet as a strawberry field but fails to deliver the melodic promises made by the smart atmospherics. "Goodnight Jack," with its pastel-shaded flute loops and subtle breakbeats, has a positively cooler-than-cool feel and a wrenching change of pace toward the middle of the song. Sure, Good Humor is clever, perhaps overly so, and yeah, its full of the Ets contrived coyness and we-know-more-than-you attitude, but its good stuff. Sometimes you just want to put on a disc, sit back, and let it carry you off to someplace else. If thats all youre looking for, Good Humor is sweet ear candy. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 37 Title: Fairfax High Released: 1998-05-03 Tracks: 11 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Hill Street Connection (?) 2 Hit The Brakes (?) 3 Madeleine (?) 4 Swim Swan Swim (?) 5 4:35 In The Morning (?) 6 Clark Co Record Fair (?) 7 Zipcode (?) 8 My Name Is Vlaovic (?) 9 Afraid To Go Home (?) 10 La La La (?) 11 Cat Nap (?) |
 | Album: 15 of 37 Title: Places to Visit Released: 1999-05-04 Tracks: 7 Duration: 25:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Ivyhouse (02:07) 2 52 Pilot (05:37) 3 We’re in the City (04:41) 4 Artieripp (04:46) 5 Sadie’s Anniversary (03:01) 6 Half Timbered (01:19) 7 Garage for Gunther (03:51) |
 | Album: 16 of 37 Title: Built on Sand Released: 1999-12 Tracks: 14 Duration: 45:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 The Clothes Show (00:23) 2 Suburban Autumn Lieutenant (04:05) 3 Jaydip Pharmacy (02:52) 4 Tomorrow Never Dies (03:48) 5 Nazi Jaloux (03:20) 6 Please (02:35) 7 Keep Nothing (04:00) 8 Russian (03:27) 9 Blofeld Buildings (04:38) 10 Ken (03:40) 11 Are We Gonna Be Alright (03:13) 12 Andrew McCarthy (02:55) 13 Were in the City (live) (04:21) 14 The Clothes Show (Sad Refrain) (01:43) |
 | Album: 17 of 37 Title: Sound of Water Released: 2000-05-22 Tracks: 14 Duration: 58:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Late Morning (04:13) 2 Heart Failed (In the Back of a Taxi) (03:40) 3 Sycamore (03:46) 4 Don’t Back Down (04:49) 5 Just a Little Overcome (03:41) 6 Boy Is Crying (03:52) 7 Aspects of Lambert (03:30) 8 Downey, CA (04:24) 9 How We Used to Live (09:02) 10 The Place at Dawn (01:47) 11 Red Setter (03:27) 12 Roseneck (03:25) 13 Thank You (04:30) 14 Shoot Out the Lights (04:08) |
| Sound of Water : Allmusic album Review : Ten years on, Saint Etienne found themselves at a bit of a crossroads. They had long ago stopped having hits in the U.K., settling into a cult audience in both their homeland and the U.S. There isnt an inherent problem with having a cult audience, but cult bands often have the stigma of being on the cutting edge. At the start of their career, Saint Etienne was on the cutting edge. Their first two albums were at the foundation of many 90s pop trends, including the revival of swinging 60s London, the unabashedly melodic bent of Brit-pop, the fascination for forgotten easy listening artifacts from the 60s, the kaleidoscopic blend of 60s sound and 90s sensibility later heard on Beck records, plus the insurgent twee-pop of the late 90s. For their tenth anniversary, they decided to reclaim the cutting edge with Sound of Water. The album strove to keep the concise, song-oriented focus of Good Humor, while expanding the horizons of their music to focus on abstract, dreamy, electronic sounds. There are moments of pop pleasure here, surrounded by spare, languid electronica sections, vaguely reminiscent of the High Llamas. This is where maturity pays off. Saint Etienne never lingers too long in one area, letting the album flow gracefully between these two extremes and placing some very good pop melodies along the way. There are no knockout singles on par with those from So Tough or Tiger Bay, but Saint Etienne has pretty much given up on the pop charts, preferring to concentrate on cohesive, stronger albums. That may mean that Sound of Water simply isnt as exciting as their earlier work, and it also means that there isnt a good gateway song to the record. But thats OK, since with repeated plays, Sound of Water reveals itself as a first-rate effort. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 37 Title: Interlude Released: 2001-03-20 Tracks: 12 Duration: 51:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Roseneck (03:25) 2 Northwestern (05:29) 3 Queen of Polythene (03:13) 4 Stevie (03:04) 5 Red Setter (03:45) 6 Shoot Out the Lights (04:08) 7 Mountain Rain (03:42) 8 Bar Conscience (04:36) 9 Le Ballade de Saint Etienne (03:55) 10 Thank You (04:30) 11 Boy Is Crying (single mix) (03:39) 12 Lose That Girl (Trouser Enthusiast) (08:16) |
| Interlude : Allmusic album Review : Fans of Saint Etienne who arent quite dedicated enough to pay attention to the singles could be easily tricked into thinking Interlude is a new studio album. Given a different title and the subtraction of the two extraneous remixes at the end (the single mix of "Boy Is Crying" and the Trouser Enthusiasts mix of "Lose That Girl"), this would stand up pretty well as a follow-up to 2000s excellent Sound of Water. With the exception of three new compositions and their cover of the Beach Boys "Stevie," these songs were recorded during the sessions for that record. So they tend to have the same graceful, minimal, melodic touches. In a few cases, the songs rival or eclipse material on Sound of Water, but they probably werent included because they didnt fit the general, easygoing flow of the immaculately sequenced album. "Northwestern" is one such example of B-side brilliance; although its one of their best overall moments, Sarah Cracknells melancholic vocals would have found the track misplaced with the remainder of the record. "Shoot Out the Lights," which isnt a Richard & Linda Thompson cover, is the most organic of the bunch, a jumpy throwback to their Good Humor days. As for the new songs, theyre promising if not much of a departure. "Mountain Rain" reigns supreme over the two other newbies, graced with swirling electronic drizzle and Cracknells just-out-of-bed whispering. But whats most remarkable about Interlude is that Saint Etienne can deliver the goods over a decade into their career, even on a disc of extras. Admittedly, those who didnt care for Sound of Waters spare production wont find much here. But those who did care will find a group in top form, to say the least. | ||
 | Album: 19 of 37 Title: Smash the System: Singles and More Released: 2001-09 Tracks: 34 Duration: 2:26:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Only Love Can Break Your Heart (04:29) 2 Kiss and Make Up (05:14) 3 Nothing Can Stop Us (04:20) 4 Spring (03:44) 5 Carnt Sleep (04:44) 6 Filthy (05:33) 7 Join Our Club (alternate version) (03:16) 8 People Get Real (04:45) 9 Paper (04:09) 10 Avenue (07:34) 11 Mario’s Cafe (04:38) 12 You’re in a Bad Way (03:03) 13 Archway People (03:27) 14 Who Do You Think You Are (03:50) 15 Hobart Paving (04:54) 16 Pale Movie (03:47) 17 Hug My Soul (03:53) 1 Like a Motorway (03:41) 2 Cool Kids of Death (05:39) 3 The Process (03:09) 4 He’s on the Phone (radio edit) (04:08) 5 Angel (Way Out West radio edit) (04:09) 6 Burnt Out Car (Balearico mix) (04:19) 7 Shad Thames (03:33) 8 Woodcabin (04:07) 9 Sylvie (04:02) 10 Lose That Girl (04:03) 11 The Bad Photographer (radio mix) (04:00) 12 Goodnight Jack (04:22) 13 Madeleine (03:57) 14 4:35 in the Morning (Kid Loco) (04:35) 15 Jack Lemmon (04:22) 16 Saturday (Fugu remix) (03:20) 17 52 Pilot (05:37) |
| Smash the System: Singles and More : Allmusic album Review : Beach Boys references, samples of obscure films, samples of not-so-obscure prog rock trios -- whether or not one faults Saint Etienne for being style-over-substance cultural archivists, they did release some of the best dance-pop singles of the 90s. The dancefloor aspect hasnt leant itself to a timeless sheen to each one of them, but truthfully, people who find nothing to like about the group -- not a single song -- probably dont like pop music. And God only knows thousands of broke Saint Etienne fans vehemently disagree with the axiom that record collectors shouldnt make records. Throughout the 90s, Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs, and Sarah Cracknell kept one foot in the past and the other in the present, making musical jigsaw puzzles out of sounds old and new. For many, Saint Etienne has provided a gateway into 60s pop, reggae, Northern soul, and techno. Smash the System, a swollen update of the Too Young to Die singles compilation, demonstrates their niche. Barring one song, this package contains everything Too Young to Die features and picks up where it left off, patching on the two singles from 1998s Good Humor (the compilation ends chronologically with 1999s Places to Visit EP). But wait -- theres more. In addition to the 14 A-sides, a hodgepodge of album tracks and rarities -- seven of which are taken from Japan-only compilations -- are selected to fill out the remainder of the two-disc set. As a place to start, one could do far worse. However, due to the sheer volume of decent-to-great Saint Etienne material floating around, theres no way that two discs could possibly give listeners everything they need. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 37 Title: Asleep at the Wheels of Steel: Music for Lost and Other Films by Saint Etienne Released: 2002-02 Tracks: 10 Duration: 21:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 United World (01:13) 2 Lost (02:40) 3 Dunnottar (01:15) 4 Owl (02:39) 5 The Montana Gang (02:24) 6 Magic Child (03:19) 7 The Chemicals (02:27) 8 Garsington (02:19) 9 Portrait of Beau (01:16) 10 Christmas 1936 (01:36) |
 | Album: 21 of 37 Title: Finisterre Released: 2002-08 Tracks: 12 Duration: 47:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Action (04:44) 2 Amateur (03:40) 3 Language Lab (03:13) 4 Soft Like Me (04:24) 5 Summerisle (03:07) 6 Stop and Think It Over (03:57) 7 Shower Scene (04:32) 8 The Way We Live Now (04:23) 9 New Thing (04:11) 10 B92 (03:22) 11 The More You Know (03:32) 12 Finisterre (04:33) |
| Finisterre : Allmusic album Review : A return or a retread? Regardless of where you stand with this group as a fan (whether you detest Good Humor and Sound of Water or not), its a bit of both. Those whove been waiting nearly a decade for the group to return to the messy but masterful patchwork anti-formula formula of the first three albums should be happy with this one. Like So Tough and Foxbase Alpha, the flow of the album is charmingly disjointed and seemingly made up of tangents -- albeit the kind of tangents for which most pop groups would happily exchange their Sarah discographies in order to call just one their own. In that sense, Finisterre is a return, forsaking the unified approaches taken on both Good Humor and Sound of Water. But the album resembles what many longtime fans would call a blatant return -- a return in lieu of new ideas (to borrow). The groups bright and shimmery dance-pop instincts are practically oozing out of one-third of these songs, though none of them quite scale the heights of the groups best material. If another third of the album didnt sound like it couldve only been made in the wake of the electro (not electro) revival, it couldve been released at any point during the latter half of the 90s. The remainder of the album, along with some of the electro-leaning material, mines melancholy and occasionally dark territories. In fact, there are no sweeping string arrangements, no delicately strummed acoustic guitars, and nary a whistle-worthy melody within the albums last four songs. Still, Saint Etienne remain Englands best pop group -- they only look bad when theyre compared to themselves, and this album, for all its shortcomings, has a handful of moments capable of making you think that they are the best pop group to have ever existed. | ||
 | Album: 22 of 37 Title: Xmas 2003 Released: 2003-12 Tracks: 3 Duration: 08:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Come on Christmas (01:39) 2 Snow (02:51) 3 Marcie Dreams of Deptford (03:44) |
 | Album: 23 of 37 Title: The Trip: Created by Saint Etienne Released: 2004-09-27 Tracks: 48 Duration: 2:34:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Cannabis (02:47) 2 All Our Dreams Are Coming True (03:15) 3 Move Me Baby (02:48) 4 Pander Man (03:28) 5 Last Night Changed It All (03:21) 6 (A Case Of) Too Much Lovemakin (03:37) 7 Symphony (undubbed version) (02:51) 8 Shooting Star (02:48) 9 Its Time to Break Down (05:02) 10 Deus Irae Psychedelico (01:54) 11 Hey Mr. Holy Man (02:26) 12 Lady Orange Peel (02:22) 13 Youve Come This Way Before (02:22) 14 Ronas Theme (03:08) 15 Jaws (02:55) 16 Lend a Hand (03:15) 17 Pennygold (02:09) 18 My Love Is Your Love (Forever) (03:00) 19 Love Shortage (03:19) 20 Breakaway (03:25) 21 Succulent (03:38) 22 Rub Out (02:55) 23 Misdemeanor (02:26) 24 It Must Be Love Coming Down (03:00) 25 I Wont Let That Chump Break Your Heart (03:35) 1 Like to Get to Know You (03:09) 2 Never Can Say Goodbye (02:41) 3 Free From the City (02:10) 4 If Not by Fire (04:07) 5 Ice Man (02:48) 6 Auntie Aviator (05:56) 7 There Is Now (04:13) 8 The Radio Song (02:58) 9 Autopsy (04:27) 10 Snow Queen (03:20) 11 Cant Find the Time (03:22) 12 Summer in Your Savage Eyes (02:19) 13 Happiest Day of My Life (02:05) 14 Something Going (04:11) 15 The Bells (02:54) 16 I Dont Dare (02:34) 17 I Start Counting (02:57) 18 Angels of Ashes (04:17) 19 Speak Like a Child (03:12) 20 This Bird (03:07) 21 Dark Is the Bark (03:24) 22 My Silks and Fine Arrays (04:52) 23 A Dolls House (02:52) |
 | Album: 24 of 37 Title: Travel Edition 1990-2005 Released: 2004-11-09 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:16:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Primrose Hill (02:09) 2 Only Love Can Break Your Heart (04:29) 3 Nothing Can Stop Us (04:20) 4 Avenue (03:50) 5 Mario’s Cafe (04:38) 6 Hobart Paving (04:54) 7 Hug My Soul (03:53) 8 Like a Motorway (03:41) 9 He’s on the Phone (04:07) 10 Burnt Out Car (04:18) 11 Sylvie (04:02) 12 Lose That Girl (04:03) 13 Goodnight Jack (04:22) 14 How We Used to Live (08:51) 15 Heart Failed (In the Back of a Taxi) (03:40) 16 Action (03:51) 17 Fascination (03:51) 18 Finisterre (03:45) |
| Travel Edition 1990-2005 : Allmusic album Review : Along with Associates, the Smiths, and Pet Shop Boys, Saint Etienne has been one of the great U.K. singles groups of the past few decades. Theyve been Englands equivalent of the Beastie Boys -- obsessive record collectors who pull from numerous beloved elements of the past while remaining cutting-edge -- only theyve never sounded tired or short on new ideas. Travel Edition 1990-2005 is the first best-of the group has had distributed in the U.S., and it focuses on the A-sides but, due to space constraints, stops short of being thoroughly representative. This can also be credited to Saint Etiennes strength as an album group. As of late 2004, they had yet to release a less-than-good full-length. If you want to go beyond the singles but arent able to commit to the albums (you really ought to consider them, though), theres the 2001 double-disc Smash the System, which shouldnt be hard to find on import in the States; though it was released too soon to include songs from The Sound of Water and Finisterre, it features essential non-singles ("Who Do You Think You Are," "Archway People," "The Process," "Wood Cabin") and also includes a handful of just as desirable singles ("Join Our Club," "Youre in a Bad Way," "Angel") that werent able to be squeezed into this disc. Perhaps some of Saint Etiennes songs have dated -- just as the average Beach Boys or Blondie singles point directly toward their respective years of release -- but all of them have aged exceptionally well, as well as anything recorded by the groups they hold dear to their hearts. Taken purely as a gateway compilation, Travel Edition should do its job with no trouble. Regardless of what its missing or what it includes, the disc contains some of the most fun, warm-spirited music money can buy. | ||
 | Album: 25 of 37 Title: Tales From Turnpike House Released: 2005-06-13 Tracks: 12 Duration: 44:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Sun in My Morning (02:41) 2 Milk Bottle Symphony (04:03) 3 Lightning Strikes Twice (03:45) 4 Slow Down at the Castle (04:42) 5 A Good Thing (04:00) 6 Side Streets (02:56) 7 Last Orders for Gary Stead (04:28) 8 Stars Above Us (03:25) 9 Relocate (03:08) 10 The Birdman of EC1 (02:47) 11 Teenage Winter (05:45) 12 Goodnight (02:30) |
| Tales From Turnpike House : Allmusic album Review : No matter the associates or variables involved, a Saint Etienne album is always going to end up sounding just like a Saint Etienne album, even if its a little different from what came before it. On Tales from Turnpike House, the group gets two productions from Xenomania (Girls Aloud, Sugababes), several vocal arrangements from Tony Rivers (the Castaways, Harmony Grass) and son, some songwriting and vocal contributions from the misunderstood David Essex ("Rock On," "Stardust"), and assorted things from faces old and new. The album comes out as their most organic since 1998s Good Humor; even the tracks driven by programming are warm in comparison to vast chunks of both Sound of Water and Finisterre. The concept -- a day in the life of fictional characters who live in a house that does indeed exist -- allows for a range of material thats as broad as what can be heard on any other Saint Etienne album. The glitzy dance-pop of "Stars Above Us" ("Stars above us, cars below us/Nothing can touch us, baby"), for example, precedes the ruminative "Teenage Winter," containing an all-too-sharp expression of the resisted shift away from adolescent fanaticism ("And in the charity shop...not much left on the doorstep recently/Something to do with eBay, Johnny reckons/Hes bidding on it now, for a Subbuteo catalog 81-82/Hell win it, put it in a drawer and forget he ever bought it"). Though the other dancefloor-ready songs -- the sleek, silken "A Good Thing" and the sweetly lacerating "Lightning Strikes Twice" -- have major presence, the gentler moments, thriving on easy-to-miss intricacies and enlivening vocal arrangements (the Rivers men are astute Beach Boys disciples), are especially generous with their charms. [The U.S. version, released on Savoy Jazz (this is not a joke), has a substantially different sequence and three tracks not present on the original U.K. issue. The best of the three is the B-side "Im Falling," a David Essex collaboration that is gorgeously melancholy and not far off from an atmospheric version of Places to Visits "Were in the City." Unfortunately, it does not contain Essexs vocal contribution, "Relocate." Its understandable that the label would want to add tracks to the album to differentiate it from a version that had been released months prior, but the resequencing and swapping out of tracks is a real head-scratcher.] | ||
 | Album: 26 of 37 Title: Nice Price Released: 2006-03-28 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:17:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Nothing Can Stop Us (04:04) 2 7 Ways 2 Love (06:50) 3 Who Do You Think You Are (05:16) 4 Hobart Paving (04:59) 5 Like a Motorway (05:27) 6 Former Lover (03:37) 7 Western Wind (03:54) 8 Angel (07:17) 1 Burnt Out Car (02:55) 2 Sylvie (04:49) 3 Madeleine (04:10) 4 Lose That Girl (04:03) 5 Heart Failed (In the Back of a Taxi) (04:50) 6 How We Used to Live (07:54) 7 Milk Bottle Symphony (04:19) 8 Goodnight (02:28) |
 | Album: 27 of 37 Title: What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day? Released: 2006-11-27 Tracks: 18 Duration: 32:14 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Main Title (02:41) 2 Sugarhouse Lane (02:07) 3 Hope Chemical (02:35) 4 Eton Manor (01:33) 5 Quartermile Bridge (01:20) 6 Cosy Cafe (03:39) 7 Lee Navigation (01:54) 8 Pudding Mill Lane (00:39) 9 Channelsea (01:07) 10 White Post Lane (02:05) 11 The Pylons (01:31) 12 Parkesine (02:05) 13 Lesney Factory (01:56) 14 Swan Wharf (01:34) 15 Pioneers (00:57) 16 Trinity Wharf (00:58) 17 Blackwall Reach (00:58) 18 Mervyns Theme (02:28) |
 | Album: 28 of 37 Title: Boxette Released: 2008-01 Tracks: 48 Duration: 2:33:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Flight to Tashkent (03:00) 2 Sushi Rider (05:27) 3 Deutscher Kendals (00:51) 4 Think Twice (03:10) 5 Studio Kinda Filthy (05:06) 6 We’re Coming in Loaded (03:24) 7 Fife Coast (03:51) 8 Fake ’88 (05:03) 9 Parliament Hill (02:41) 10 Everything I Touch Turns to Gold (03:28) 11 Schroeder (03:45) 12 Stranger in Paradise (03:34) 1 The Clothes Show (00:23) 2 Suburban Autumn Lieutenant (04:05) 3 Jaydip Pharmacy (02:52) 4 Tomorrow Never Dies (03:48) 5 Nazi Jaloux (03:20) 6 Please (02:35) 7 Keep Nothing (04:00) 8 Russian (03:27) 9 Blofeld Buildings (04:38) 10 Ken (03:40) 11 Are We Gonna Be Alright (03:13) 12 Andrew McCarthy (02:55) 13 Were in the City (live) (04:21) 14 The Clothes Show (Sad Refrain) (01:43) 1 United World (01:13) 2 Lost (02:40) 3 Dunnottar (01:15) 4 Owl (02:39) 5 The Montana Gang (02:24) 6 Magic Child (03:19) 7 The Chemicals (02:27) 8 Garsington (02:19) 9 Portrait of Beau (01:16) 10 Christmas 1936 (01:36) 1 Marcie Dreams of Deptford (03:44) 2 Say It to the Rain (04:19) 3 Departure Lounge (04:25) 4 Summer Song (03:27) 5 A Slavic Beauty With a Rose Between Her Teeth (03:54) 6 Absolute Beginners (04:59) 7 A Good Thing (03:34) 8 The Same but Different (01:59) 9 Southern Train (03:01) 10 Message in a Bottle (02:07) 11 Kofi Annan (05:28) 12 Puppy Love (02:13) |
 | Album: 29 of 37 Title: Eric Random Released: 2008-01 Tracks: 12 Duration: 43:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Marcie Dreams of Deptford (03:44) 2 Say It to the Rain (04:19) 3 Departure Lounge (04:25) 4 Summer Song (03:27) 5 A Slavic Beauty With a Rose Between Her Teeth (03:54) 6 Absolute Beginners (04:59) 7 A Good Thing (03:34) 8 The Same but Different (01:59) 9 Southern Train (03:01) 10 Message in a Bottle (02:07) 11 Kofi Annan (05:28) 12 Puppy Love (02:13) |
 | Album: 30 of 37 Title: London Conversations: The Best of Saint Etienne Released: 2008-08 Tracks: 36 Duration: 2:31:22 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Only Love Can Break Your Heart (04:29) 2 Nothing Can Stop Us (04:20) 3 Join Our Club (03:20) 4 Avenue (03:50) 5 You’re in a Bad Way (03:03) 6 Hobart Paving (04:54) 7 Who Do You Think You Are (03:50) 8 Pale Movie (03:47) 9 Like a Motorway (03:41) 10 Hug My Soul (03:53) 11 He’s on the Phone (04:07) 12 Sylvie (04:02) 13 Heart Failed (In the Back of a Taxi) (03:40) 14 Action (03:51) 15 A Good Thing (04:00) 16 Side Streets (02:56) 17 Burnt Out Car (03:41) 18 Method of Modern Love (04:20) 19 This Is Tomorrow (03:28) 1 Kiss and Make Up (05:14) 2 Filthy (05:33) 3 Spring (03:44) 4 People Get Real (04:45) 5 Mario’s Cafe (04:38) 6 Goodnight Jack (04:22) 7 The Bad Photographer (radio mix) (04:00) 8 Lose That Girl (04:03) 9 Lover Plays the Bass (04:16) 10 How We Used to Live (08:51) 11 Boy Is Crying (single mix) (03:39) 12 Finisterre (03:45) 13 Soft Like Me (04:24) 14 Shower Scene (04:22) 15 Stars Above Us (03:25) 16 Teenage Winter (05:45) 17 I Was Born on Christmas Day (03:11) |
| London Conversations: The Best of Saint Etienne : Allmusic album Review : Die-hard Saint Etienne fans have all of this stuff but, for the casual explorer, Heavenlys 2008 collection London Conversations: The Best of Saint Etienne is the best place to catch up and fall in love. Covering everything from their first single through 2002s Finisterre, London Conversations offers up a good spread, with hits and obscure B-sides occupying equal territory. The running order runs (mostly) chronologically on each CD, but the sequence flows well enough that the "mx-tape" vibe remains hip-ly intact for the listener. | ||
 | Album: 31 of 37 Title: Songs for the Dog & Duck Released: 2009 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:07:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Hi Flutin Boogie (02:11) 2 Davy OBrien (02:26) 3 Lost (02:40) 4 Make Me Yours (03:13) 5 I Was Born to Love You (02:27) 6 Walkin Through a Cemetery (02:31) 7 Rock-n-Bones (01:57) 8 Jitterbop Baby (01:56) 9 Dancing All Around the World (Dance a Go Go) (02:57) 10 She Does Everything for Me (02:17) 11 The Way of the Crowd (03:04) 12 I Cant Get Through (02:46) 13 Lay This Burden Down (02:37) 14 Sweep It Out in the Shed (03:03) 15 How Can I Tell (02:18) 16 The EMI Song (Smile for Me) (03:56) 17 Driver’s Seat (03:46) 18 Flight 2 (02:51) 19 Good Time Coming (02:36) 20 Hand Clappin Time (01:57) 21 Having a Good Time (02:33) 22 Varee Is Love (02:45) 23 We Belong Together (02:46) 24 Smoke Rings (02:58) 25 Pinball (03:08) |
 | Album: 32 of 37 Title: Foxbase Beta Released: 2009-10 Tracks: 13 Duration: 48:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 This Is Radio Etienne (00:53) 2 Only Love Can Break Your Heart (04:28) 3 Wilson (02:10) 4 Carnt Sleep (04:56) 5 Girl VII (04:35) 6 Spring (03:58) 7 She’s the One (03:38) 8 Stoned to Say the Least (06:05) 9 Nothing Can Stop Us (03:44) 10 Etienne Gonna Die (01:29) 11 London Belongs to Me (04:08) 12 Like the Swallow (06:17) 13 Dilworth’s Theme (02:16) |
 | Album: 33 of 37 Title: A Glimpse of Stocking Released: 2010-11-29 Tracks: 15 Duration: 43:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Gonna Have a Party (03:23) 2 21st Century Christmas (03:51) 3 Driving Home for Christmas (02:30) 4 Welcome Home (03:21) 5 Snowbound on the South Bank (01:48) 6 My Christmas Prayer (03:27) 7 I Dont Intend to Spend Christmas Without You (02:39) 8 Come on Christmas (01:39) 9 Through the Winter (03:50) 10 I Was Born on Christmas Day (03:11) 11 Fireside Favourite (02:07) 12 No Cure for the Common Christmas (04:31) 13 Wintertime Love (02:25) 14 Unwrap Me (02:08) 15 Snow (02:51) |
 | Album: 34 of 37 Title: Words and Music by Saint Etienne Released: 2012-05-21 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:54:04 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Over the Border (05:05) 2 I’ve Got Your Music (03:46) 3 Heading for the Fair (03:45) 4 Last Days of Disco (03:37) 5 Tonight (04:37) 6 Answer Song (03:25) 7 Record Doctor (00:53) 8 Popular (03:23) 9 25 Years (03:40) 10 DJ (04:39) 11 When I Was Seventeen (03:37) 12 I Threw It All Away (03:27) 13 Haunted Jukebox (04:15) 1 Tonight (Two Bears remix) (07:18) 2 Last Days of Disco (Erol Alkan remix) (06:16) 3 DJ (Stay+ remix) (03:45) 4 I’ve Got Your Music (Golden Filter remix) (07:08) 5 Popular (Tom Middleton Cosmos remix) (08:17) 6 Heading for the Fair (The Time and Space Machine Waltzer remix) (07:57) 7 Tonight (Club Clique remix) (04:39) 8 Answer Song (White Horses remix) (03:37) 9 Haunted Jukebox (Summer Camp remix) (03:26) 10 I’ve Got Your Music (Kisses remix) (04:22) 11 DJ (Muddyloop remix) (04:16) 12 Last Days of Disco (Beat Connection remix) (04:41) |
| Words and Music by Saint Etienne : Allmusic album Review : Saint Etiennes eighth record, Words and Music by Saint Etienne, is centered on a theme that has been part of their music since the group began. Theyve always been one of the most nostalgic groups around, draping themselves in the visuals, styles, and sounds of the past while still staying modern. Theyve rarely seemed to be touched by the past on a personal level, but now perhaps age and experience have given them a reason to look back at their own lives and do a bit of summing up. Fortunately, this bit of soul-searching self-awareness isnt delivered via somber, acoustic guitar-based navel-gazing; instead, it comes coated in disco synthesizers and a slickly done production job (by a team of the group, longtime associate Ian Catt, Richard X, and Xenomanias Tim Powell) that positions them firmly in the Pop (with a capital P) world. About half the record is drenched in nostalgia, vaguely melancholic and introspective. The first track, "Over the Border," wistfully talks about growing up, falling in love with music, and wondering if it will last; elsewhere, Sarah Cracknell sings about bad choices ("Twenty Five Years," "I Threw It All Away"), and on the atypically 80s rock-inspired "When I Was Seventeen," they make the nostalgic nature of the album very clear. The nuanced melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and Cracknells tender vocals put these songs over splendidly and give the album a sturdy emotional core beneath the glitzy surface. The other half of the album is built on bouncing beats, glittering synths, and Cracknells feather-light vocals, and is designed to be played over radio waves and in sweaty nightclubs. This half of the album speaks to the power of music to sweep you away, fill you with hope and love, and make everything all right. To that end, the group also succeeds and crafts some of its finest dancefloor-filling moments ever; Sarah Cracknell has never sounded better than on the flashy "The Last Days of Disco," "DJ" has a nice callback to the melody of "Like a Motorway," and "Haunted Jukebox" sports a mid-60s soul groove and some lushly lovely backing vocals. Songs like these really do capture the transformative qualities the best music can have, just as the ballads on the album transmit all sorts of deeper feelings of loss and regret. These dual aspects of the record mesh perfectly, often on the same song, and Words and Music turns out to be one of the bands most enriching albums, both musically and emotionally. | ||
 | Album: 35 of 37 Title: How We Used to Live Released: 2015-01 Tracks: 22 Duration: 54:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Where to Begin? Here (02:11) 2 An Old Film of Mine (01:22) 3 A Gay Tune for Mabel (01:46) 4 Downstream (03:30) 5 The Old British Pride in Railways (01:22) 6 Primrose (01:42) 7 Shopping Spree (02:01) 8 The Great Park (02:31) 9 Thirty Degrees C (03:18) 10 Preprandial (02:37) 11 We’ve Got the Moves (03:40) 12 Dawn Strings (00:51) 13 Ready or Not (04:42) 14 Three Sides of Winter (03:25) 15 Compuphonic Youth (01:36) 16 The Condition of the Heart (00:44) 17 The Art Room (01:55) 18 XVC 935X (02:27) 19 A Tourist’s Paradise (02:11) 20 From Elsie to Captain Zip (01:49) 21 Some Non Pop Music (02:59) 22 The Paths of Others (05:11) |
 | Album: 36 of 37 Title: Home Counties Released: 2017-06-02 Tracks: 19 Duration: 56:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Reunion (00:22) 2 Something New (03:17) 3 Magpie Eyes (03:34) 4 Whyteleafe (03:09) 5 Dive (04:48) 6 Church Pew Furniture Restorer (01:53) 7 Take It All In (03:25) 8 Popmaster (00:28) 9 Underneath the Apple Tree (02:35) 10 Out of My Mind (03:57) 1 After Hebden (03:31) 2 Breakneck Hill (01:39) 3 Heather (03:58) 4 Sports Report (00:12) 5 Train Drivers in Eyeliner (03:16) 6 Unopened Fan Mail (03:04) 7 What Kind of World (03:07) 8 Sweet Arcadia (07:43) 9 Angel of Woodhatch (02:14) |
| Home Counties : Allmusic album Review : The members of Saint Etienne began work on their ninth album with a basic concept in mind of paying tribute to the suburbs of London where the trio spent their formative years. Titled Home Counties, the album was recorded quickly with producer Shawn Lee and a room full of vintage gear and instruments. Thanks to that, the record Home Counties most resembles in their discography is Good Humor, but where that album exuded a cool Scandinavian sheen, this one is warm and inviting. Lees production doesnt lean on machines, though they are certainly present. Instead, Sarah Cracknells unfailingly cozy vocals are surrounded by guitars, vocal harmonies, and old keyboards in arrangements that take in swinging 60s sounds, sparkling 90s pop, and even a few that wouldnt sound out of place on 2017 pop radio, especially the Richard X-co-produced, ELO-quoting "Out of My Mind." Throw in some lightly bouncy Belle and Sebastian-style indie pop ("Train Drivers in Eyeliner"), wonderfully cheesy disco ("Dive"), stomping Northern soul ("Underneath the Apple Tree"), and melancholy baroque pop ("Take It All In"), and it makes for the bands most varied-sounding album and, even more than Good Humor, feels like the result of a working band getting together in the studio to play together, even though it is mostly Lee providing the sounds. Like their last album, Words and Music by Saint Etienne, and to be honest, music of their catalog, Home Counties can be achingly nostalgic, and many of the songs have a sepia-toned sadness about them. Unlike on Words, the sound here usually matches the feeling, and it makes for the bands most emotionally affecting album. They are never going to be the type of group to spill blood in their lyrics, but songs like "What Kind of World" and "After Hebden" have a deep impact. Combining tear-stained words with sweet-as-pie melodies has been a trick the trio have pulled off with ease over their long career, and their skill hasnt deserted them yet. Even the catchy, lighthearted songs like "Magpie Eyes" have a melancholy core; so do the more modern-sounding tracks like the icy synth pop-informed "Heather." Its rare that a band is good for a couple years, even more so if able to keep it going for a decade. With Home Counties, Pete Wiggs, Bob Stanley, and Sarah Cracknell have been making beautiful, fun, and deceptively tricky music for almost 30 years without a noticeable dip in quality. In fact, one could argue that this album is the work of a band at the top of its game. It may not be flashy like their early work, experimental like some of their mid-period albums, or punchy like Words and Music, but the album takes in elements of everything theyve done along the way and repurposes it in a lovely, extremely satisfying fashion. | ||
 | Album: 37 of 37 Title: Dive Released: 2017-08 Tracks: 3 Duration: 20:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Dive (Colorama & Shawn Lee remix) (08:20) 2 Dive (Greg Wilson & Derek Kaye remix) (07:50) 3 Dive (Matt Berry remix) (03:51) |