The Voice of Sarah Cracknell

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Totally underrated, as are Saint Etienne as live band. Saw 'em on Saturday. Fantastic. Lechy punters, though. But grebt. Gave us a free CD, even. Greatest hits sets from best UK band since New Order. Does it get greater?

― Nu-Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 15 December 2003 11:40 (twenty-two years ago)

What's on the CD?

(I sold my "I love to paint" on ebay a few years ago, and have gone down in urban legend...)

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 15 December 2003 11:42 (twenty-two years ago)

St Et are responsible for so many good things happening to British music I really would not know where to start.

― suzy (suzy), Monday, 15 December 2003 11:43 (twenty-two years ago)

As good a thread as any to repeat my Friday night pub claim that "I Was Born On Christmas Day" is i) underrated and ii) beautiful.

NME's hatchet job on Too Young To Die made me finally give up reading it, too - ta St Et!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Monday, 15 December 2003 11:44 (twenty-two years ago)

An xmassy cover of 'Louie Louie' (well, chord-wise) and a nice xmassy cover of [argh, forget], plus some noodling. Cracknell is pregnant, apparently.
They closed with 'I Was Born...' -- and Tico is OTM. I wanna see their movie.

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 15 December 2003 11:46 (twenty-two years ago)

CD: "Come On Christmas" (a new St Et Xmas original); "Snow" (Randy Newman cover) "Deirde Dreams of Deptford"(new St Et instumental).

I like St Etienne very much indeed and enjoyed their set last night without being especially blown away by it. They could have lost the band for the most part, I thought. Always good to see Debsey though.

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 15 December 2003 11:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Quality control gave out on the St Etienne team around 1998 though.

― the soft priest, Monday, 15 December 2003 11:46 (twenty-two years ago)

St Et are as good a candidate as anyone except the Fall for my very fav band ever, and I'm incredibally jealous of anyone who's gotten to see them live. I'm glad everyone who's brought it up enjoyed it tho, any "oh I don't like them but y'know I got a free ticket, it was pretty crap" stories might make me cry.

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Monday, 15 December 2003 11:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Debsey...

As in "Hester on guitar and Debsey on bass, Rachael on drums and she sets the pace..."

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 15 December 2003 11:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Soft Priest I think I prefer their earlier stuff too but pub investigation has demonstrated that the quality of their singles has barely dropped off.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Monday, 15 December 2003 11:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes.

I think "Finisterre" is their best LP (singles comps aside). I've seen the "Finisterre" film (at the ICA, gawd bless 'em) and I loved it to pieces thoug h everyone knows I know nowt about films. But it quotes "Come On Eileen"! It features the voices of Vic Godard and Shena Mackay! How could it be wrong?

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 15 December 2003 11:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Fuck, that sounds cool. I must redouble my efforts. Tim otm re: Finisterre.

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 15 December 2003 11:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Finistere is wrong. I don't know why but it just is. At least to my own ears. I think they should have stopped after Good Humour.

― the soft priest, Monday, 15 December 2003 11:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I was at the Oxford gig too, Enrique. Blimey, I might have even spoken to you (I spoke to loads of ppl, but not while the band were on, that'd be rude. Didn't stop the ppl behind us tho, grrr).

You are *so* right about the lechy punters. There were a group of lads next to where my mate and I were standing (i.e. right at the front) who were gazing at Sarah Cracknell with their tongues lolling.

― MarkH (MarkH), Monday, 15 December 2003 11:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't know when / where / how Finisterre's visible, Enrique: I assumed they'd be bashing it out on an Xmas DVD but it doesn't seem to have happened.

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 15 December 2003 11:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Good Humor's their worst record I think - ill-advised sixties styling, ugh. (Still liked the singles tho.)

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Monday, 15 December 2003 11:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Mark,
me=crew cut and trainers
g/f=rita hayworth

didn't talk much, to anyone.

Tim -- yeah, it's actually sorta reviewd in S1ght and S0und this month. onedotzero has something to do with its distribution -- which is promising since they also do dvds.

'Goodnight Jack' (or track 5, whatever) is grebt, Tico.

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 15 December 2003 11:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I have a feeling that they are going to tour the film a la Christy Malry's Double Entry next year. Though the Barbican have shown it on and off. I liked the film too at the preview Tim tipped me off on, a good showcase for the music and has some wonderful images.

― Pete (Pete), Monday, 15 December 2003 11:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Good Humor is definitely the most patchy album. I like the first three tracks (Woodcabin, Sylvie, Split Screen) and Lose That Girl. The rest I'm not keen on. Dutch TV is prolly the worst thing St Etienne have done.

Didn't realise until today (via google) that Debsey is also in Birdie, whom I saw at Strange Fruit once.

― MarkH (MarkH), Monday, 15 December 2003 12:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I need to go to many many more gigs than I have been doing recently.

Sarah must be pregs with bambino #2.

I think I've seen them play a gazillion times, inc. before Sarah was in them, at RAGE. St Et were a major part of my social circle in the first half of the '90s (like Pulp and Stereolab, you'll be pleased to know they were not scared of making friends). Sarah was known to me through Lawrence and Nick before she joined (her dad was a 1AD on Bond films and you can see all these Cherry Red artistes in period dress as extras in bad Shepperton dramas, as she wangled work for her friends).

― suzy (suzy), Monday, 15 December 2003 12:01 (twenty-two years ago)

This is a huge mahoosive and terrible thing for a 23 year old to admit to. St Et on Saturday was my first gig for 3 years. Almost unbelievable.

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 15 December 2003 12:05 (twenty-two years ago)

been studying?

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 15 December 2003 12:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Lawsey, Enrique!

Just IMDBd Sarah's (late) dad and he's the AD on 'O Lucky Man!', '2001' and 'A Clockwork Orange' as well.

― suzy (suzy), Monday, 15 December 2003 12:10 (twenty-two years ago)

i was going to start a thread about Sarah Cracknell's solo thing today!

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 15 December 2003 12:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Nah, I graduated mid-2001. I was poor for a long time, then I was depressed, bored with music, and going to lots of movies instead... I guess that's it. There aren't too many touring bands who I like even now. The last time I nearly gigged was that a friend of a friend (of a friend) is in Turin Breaks, and they were in town. But they suxxor, so I didn't go.
Cheers for the info suzy -- and tell mark s.

― Nu-Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 15 December 2003 12:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I was born on Xmas day with Edwyn Collins last night was wonderful, as was hearing Crackers do only love can break your heart - marvellous stuff.

― chris (chris), Monday, 15 December 2003 12:18 (twenty-two years ago)

that was the only thing I didn't like about SE's performance on Saturday, I was born on Xmas Day was Sarah on her own, which doesn't work so well.

― MarkH (MarkH), Monday, 15 December 2003 12:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, I wish I'd known that they were playing. I heart St Et.

― j0e (j0e), Monday, 15 December 2003 13:08 (twenty-two years ago)

As good a thread as any to repeat my Friday night pub claim that "I Was Born On Christmas Day" is i) underrated and ii) beautiful.

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Monday, 15 December 2003 13:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Thirded:) I really must make an effort to see them, they've "retired" once or twice haven't they? My luck won't hold forever.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 15 December 2003 14:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Grrr. You're all bastards. Saint Etienne = probably better than Pulp, when it comes to the crunch.

What have I said?

Can anyone help me choose my next tattoo? I'm torn between the cat from

http://saint.etienne.net/ec/I_Was_Born_On_Christmas_Day.jpg

or the eye in the middle from

http://saint.etienne.net/ec/Sylvie.1.jpg

It'll go on my left collarbone to complement my Stereolab one on my arm...but I can't decide!

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Monday, 15 December 2003 16:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Error above: the instrumental track on the CD single they were giving away last night is called "Marcie Dreams of Deptford". I still think "Deidre Dreams of Deptford" would have been better.

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 15 December 2003 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Charlie, you want the Cat's Paw logo? for that's what it is, I think it's really shoe polish.

― suzy (suzy), Monday, 15 December 2003 16:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Deidre Dreams of Dreary Deptford.

― MarkH (MarkH), Monday, 15 December 2003 16:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it's really shoe polish

Oh really? I had no idea. I'm leaning towards the eye in any case, cos it's more abstract and I think the novelty of the cat would wear off pretty quickly.

Perhaps I'll start a new "choose Charlie's new tattoo" thread...

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Monday, 15 December 2003 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Remember Barry Lasagne and be warned.

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 15 December 2003 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Who is Barry Lasagne?

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Monday, 15 December 2003 16:43 (twenty-two years ago)

(That's the new moniker that Mark C got burdoned with when he asked ILX to pick for him. So unless you want a tattoo of a chickenbear, don't ask ILX to pick one for you!)

― HRH Queen Kate (kate), Monday, 15 December 2003 16:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw the Finisterre fillum at the Showroom in Sheffield last month, Bob'n'Pete were there with the film-maker-people to do wondrous question'n'answer session and then DJ set afterwards. It was suggested that the next filmic project is going to be a Lawrence-assisted Birmingham one, which would obviously be glorious beyond belief. If there had been any way whatsoever for me to get down to see them this weekend I would have sold organs to do so, am glad it was magnificent. St Etienne are basically the greatest thing in the history of ever.

― Alex in Doncaster (Alex in Doncaster), Monday, 15 December 2003 16:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I reckon that, taking a lifetime into consideration, a pop music tatto is likely to lose its appeal pretty quickly.

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 15 December 2003 17:05 (twenty-two years ago)

The text for the Finisterre film was written by K3vin P3arc3 who remains my favourite music writer ever.

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 15 December 2003 17:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Psst Charlie -
Tattoo mania!

― NA (Nick A.), Monday, 15 December 2003 17:10 (twenty-two years ago)

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