Is their first album since 2005. I know there's been a wee bit of chat on the Saint Etienne thread, but figured this deserves it's own thread.
A flurry of activity today with a video for the new track and announcement of gigs in May to coincide with the album release, which I don't think I'll be able to go to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEWEAqNR2XQ
― fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Friday, 17 February 2012 15:40 (twelve years ago) link
Anticipate now.
― fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Friday, 17 February 2012 15:41 (twelve years ago) link
Oddly unexcited. Not keen on the single.
And I generally love them.
― djh, Friday, 17 February 2012 21:48 (twelve years ago) link
it's catchy but I don't dig the production
― iatee, Friday, 17 February 2012 21:50 (twelve years ago) link
I'll buy it of course, but the single doesn't do much for me either. Fox Base Beta was really damn good, though.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Friday, 17 February 2012 22:10 (twelve years ago) link
Kind of a subtle tune for a single - I like it a lot.
― timellison, Friday, 17 February 2012 23:39 (twelve years ago) link
I can't wait to hear "DJ" - aka the new one they've been playing live - in a recorded version, it sounds like it could be one of the best things they've ever done.
― boxedjoy, Friday, 17 February 2012 23:41 (twelve years ago) link
This is going to be a good thing.
― Cold Chisel dude Cold Chisel (King Boy Pato), Saturday, 18 February 2012 04:19 (twelve years ago) link
When I saw the cover, I was a bit 'meh' about it, but looking a touch closer...
http://assets.umusic.co.uk/saintetienne/StEtWordsCover.jpg
― fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 21 February 2012 20:13 (twelve years ago) link
The single is right up my alley, though I think Cracknell's voice is starting to sound a little boring. "DJ" also sounds very promising. Also pleasantly surprised to see they've included "When I was Seventeen." I don't think many people know about it but it's been on Youtube for a while and it's pretty great imo:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZppLu40oQfE
― daavid, Wednesday, 22 February 2012 04:58 (twelve years ago) link
are those street names imposed on the london grid, or is it a totally make believe map?
― iatee, Wednesday, 22 February 2012 05:00 (twelve years ago) link
http://www.wearedorothy.com/art/song-map-unlimited-edition/
― Euler, Wednesday, 22 February 2012 12:52 (twelve years ago) link
I had been shopping online for artsy maps & found this a while back, before I'd seen the album cover. I like it! Didn't buy the print though.
― Euler, Wednesday, 22 February 2012 12:54 (twelve years ago) link
the print is shoreditch, i don't recognise where the album is.
― watercooler challenge (ledge), Wednesday, 22 February 2012 12:57 (twelve years ago) link
That cover is hideous. I don't quite believe they are using a cheesy image like that, already available for under a fiver. Is it possibly a fake?
― everything, Wednesday, 22 February 2012 19:00 (twelve years ago) link
I think this might be the album I'm mosting looking forward to this year. Love the single and the artwork, great to have them back.
― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 22 February 2012 19:04 (twelve years ago) link
I sort of want them to sound *mature* in that reminiscing about the lea valley sort of way.
― djh, Wednesday, 22 February 2012 20:50 (twelve years ago) link
That could describe everything they have released since Good Humor, so I think you are not going to be disappointed.
― everything, Wednesday, 22 February 2012 21:52 (twelve years ago) link
turns out the cover is a rather messed-with croydon:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=croydon&hl=en&ll=51.37679,-0.093083&spn=0.013983,0.031543&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=36.315864,64.599609&hnear=Croydon,+Greater+London,+United+Kingdom&t=m&z=15
― ledge, Thursday, 23 February 2012 11:03 (twelve years ago) link
I don't know, if any band has earned the right to use that image on their album cover, it's Saint Etienne.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Thursday, 23 February 2012 15:48 (twelve years ago) link
poo croydon-the field mice or saint etienne?
― keythhtyek, Friday, 24 February 2012 03:15 (twelve years ago) link
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4oLz3xxVuc/T1ItTdzLvuI/AAAAAAAAJ5c/1k-gnyyPiVw/s1600/Saint+Etienne+Tonight+single.jpg
So our remix of the single is coming out on all formats including rather thrillingly the 12" vinyl! One mix is by us, one is by Richard X and another is by The 2 Bears so it seems we're in pretty good company. http://store.universal-music.co.uk/restofworld/vinyl/saint-etienne-tonight-12-vinyl-single-2012/invt/0602527961545/
― piscesx, Sunday, 4 March 2012 05:55 (twelve years ago) link
Their video! Our remix! enjoy!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG_s5vkLGMU&list=UUSdQZi2ldPV8g6qLefmRtMg&index=2&feature=plcp
― piscesx, Friday, 23 March 2012 17:40 (twelve years ago) link
great job!
― johnny crunch, Friday, 23 March 2012 17:46 (twelve years ago) link
thanks!
― piscesx, Friday, 23 March 2012 17:50 (twelve years ago) link
The extended version of this is, like so many singles, so much better than the single version.
― boxedjoy, Monday, 26 March 2012 09:41 (twelve years ago) link
This is lovely.
http://www.pitchfork.com/news/46254-listen-new-saint-etienne-answer-song/
― Kitchen Person, Monday, 23 April 2012 21:25 (twelve years ago) link
SAINT ETIENNE PRESENTS SONGS FOR THE LYONS CORNERHOUSEhttp://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=3643
― djh, Sunday, 29 April 2012 00:30 (twelve years ago) link
Anyone know what's on the extra CD on the deluxe edition? None of the retailers I looked at had a track listing.
― fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Sunday, 29 April 2012 13:01 (twelve years ago) link
Weird, isn't it? (To have a bonus disc which is presumably meant to make you pre-order/buy early but then not tempt with details).
― djh, Sunday, 29 April 2012 15:11 (twelve years ago) link
No doubt something that will come out again in three years time to fan club members with added bonus features and remixes for a "bargain" price...
(I do mean that with love)
― boxedjoy, Sunday, 29 April 2012 15:32 (twelve years ago) link
Tracklisting has now been announced for the deluxe edition.
Disc 101 Over The Border 05:0502 I've Got Your Music 03:4603 Heading For The Fair 03:4504 Last Days of Disco 03:3505 Tonight 04:3806 Answer Song 03:2507 Record Doctor 5308 Popular 03:2309 Twenty Five Years 03:4010 DJ 04:3911 When I Was Seventeen 03:3712 I Threw It All Away 03:2713 Haunted Jukebox 04:15
Disc 201 Tonight (Two Bears Remix) 07:1902 Last Days of Disco (Erol Alkan Remix) 06:1603 DJ (Stay+ Remix) 03:4504 I've Got Your Music (Golden Filter Remix) 07:0805 Popular (Tom Middleton Cosmos Remix) 08:1706 Heading For The Fair (The Time And Space Machine Waltzer Remix) 07:5707 Tonight (Club Clique Remix) 04:4308 Answer Song (White Horses Remix) 03:3709 Haunted Jukebox (Summer Camp Remix) 03:2610 I've Got Your Music (Kisses Remix) 04:2211 DJ (Muddyloop Remix) 04:1612 Last Days of Disco (Beat Connection Remix) 04:41
Popjustice have the new single as the song of the day. It's good but easily the waekest of the three tracks that I've heard from the album. http://www.popjustice.com/songs/saint-etienne-ive-got-your-music/
― Kitchen Person, Monday, 30 April 2012 13:31 (twelve years ago) link
hey we're on this. we just found out! track 7 too; always a lucky number.
― piscesx, Monday, 30 April 2012 14:10 (twelve years ago) link
Found this link http://brightonmusicblog.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/words-music-by-saint-etienne-conversation-by-pete-wiggs/ seemingly there's a 3 disc 'super deluxe' edition! Haven't saw any mention of this before.
― fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Monday, 30 April 2012 14:16 (twelve years ago) link
...Popular is genuinely funny. It flips the old pop narrative of knowing an amazing secret club where the cool cats hang out: here, the club is an internet messageboard populated by people who want to discuss Pussycat's 1976 No 1 Mississippi in depth. It's less The In Crowd than that episode of The IT Crowd where Moss joins a society of exceptional Countdown contestants.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/may/10/saint-etienne-words-music-review
― mike t-diva, Friday, 11 May 2012 14:24 (twelve years ago) link
"Tonight" is one of the year's best, a wonderful driving-down-the-interstate track.
― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 11 May 2012 14:25 (twelve years ago) link
Petridish xpost: no it isn't.
But the song does mention "Baby Jump."
― Here he is with the classic "Poème Électronique." Good track (Marcello Carlin), Friday, 11 May 2012 14:59 (twelve years ago) link
Saint Etienne were probably the last band I actually "collected" (ie. bought the various cd singles as well as the albums). Reading the first two thirds of the Petridish review made me feel vaguely hopeful for the album, the last third didn't. Not that I've ever taken notice of one of his reviews before.
― djh, Friday, 11 May 2012 22:13 (twelve years ago) link
I'm probably not the only one who is more interested in hearing the bonus disc(s) rather than the album proper.
― everything, Friday, 11 May 2012 22:42 (twelve years ago) link
It'll be the two disc version for me ... but here's the three disc:
http://store.universal-music.co.uk/restofworld/box-sets/saint-etienne-words-and-music-box-set-2012/invt/0602537023561/?utm_source=SaintEtienne150512&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Album+Playback&utm_content=UMGUK6724-220283
― djh, Tuesday, 15 May 2012 20:56 (twelve years ago) link
Ooh, tempted. But £36 is too much for me. Would be keen to have the map though.
― fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 15 May 2012 21:10 (twelve years ago) link
Not yet played disc two but so far I think my favourite thing about the release is Pete Wiggs' beard on the inner sleeve.
― djh, Monday, 21 May 2012 18:00 (twelve years ago) link
Emails went out for digital versions for those who bought the box set, so the third disc should show up online before too long. Going to listen when I get home!
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Monday, 21 May 2012 18:35 (twelve years ago) link
This album is pretty great. "DJ" and "Over The Border" are the standout tracks for me. Coincidentally, they remind me of "Action" and "Finisterre" (the song) respectively, only much better.
― daavid, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 07:09 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah this is really great return. Over The Border is just a perfect opener but I think it's the last four songs that really make the album. Need a bit more time to let the rest of the album sink in.
I'm surprised that I'm finding the latest single to be the weakest song.
― Kitchen Person, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 16:35 (twelve years ago) link
Liking it but not loving it atm. "Over the Border" is all a bit too much jumpers for goalposts, no?
― DavidM, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 17:59 (twelve years ago) link
Over The Border is similar in feel to Teenage Winter but the lyrics aren't quite as clever. It's still a great song and as someone who loves New Order, Dexys and anything on Postcard I can't help but be moved by it.
― Kitchen Person, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 18:10 (twelve years ago) link
A lot of it seems leaden and heavy-handed, to me.
― djh, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:53 (twelve years ago) link
yeah, sigh. picks up near the end, dj is nearly great. over the border as a better finnisterre is offtm tho
― johnny crunch, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 01:28 (twelve years ago) link
Map for sale separately here:http://www.wearedorothy.com/art/song-map-unlimited-edition/
― Jeff W, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 17:34 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdIB21d-Lig
― everything, Thursday, 14 June 2012 23:09 (twelve years ago) link
i warmed up to this album in a big way btw & it kinda works 4 summer imo
― johnny crunch, Thursday, 14 June 2012 23:10 (twelve years ago) link
yea tonight & both remixes are in constant rotation the last few wks
― johnny crunch, Thursday, 14 June 2012 23:11 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrBtDsf9x3s
― everything, Thursday, 14 June 2012 23:12 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf1Trm4ltRM
― everything, Thursday, 14 June 2012 23:19 (twelve years ago) link
i like this album, totally surprised as nothing of theirs has clicked with me since the 90s!
― brony ver (s1ocki), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 00:07 (twelve years ago) link
this album probably skews a bit closer to their 'tiger bay'/'continental'-era sound than anything else they've done.
― omar little, Wednesday, 20 June 2012 00:36 (twelve years ago) link
i know the first song is 'obvious' a bit but i really like it
― brony ver (s1ocki), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 00:45 (twelve years ago) link
i really like you!
― omar little, Wednesday, 20 June 2012 01:26 (twelve years ago) link
http://wiki.luukland.net/images/3/3f/Face-Blush-120px.png
― brony ver (s1ocki), Wednesday, 20 June 2012 02:17 (twelve years ago) link
A nice Saint Etienne track here:
http://wiaiwya.bandcamp.com/track/steeplechase
― djh, Wednesday, 20 June 2012 09:04 (twelve years ago) link
so...I like this? "DJ" grabbed me by the collar, maybe because it reminds me of "Action."
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 28 June 2012 13:30 (twelve years ago) link
ya i think i officially like this album
― funny-skrillex-bee_132455836669.gif (s1ocki), Thursday, 28 June 2012 15:32 (twelve years ago) link
really gets better w/each listen imo. looking forward to the tour!
― omar little, Monday, 24 September 2012 23:34 (eleven years ago) link
This is their best album since So Tough, which after years of fruitless exploration on my part is a relief.
― taking tiger mountain (up the butt) (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 24 September 2012 23:35 (eleven years ago) link
i would give good humor a re-scr...re-listen. i feel like a lot of people aren't into it bc of st et expectations, it was my entry point and i think it's a pretty sweet album. more club 8 labrador swedish pop style than a st et album.
― omar little, Monday, 24 September 2012 23:41 (eleven years ago) link
Good Humor is outstanding.
― timellison, Monday, 24 September 2012 23:50 (eleven years ago) link
I like GH best of the post-ST records.
― taking tiger mountain (up the butt) (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 24 September 2012 23:51 (eleven years ago) link
Tales From Turnpike House is by far my favourite since So Tough, there are no bad songs on that album. Agree that Words & Music just gets better and better.
― Kitchen Person, Tuesday, 25 September 2012 08:54 (eleven years ago) link
aye.. there's a ballot coming up fairly soon, I believe.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 25 September 2012 09:37 (eleven years ago) link
Finistere for me - but admittedly I haven't heard the two last ones
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Tuesday, 25 September 2012 12:09 (eleven years ago) link
Finally getting to see "What Have You Done Today, Mervyn Day?"
This is what I want Saint Etienne to sound like, to be like, these days.
― djh, Wednesday, 26 September 2012 20:59 (eleven years ago) link
bought a ticket 4 the boston show - excited! have nvr seem em live
― johnny crunch, Wednesday, 26 September 2012 21:29 (eleven years ago) link
http://saintetienne.greedbag.com/
The special "US" edition that's impossible to get in the UK unless you spend tons on ebay is, um, possible to get now.
Basically, the second CD is all-new (bar two) songs, about ten in total.
― Mark G, Thursday, 29 November 2012 09:36 (eleven years ago) link
Disappointed that I missed them when they were in town recently; I checked this album out after the poll and it's quite good, best I've heard since So Tough.
― Vinnie, Thursday, 29 November 2012 14:19 (eleven years ago) link
Heh, when those extra copies went on sale yesterday, the greedbag site instantly died and didn't come back for hours. Their limited edition fuckery is getting pretty tiresome. Four editions of the latest album, three with different track listings, two extremely difficult to buy... except on eBay, of course. It's 2012 guys... do pre-orders for the limited edition releases and press up enough to satisfy demand. It isn't hard.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Thursday, 29 November 2012 17:26 (eleven years ago) link
That Greedbag site was horrible, and you're right, girl from spirea x, the fuckery one must endure to receive their many limited releases is absurd. This isn't the first time that they couldn't handle the surge from users when offering something new, either. Quite a lot of us in the states didn't live anywhere near where the band was playing, and then to have to scurry for a copy of an album's worth of material from a band we've been following for more than two decades. They should work that out.
― crustaceanrebel, Thursday, 29 November 2012 18:08 (eleven years ago) link
I think it's things like this that make things like peer-to-peer filesharing ethically justifiable in certain circumstances.
― goya cézanne (Stevie D(eux)), Thursday, 29 November 2012 18:14 (eleven years ago) link
Absolutely, especially when you know a load of these were bought just to end up on ebay. Love the band, but not going to buy the same album twice.
― fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Thursday, 29 November 2012 18:17 (eleven years ago) link
feel free to PM me if you are looking for those tracks.
― skip, Thursday, 29 November 2012 19:38 (eleven years ago) link
may not last long but someone put the whole special US edition on yt; i really love 'solid gold'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfCm4Pu0AqE
― johnny crunch, Thursday, 25 April 2013 18:09 (eleven years ago) link
I'm going to take this opportunity to remind everyone that a Masters at Work rmx of "Nothing Can Stop Us" exists:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sdeADYESwg
― hoda nkotb (Stevie D(eux)), Thursday, 25 April 2013 18:30 (eleven years ago) link
Don't let those "some reviews" put you off, kraudive. Most of them are favourable (and that FACT one is completely OFFTM).
― daavid, Wednesday, May 30, 2012 7:00 PM (3 hours ago)
It was the FACT review a little, yes. But more really threads like this, containing comments from obvious fans of later albums who said they were underwhelmed. Of course, I'll make my own decision when I have time.
― kraudive, Wednesday, 30 May 2012 23:00 (11 months ago)
This is a lovely Saint Etienne album. It'd be good to read what people think a year or so in. It's sounding GREAT tonight, esp next to the Daft Punk that I've put it up against a lot this week. I love that also obv.
― kraudive, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 00:52 (eleven years ago) link
I like it a lot too. Its similar to their old stuff both in sound and "spirit" i think, and sort of stands out bc the vibe is very 90s. Great band.
― Treeship, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 01:25 (eleven years ago) link
X months later and this album makes me so happy. Much better than I initially thought.
― brotherlovesdub, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 01:33 (eleven years ago) link
This album could practically be an ilxor (of a certain age and place). And "Answer Song" is gigantic.
― bentelec, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 02:00 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 08:56 (eleven years ago) link
Damn i wish i put this on my iphone now. I want to hear it again.
― Treeship, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 12:41 (eleven years ago) link
After sitting with this for a while, it's not as good as I first thought. There's a few very strong songs (Tonight, When I Was 17) and several similar tracks that don't hit the same peaks. Also I don't usually complain about Autotune but it bothered me on this album - one thing I always loved about Sarah's voice was that bit of vulnerability when she wouldn't hit pitches perfectly, and I feel like it got Autotuned out? Not sure I would care if I wasn't so familiar with her voice from the pre-Autotune era.
― Vinnie, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 13:39 (eleven years ago) link
Never got into this. Usually love Saint Etienne.
― djh, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 18:11 (eleven years ago) link
Ditto. The bonus disc is everything I want from a Saint Etienne album and I think as a stand-alone album it would be up there with any of their best if you made a couple of minor changes here and there. But I can't even listen to the main disc all the way through - it leaves me feeling queazy. Hate all that record store/vinyl fetish/I heart the 70s subject matter and Crackers' delivery and the way her voice is recorded is a major turn off. There are some nice musical bits but also lots of annoying sections. I think it's pretty poor overall.
― everything, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 19:19 (eleven years ago) link
Been out of the loop for a while but I really liked this and dig the new Suede album as well./jackie_harvey
― Oulipo Traces (on a Cigarette) (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 30 May 2013 05:12 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah I still love this. I don't rate it quite as highly as Turnpike House but it's up there. (Suede album is also great)
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 30 May 2013 05:15 (eleven years ago) link
this album is so beautiful
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 5 March 2016 20:50 (eight years ago) link
otm
― johnny crunch, Saturday, 5 March 2016 21:14 (eight years ago) link
this album rules and i find most of the discussion of it itt extremely confusing
― ToddBonzalez (BradNelson), Monday, 17 April 2017 17:55 (seven years ago) link
I relistened to this this weekend bcz of you and v much enjoyed it, so thank you
― Fluffy Saint-Bernard (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 17 April 2017 18:09 (seven years ago) link
the more I think about it ,the more I feel W&M might actually be my favorite Saint Etienne album.
― KevRus, Wednesday, 19 April 2017 00:43 (seven years ago) link
i was otm in this thread
― nomar, Wednesday, 19 April 2017 01:42 (seven years ago) link
often "DJ" is my favorite track ever recorded by anybody
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 19 April 2017 01:53 (seven years ago) link