JOIN OUR CLUB: The Official Saint Etienne poll (#28 in a series) - Deadline 12th November

Message Bookmarked
Bookmark Removed

http://www.virginmedia.com/images/saint-etienne-431x300.jpg

It's time to poll Croydon's finest, Saint Etienne. They have a massive discography with numerous b-sides, deluxe editions and fanclub only releases. However I'm going to be mean and you can only vote for 20 tracks.

You can vote for anything by Saint Etienne (obviously), Cola Boy, Sarah Cracknell's solo work and any production work, collaborations or remixes they've done. Remixes/alternate mixes of Saint Etienne's work will be tallied with the original version.

Choose your top twenty tracks and they'll score as follows:
1:40, 2:36, 3:33, 4:30, 5:28, 6:26, 7:25, 8:24, 9:23, 10:22, 11:21, 12:20, 13:19, 14:18, 15:17, 16:16, 17:15, 18:14, 19:13, 20:12.

As a bonus vote for your top six albums, all are included including compilations and fan club only releases. Deluxe editions will be counted with the original issue.
Scoring will be 1:10 2:8 3:6 4:4 5:3 6:2.

Please send your ballot to: billy (dot) dods (AT) gmail(dot)com (except obviously without the spaces and using the . and @ symbol) by midnight gmt November 12th.

These look like a comprehensive overview of their discography

http://www.discogs.com/artist/Saint+Etienne
http://www.saintetiennedisco.com/index2.html
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Saint+Etienne

Please use this thread for repping for tracks you want people to vote for and asking any questions.

fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Friday, 26 October 2012 08:24 (eleven years ago) link

Hray!

Mark G, Friday, 26 October 2012 08:51 (eleven years ago) link

There was a version of Like A Motorway by the Chemical Brothers (when they were still called the Dust Brothers) on a free cassette from Select in 1994 which I liked (just in case anyone was wondering).

Mountain Excitement (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Friday, 26 October 2012 10:24 (eleven years ago) link

this is it:
http://youtu.be/YFEf7T3l7nc

Mountain Excitement (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Friday, 26 October 2012 10:27 (eleven years ago) link

The Chekhov Warp Dub! The epic acid house David Holmes remix is even better - I voted for it in the 90s dance tracks poll.

Get wolves (DL), Friday, 26 October 2012 10:29 (eleven years ago) link

that pic is amazing

johnny crunch, Friday, 26 October 2012 11:15 (eleven years ago) link

id never heard the 2nd disc of finisterre until like last week - theres some good songs, 'time and tide' esp; plus more michael jayston <3

johnny crunch, Friday, 26 October 2012 13:11 (eleven years ago) link

I've got the film lying around somewhere on dvd, but haven't seen it and am never really motivated enough to dig it out. Would it be worth watching?

Ismael Klata, Friday, 26 October 2012 13:18 (eleven years ago) link

So I have this band's Spotify overview page open...recommend me a running order? Chronological, random, other?

WilliamC, Friday, 26 October 2012 13:20 (eleven years ago) link

other: sort by composer credit (alphabetical)

Jeff W, Friday, 26 October 2012 13:39 (eleven years ago) link

Putting a word in for this brilliant Cracknell solo track. Up there with Hobart Paving for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jS10RMejxs

Get wolves (DL), Friday, 26 October 2012 13:55 (eleven years ago) link

I've been anticipating for this poll for ages. I'm so excited! Coincidentally, I just saw them live for the first time two days ago and picked up the US tour bonus disc of Words and Music... some good tracks in there as well! I may upload a couple.

daavid, Friday, 26 October 2012 14:02 (eleven years ago) link

how were they? going 2mrw

johnny crunch, Friday, 26 October 2012 14:08 (eleven years ago) link

They were good, though I have no point of comparison. I thought it was a bit on the low budget side -no musicians onstage, a very simple set... but really who needs that when you have the (still) stunning Sarah Cracknell in front of you.

daavid, Friday, 26 October 2012 14:24 (eleven years ago) link

Buy those tour CDs with the bonus disc, they will be worth a small fortune!

Mark G, Friday, 26 October 2012 14:45 (eleven years ago) link

It's a shame but they seem to have stopped playing as a full band, no doubt for understandable economic reasons. Gone are the days when you could watch a five piece SE play Filthy, whilst standing behind Bob Stanley in the audience. Is it ok if I "rep" for Filthy at this point?

Supposed Former ILM Lurker (WeWantMiles), Friday, 26 October 2012 14:49 (eleven years ago) link

I'd rep for "Popular", but then ........................................

Mark G, Friday, 26 October 2012 14:50 (eleven years ago) link

I don't know what the critical consensus is on their albums in relation to each other, but I'm digging the hell out of So Tough.

WilliamC, Friday, 26 October 2012 16:14 (eleven years ago) link

Words and Music is one of their very best imo

the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 26 October 2012 16:17 (eleven years ago) link

I've got So Tough on now and so far two Beastie Boys-used samples have jumped out from the first three tracks. Okay, one is When The Levee Breaks, but I wonder if that was their diet in the making of this.

Ismael Klata, Friday, 26 October 2012 16:43 (eleven years ago) link

Stevem did a rather fab Saint Etienne samples playlist on Spotify http://open.spotify.com/user/stevem78/playlist/12XrmOzxDJmXEGAeq2Ts5H

fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Friday, 26 October 2012 16:47 (eleven years ago) link

Oh yes, I'm playing. Gotta gets some top, top votes for People Get Real please.

That pic of Sarah above is... enchanting.

kraudive, Friday, 26 October 2012 17:14 (eleven years ago) link

That playlist is excellent! I've always been curious about St. Etienne's influences. There are tons of bits in their songs that I feel like I've heard before... but I can almost never tell where they come from.

daavid, Friday, 26 October 2012 21:38 (eleven years ago) link

Does this count?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CqIEuNUHas

daavid, Friday, 26 October 2012 21:47 (eleven years ago) link

That playlist is excellent! One other that should be on there is 'I Wish It Would Rain' by the Four Tops, the opening piano riff is quoted in 'Mario's Cafe'.

Gavin, Leeds, Friday, 26 October 2012 21:49 (eleven years ago) link

Also something from a Lynch soundtrack not exactly sure what though.

daavid, Friday, 26 October 2012 21:54 (eleven years ago) link

I've been listening to Over The Border over and over tonight. The enunciation of the title kills me every time. She wasn't always so RP I don't think. I like it. Smirks.

kraudive, Friday, 26 October 2012 22:07 (eleven years ago) link

damn, love those 2 cracknell 'tubes

i always thought 'desert baby' was the standout from lipslide, should revisit the whole thing

johnny crunch, Friday, 26 October 2012 22:27 (eleven years ago) link

Started making a playlist for songs I would consider voting for, it currently has 59 songs on it. Think this poll might be the hardest one yet for me.

I will rep for these two tracks for now. This excellent Richard X produced single from 2009

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6GCVhPzHe0

and Teenage Winter, one of the many highlights from Tales From Turnpike House.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99uPV-7AN7U

This might be the most moving song they've done.

Kitchen Person, Friday, 26 October 2012 23:54 (eleven years ago) link

Here are the lyrics from Teenage Winter. The part about the Red Hot Chilli Peppers just kills me everytime.

Amy checks the shopping list
Pedal bin, washing-up racks, Santex
And she goes to the baker's to buy a loaf
Aah, she keeps forgetting
It's changed into the Tropicana Tanning Salon

And in the charity shop, Mrs Brown sits at the counter
Pricing down some old stock:
"The Moon's A Balloon", two copies of "Every Loser Wins"
"Noel's Blobbyland"
(Deluxe edition)

There's not much left on the doorstep recently
Something to do with eBay, Johnny reckons
He's bidding on it now for a Subbuteo catalogue 81-82
He'll win it, put it in a drawer and forget he ever bought it

Holding on to something
And not knowing exactly what you're waiting for

Now, teenage winter's coming down
Teenage winter throws a gown
Over every place I've been
And every little dream, forever
Phone rings in Gary's flat
(Can I speak to Mr G Stead, please?)
He hangs up and takes Tony the milk
See you in the 'Hat & Fan' at 7?

Gary can't believe the Claremont Road pitch
Is going to be covered in executive housing
He talks about the Newcastle game
Bontcho's debut but Tony can hardly hear him

They took the jukebox out
And the Aussie barstaff
Are playing the Red Hot Chili Peppers
He tells 'em what he thinks
He manages to keep it clean, he buys another round

Holding on to something
And not knowing exactly what you're waiting for

Now, teenage winter's coming down
Teenage winter throws a gown
Over every place I've been
And every little dream, forever

Mums with pushchairs outside Sainsbury's
With tears in their eyes
They'll never buy a Gibb Brothers record again
Their old 45's gathering dust
With the birthday cards they couldn't face throwing away

Teenage winter coming down
Teenage winter coming down

Kitchen Person, Friday, 26 October 2012 23:57 (eleven years ago) link

pretty excited about seeing them for the first time tomorrow nite

henry s, Saturday, 27 October 2012 02:00 (eleven years ago) link

Finistere is a great film. I've watched it a bunch of times and enjoyed it each viewing.

brotherlovesdub, Saturday, 27 October 2012 02:10 (eleven years ago) link

its nice they did this us tour 2 coincide w/ this poll

johnny crunch, Saturday, 27 October 2012 02:16 (eleven years ago) link

Mmm Filthy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xp5lC6vE-M

and mmmhm Studio Kinda Filthy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz4HVxHi6Hk

piscesx, Saturday, 27 October 2012 03:00 (eleven years ago) link

just thinking about it the Richard X 'Beta' Girl VII is my favourite ever St Et recording. i must have listened to it in the last few years as many times as anything;
it's *mind-blowing*.

piscesx, Saturday, 27 October 2012 03:03 (eleven years ago) link

I'm trying to track down a physical copy of Foxbase Beta at the moment, seems pretty hard to get now.

Kitchen Person, Saturday, 27 October 2012 03:09 (eleven years ago) link

the full length Cool Kids of Death is pretty spectacular. really dig everything from Foxbase Alpha but I especially hope Like A Swallow places. The live version they did for the FA tour was huge.

brotherlovesdub, Saturday, 27 October 2012 03:29 (eleven years ago) link

this is going to be vv difficult. st et mean a great deal to me and they've got too many tunes i love to start to narrow it down.

albums might be easier, ranging from all-time to merely very good imo:

ST = FA > WAM = GH > TB >> TFTH >> F >>> SOW

sug ones (omar little), Saturday, 27 October 2012 04:57 (eleven years ago) link

I think for me it would be

ST > FA>> WAM > F = TB > SOW >> GH = TFTH

daavid, Saturday, 27 October 2012 05:54 (eleven years ago) link

Turnpike House is great, can't believe you'd have so down on your lists. Sound of Water is their only average album for me and even that has Heart Failed which is all time.

Kitchen Person, Saturday, 27 October 2012 06:54 (eleven years ago) link

^
Co-sign, main problem for me in this poll is whether to go with ST or TFTH as best album.

fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Saturday, 27 October 2012 07:01 (eleven years ago) link

Oh TFTH is great for sure. Think at a certain pt it comes down to what sound I personally prefer. I can't think of anything precisely wrong w finisterre for example. I love it. SOW suffers from being the st et album I listen to least I think.

sug ones (omar little), Saturday, 27 October 2012 08:34 (eleven years ago) link

I've been relisting to their albums today. I can't put my finger on why Sound of Water leaves me so cold, How we Used to Live, Heart Failed and Don't Look Down are great but I guess the rest of it just passed me by. It's not a terrible album just kind of average for them. It took me years to love Finisterre. Apart from Action the album doesn't really get going until Stop and Think it Over, the title track in particular is just brilliant. There are a few weak songs on there, I've always hated Soft Like me. I can't actually think of anything I would skip on Turnpike these days, not even Relocate.

Kitchen Person, Saturday, 27 October 2012 09:00 (eleven years ago) link

Does this count?

daavid, yes!

fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Saturday, 27 October 2012 10:47 (eleven years ago) link

TFTH would be great except I can't stand the intricate vocal harmonies, particularly on the more electronic-sounding tracks.

daavid, Saturday, 27 October 2012 14:17 (eleven years ago) link

By a complete coincidence I've been marvelling @ the Too Young to Die comp. I love their sombre pop aesthetic so I'll be watching ths thread for more picks.

xyzzzz__, Saturday, 27 October 2012 14:57 (eleven years ago) link

xps Kitchen Person - I have a Foxbase Beta, ownership of which gives me no pleasure. I might well be persuadable to sell, if you're interested.

Ismael Klata, Saturday, 27 October 2012 21:46 (eleven years ago) link

I will vote in this, despite owning nothing by St Etienne (though I taped a load of their early stuff back in the day) and not really having heard anything they've done since 1995. I've just listened to Good Humor on Spotify, though and I like it.

Mountain Excitement (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Saturday, 27 October 2012 22:25 (eleven years ago) link

Foxbase Alpha really is a fascinating record.

At the time I could never really hear the supposed club influence, but on listening now it's all over it. I think the reason is that club music (the stuff I was aware of at least, and forgive the descriptions I'm about to try out) underwent a big stylistic shift in 1991 from a sort of slower and dubbier/bassier sound to the more clattery high-end of rave. Foxbase Alpha is of the former - so if you got into music in 1991, as I did, calling it a club record seemed as strange as having Inspiral Carpets on the dance charts.

Now, though, the name and vaguely piano-house feel put it right at the end of the casual culture lineage that in retrospect peaked with Italia 90. It and the references they were using turn, with time, into a fascinating window on a London-that-might-have-been, all mods and continental style and leafy pavement cafes - like an attractive French provincial city instead of the monster it turned into. Which was always a fantasy, of course, but it's illuminating that the fantasy should once have been so small-scale.

The other thing is that it's also obviously an indie album, in its amateurishness and slack production above everything - they were using a completely different palette from all the guitar bands, but the underlying DIY aesthetic is the same. I hear it in the spaces in the music, and overreliance on repetition, making it kind of awkward but usually interesting. A couple of albums later they've become slicker, but imo have lost a lot in charm.

Ismael Klata, Monday, 29 October 2012 12:48 (eleven years ago) link

the foxbase beta 'commentary' with Richard X is priceless. they talk about the whole Foxbase era, kicking around in London in the early 90s, the first stirrings of Britpop etc. properly revealing and hillarious too.

piscesx, Monday, 29 October 2012 13:20 (eleven years ago) link

Foxbase Alpha is such a wonderful scrapbook of enthusiasms, old and new. It's like London's answer to Paul's Boutique (which, of course, they sample). I love the fact that some of the key samples were ones they'd literally just discovered via Jon Savage - he brought the dub influence which contrasts so strikingly with their classic pop/C86 instincts - so they feel new and exciting. There's some exquisite songwriting on there but it's more about the overall sound. Later on the balance shifted which is why I still prefer the first three - the movie samples on the first two were integral to the worldview they were mapping out. I still find myself quoting bits like the "I'm Helen Stevens and I'm having a party" bit from Peeping Tom. The message of Join Our Club was so apt - it really did feel like a club, but an inclusive one. The really specific references in Mario's Cafe and London Belongs to Me gave me such a potent sense of who they were and the life they led - that spring-like sense of arrival in London from the suburbs and the sheer joy of gigs and cafes and meeting up with friends - and it felt like a life that was potentially accessible to me, which is not a feeling I've ever got from many records. That sense of personality and place dipped in their middle period and then came back, through the prism of middle age, on songs like Teenage Winter and lots of Words and Music. Between Teenage Winter and Over the Border I love the war between doubt and faith in leading a life dominated by pop music. Teenage Winter's so brutal in its soul-searching: "Their old 45s gathering dust/With the birthday cards they couldn't face throwing away." It's one of my favourite ever songs about growing older. It's like Foxbase is Before Sunrise and Teenage Winter is Before Sunset.

Deafening silence (DL), Monday, 29 October 2012 13:29 (eleven years ago) link

The more I listen, the more I'm associating them with Pulp. Neither can rely on great songwriting - imo they only have a handful of pop classics between them - and both are at their best when they stretch out and become more cinematic. The arrangements are often similar too, and the spoken-word samples carry out a similar role to Jarvis' monologues.

I'd also say the underlying themes - ordinary work, everyday relationships, unremarkable fantasies - are the same; but for all that, they end up telling very different stories. I'm not sure how to best characterise the difference - north/south or working-class/middle-class seems trite. Maybe cinema is the key; where Pulp feed on filthy kitchen-sinkisms, St Etienne are trying to paint sleek Fellinis.

Ismael Klata, Tuesday, 30 October 2012 12:30 (eleven years ago) link

Jarvis supplied the cover photo for the original issue of "I love to paint"

Mark G, Tuesday, 30 October 2012 13:58 (eleven years ago) link

And when I saw St Etienne live in Cardiff on the "So tough" tour, Pulp were the support band.

Rob M Revisited, Tuesday, 30 October 2012 15:57 (eleven years ago) link

The other obvious comparator, the later you get into their career, is the Pet Shop Boys. I've got Finisterre on just now and if Neil were singing then it practically is a PSB album.

Ismael Klata, Tuesday, 30 October 2012 16:09 (eleven years ago) link

Voted! I changed my mind on my number one a few times but am really happy with the one I went for in the end, I just couldn't think of another song that moves me the way Chicken Soup does.

Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 31 October 2012 06:07 (eleven years ago) link

Chicken Soup?? The 33-second dialogue sample?

Deafening silence (DL), Wednesday, 31 October 2012 09:20 (eleven years ago) link

Ok that may have been a lie. I wouldn't really reveal my number one on here, where would the fun in that be that?

Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 31 October 2012 09:31 (eleven years ago) link

The poll results will be interesting for me, because I kind of lost interest after "Good humor" and never really recovered it, their albums didn't seem to be vital to the fabric of (my) life and the results poll will help guide me back into their later stuff. Their early stuff I adored and my poll will be biased towards the 90 - 98 era I know well - with some choice b-sides rather high up the list.

Rob M Revisited, Wednesday, 31 October 2012 09:31 (eleven years ago) link

'Relocate' is something of a surprise

Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 31 October 2012 12:30 (eleven years ago) link

anybody gonna vote for "Tell Me Why"? I will.

the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 31 October 2012 12:31 (eleven years ago) link

For those of you who are not that familiar with St. Etienne's 'alternative' discography, I 'd like to recommend some of my favourite non-album tracks (b-sides, fanclub-only, christmas EPs, etc). Was going to post youtube links, but I don't have time.

California Snow Story
Duke Duvet
Your Head My Voice (voix revirement)
Hate Your Drug
Stranger In Paradise
Please
Southern Train
4:35 In the Morning
Keep Nothing
Puppy Love
The Way I Fell For You
We're In The City
Half Timbered
Northwestern
Through The Winter
Le Ballade De Saint Etienne
Gotta Jump

daavid, Wednesday, 31 October 2012 14:50 (eleven years ago) link

This is my top choice from their 'alternative' discography.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf9HGXTWNtU&hd=1

fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Wednesday, 31 October 2012 15:18 (eleven years ago) link

My number one is on that list.

Rob M Revisited, Wednesday, 31 October 2012 16:19 (eleven years ago) link

through the winter ftw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oSvRKadOBk

sug ones (omar little), Wednesday, 31 October 2012 18:24 (eleven years ago) link

OK I'm posting one youtube from the tracks on my list above:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSmYY_nlRbA

daavid, Wednesday, 31 October 2012 19:04 (eleven years ago) link

crap, why doesn't it embed?

daavid, Wednesday, 31 October 2012 19:05 (eleven years ago) link

Probably going on my ballot:

DJ (srsly guys the chorus is an earworm and Cracknell sounds marvelous)
Burnt Out Car
Who Do You Think You Are

the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 31 October 2012 19:12 (eleven years ago) link

yea DJ is huge. dunno if it can crack a top-20 for me tho, too much competition

johnny crunch, Wednesday, 31 October 2012 19:17 (eleven years ago) link

Also want to rep for the original mix of 'Burnt Out Car' (can't find it on youtube). If it was up to me I would count it separately because it has nothing to do with the remix... and it's almost as amazing!

daavid, Wednesday, 31 October 2012 19:25 (eleven years ago) link

xp - DJ is definitely going to be in my ballot. Pretty sure "Over the Border" will also make it.

daavid, Wednesday, 31 October 2012 19:27 (eleven years ago) link

from WAM i'll probably be including 'last days of disco' & 'seventeen'. said it elsewhere but it sounds more and more like nearly on par with their early releases.

sug ones (omar little), Wednesday, 31 October 2012 19:31 (eleven years ago) link

It's really, really good. Popular is the prime cut though, I think.

Every poll we do, I'm finding the artist is on the same trajectory - the very brightest tunes are in the early stuff, but the albums get stronger the later we go.

Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 31 October 2012 20:01 (eleven years ago) link

said it elsewhere but it sounds more and more like nearly on par with their early releases.

otm

the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 31 October 2012 20:06 (eleven years ago) link

Here is a break down of what I voted for.

Foxbase 2
So Tough 4
Tiger Bay 2
Good Humor 2
Sound of Water 1
Finisterre 1
Turnpike 3
Words & Music 2
B-side 1
One off singles 2

This is one of the few polls I've voted in where the band's recent work more than stands up to the early stuff.

Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 31 October 2012 22:11 (eleven years ago) link

i have my trax down to abt 50!

johnny crunch, Thursday, 1 November 2012 11:56 (eleven years ago) link

26 on my list, I can deal with that

What is Continental, incidentally?

Ismael Klata, Thursday, 1 November 2012 12:18 (eleven years ago) link

It's a Japanese album that came out there around the time of "He's on the phone" and the Etienne De Crecy era, some tracks ended up on "Smash the system" and it got the 2 cd deluxe treatment first. A very good album, if not exactly cohesive.

Rob M Revisited, Thursday, 1 November 2012 13:23 (eleven years ago) link

It also has great sleevenotes about The Pebble Mill Effect iirc.

Rob M Revisited, Thursday, 1 November 2012 13:24 (eleven years ago) link

Hug My Soul was on my shortlist but on relistening it sounds like a big case of chorus-lets-down-verse. The transition, via a stock drumfill, takes some of the blame. It's not the drumfill per se, which works well in the intro to 'I Want To Hear It From You' by Go West. I digress...

Supposed Former ILM Lurker (WeWantMiles), Thursday, 1 November 2012 15:14 (eleven years ago) link

Hug My soul stayed on my list because of the remixes..

Mark G, Thursday, 1 November 2012 15:15 (eleven years ago) link

What do we think of "Pale Movie"?

the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 1 November 2012 15:17 (eleven years ago) link

I think la la la la la la lah

Mark G, Thursday, 1 November 2012 15:20 (eleven years ago) link

and flamenco

the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 1 November 2012 15:25 (eleven years ago) link

and Sherpa Tensing

Mark G, Thursday, 1 November 2012 15:26 (eleven years ago) link

I think of it as SE's Domino Dancing - latin flavoured and I imagine it might divide opinion. The "softness of cinema seats" was nicked from something Taylor Parkes said, appearently.

Supposed Former ILM Lurker (WeWantMiles), Thursday, 1 November 2012 15:30 (eleven years ago) link

recommended deep cuts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa1wO8S06bI

sug ones (omar little), Thursday, 1 November 2012 20:37 (eleven years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN7FSCThUN4

sug ones (omar little), Thursday, 1 November 2012 20:38 (eleven years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vWUHqbM9rk

sug ones (omar little), Thursday, 1 November 2012 20:39 (eleven years ago) link

top 3 for me, though not a deep cut:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo4lRv51Hf0

sug ones (omar little), Thursday, 1 November 2012 20:43 (eleven years ago) link

im def voting for "are we gonna be alright", can't find a yt of it tho

johnny crunch, Thursday, 1 November 2012 20:59 (eleven years ago) link

I may vote for this. Would definitely vote for a version with Sarah on vocals!
http://youtu.be/CzBdXD-9F-I

daavid, Thursday, 1 November 2012 21:13 (eleven years ago) link

Also contemplating including this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gthGa25Pabo

daavid, Thursday, 1 November 2012 21:22 (eleven years ago) link

What's with the two Goodnight Jacks?

Ismael Klata, Friday, 2 November 2012 21:35 (eleven years ago) link

Deep(ish) cuts I may vote for:

4:35 in the Morning (Kid Loco Remix)
Mr Donut
Stormtrooper in Drag
I Buy American Records
Girl VII
My Christmas Prayer

Deafening silence (DL), Friday, 2 November 2012 22:02 (eleven years ago) link

Deepish cuts I may vote for:

Speedwell
Railway Jam
Calico
Former Lover
Stormtrooper In Drag
I Buy American Records
Hate Your Drug
Marble Lions
We're In The City
Sadie's Anniversary
Sycamore
B92

Tim F, Friday, 2 November 2012 22:34 (eleven years ago) link

mr donut is klassic

former lover, marble lions, & maybe b92 are going on my list.

sug ones (omar little), Friday, 2 November 2012 22:45 (eleven years ago) link

Sent! I've no idea what are the deep cuts and what aren't, but I've got three from the last two posts.

FBA 5; ST 1; TB 3; GH 2; C 2; F 2; TfTH 3; W&M 2

Ismael Klata, Friday, 2 November 2012 22:45 (eleven years ago) link

Only five ballots received so far. I'm hoping it's due to people spending some time thinking things over carefully rather than voter apathy. Hoping to get at least 20 ballots.

If you can't think of a full 20 and only want to submit a top 10 then that'd be fine. Also if you want to send an unordered ballot you can do, I'll then give 22 points to each track and 5 points for an album.

fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Saturday, 3 November 2012 12:28 (eleven years ago) link

i think im putting more effort/thought into this ballot than anything since i studied for the bar exam

johnny crunch, Saturday, 3 November 2012 15:17 (eleven years ago) link

I suppose I should actually listen to TFTH and WAM before voting in this.

Tim F, Saturday, 3 November 2012 15:19 (eleven years ago) link

O__O

johnny crunch, Saturday, 3 November 2012 15:21 (eleven years ago) link

Look. I have 8 Saint Etienne albums on my shelf. That's about as many albums as I have from anyone.

Tim F, Saturday, 3 November 2012 15:33 (eleven years ago) link

Def listen to them and marinate over your ballot for a bit. I'm doing some serious listening these days trying to figure out my final 20.

sug ones (omar little), Saturday, 3 November 2012 18:52 (eleven years ago) link

Ballot sent. I appreciate that asking for more than 20 choices makes the poll harder to run but I wish there were more room for B-sides, remixes, etc.

FBA - 4, ST - 3, TB - 2, GH - 1, SOW - 1, TFTH - 2, SINGLES - 3, B-SIDES - 3, CRACKNELL SOLO - 1

Deafening silence (DL), Saturday, 3 November 2012 21:27 (eleven years ago) link

Election day bump.

fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 6 November 2012 19:41 (eleven years ago) link

going thru this has hammered home how much i like good humor, i have 4 trax from it (5 i guess really if we're including the bonus fairfax high disc)

now i just have to order my 20, ~i can do this~

johnny crunch, Thursday, 8 November 2012 16:11 (eleven years ago) link

I've narrowed down my list to 25 tracks, now contemplating their order.

the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Thursday, 8 November 2012 16:59 (eleven years ago) link

i like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46FCicXL6eo

sug ones (omar little), Friday, 9 November 2012 08:13 (eleven years ago) link

Friday night bump, ideal weekend for listening to Saint Etienne and completing a ballot. Everyone welcome, lurkers, hardcore fans, dillettantes

Only 8 points between the top 2 tracks and the top 2 albums are tied.

fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Friday, 9 November 2012 18:35 (eleven years ago) link

I'm on the case...

Mountain Excitement (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Friday, 9 November 2012 22:27 (eleven years ago) link

done

Mountain Excitement (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Friday, 9 November 2012 22:59 (eleven years ago) link

The speaky bits are finally starting to annoy me, at least on the later albums. "The consignment of white gold has arrived for Mr Anderson" - is this kind of thing meant to be evocative of something?

Ismael Klata, Saturday, 10 November 2012 15:09 (eleven years ago) link

that voice is ricky jay's? mind blown.

the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Saturday, 10 November 2012 15:46 (eleven years ago) link

Well that's the thing - that's a great bit of crackly scene-setting. The one I quoted isn't. In fact it sounds like it's been specially recorded, but why bother?

Ismael Klata, Saturday, 10 November 2012 16:32 (eleven years ago) link

i saw them live last weekend and they were tremendous. definitely a bit stripped down compared to the TFTH tour but still fantastic. it helped that the venue this time around was ten times better.

sug ones (omar little), Saturday, 10 November 2012 20:06 (eleven years ago) link

One thing that I'd imagine is unheralded is their use of guitars - there's usually one somewhere back in the mix sounding very nice. I guess that's them carrying the balearic influence right through their career.

Ismael Klata, Saturday, 10 November 2012 21:46 (eleven years ago) link

shit i better get on this. have i missed much not hearing all the fan-comps and only the official albums?

piscesx, Saturday, 10 November 2012 22:40 (eleven years ago) link

um

the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Saturday, 10 November 2012 22:50 (eleven years ago) link

Ballot submitted!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pBLDsv_tc8

They are masters of the incidental.

the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Saturday, 10 November 2012 23:10 (eleven years ago) link

Sunday morning bump. After 14 ballots the top two tracks have the same number of points!

fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Sunday, 11 November 2012 11:10 (eleven years ago) link

Nobody else vote!

Ismael Klata, Sunday, 11 November 2012 11:13 (eleven years ago) link

I'm joking, readers.

Ismael Klata, Sunday, 11 November 2012 11:18 (eleven years ago) link

Working on a ballot!

Hope there's some votes for their cover of the Fall's "Choc Stock":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P7drvy1U5E

etc, Sunday, 11 November 2012 11:59 (eleven years ago) link

Voted!

Didn't vote for this (off their We Are Icerink label comp) as AFAIK there's no involvement by SE, but it's v.uncannily Foxbase Alpha-esque:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0-ltQh1RJc

etc, Sunday, 11 November 2012 13:08 (eleven years ago) link

Always wanted that "Choc-stock" cover, ta.

Mark G, Sunday, 11 November 2012 16:50 (eleven years ago) link

Only noticed this thread yesterday, so rushed my vote somewhat. A fair few not-very-deep cuts, but more SoW and Finisterre era tracks than I might have guessed beforehand.

Nag! Nag! Nag!, Monday, 12 November 2012 00:53 (eleven years ago) link

yea i feel like a v atypical voter w only 1 song from foxbase alpha and 1 from tigerbay

johnny crunch, Monday, 12 November 2012 02:21 (eleven years ago) link

I hope it was Marble Lions

Ismael Klata, Monday, 12 November 2012 08:48 (eleven years ago) link

Monday morning bump. Polls close midnight tonight, wherever you are. Get them in folks.

fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Monday, 12 November 2012 09:08 (eleven years ago) link

Results should come out Tuesday morning, 10am.

Mark G, Monday, 12 November 2012 09:15 (eleven years ago) link

...unless you're in FLA, when it'll be four days later.

Jeff W, Monday, 12 November 2012 11:40 (eleven years ago) link

Had a SE marathon yesterday (I even dug out the St Etienne Daho EP!). Hadn't listened to Good Humour in nearly a decade, and didn't remember half of it, but there are some really solid cuts on there. If I can work out how 30 tracks go into 20 ballot slots, a few of these cuts may well make it.

Jeff W, Monday, 12 November 2012 11:44 (eleven years ago) link

can't really vote in this (only ever really herd them on the radio and the only album i have is the greatest hits) but looking forward to the roll-out.

second only to popcorn (or something), Monday, 12 November 2012 12:51 (eleven years ago) link

*sp

second only to popcorn (or something), Monday, 12 November 2012 12:51 (eleven years ago) link

21 votes in for the tracks ballot and the top two still have the same number of points!

fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Monday, 12 November 2012 19:10 (eleven years ago) link

My poll is sent just now - better late than never.

Rob M Revisited, Monday, 12 November 2012 21:16 (eleven years ago) link

I will get this in by midnight monday night in some other time zone, I promise.

Tim F, Monday, 12 November 2012 21:18 (eleven years ago) link

Obviously, if "Avenue" doesn't win, this poll will have no credibility.

djh, Monday, 12 November 2012 21:34 (eleven years ago) link

It's not as good as I remembered. 'This Is Radio Etienne' on the other hand ...

Ismael Klata, Monday, 12 November 2012 21:41 (eleven years ago) link

One thing that can easily slip my mind is how much I love the back half of So Tough, esp. "Conchita Martinez". Love the casual weirdness of this record.

Tim F, Monday, 12 November 2012 21:49 (eleven years ago) link

My songs ballot ended up being:

FBA - 4
ST - 6
TB - 3
TB German Edition Bonus Tracks - 4
SOW - 1
F - 2

The above breakdown hints at why I love the German Edition of Tiger Bay so much.

I've been listening to W&M a lot this week and really like it but more as a whole than for its constituent parts (though that may change in time).

Tim F, Monday, 12 November 2012 22:06 (eleven years ago) link

heads up to saint etienne fans: i noticed that the deluxe editions of good humor, sound of water, and continental are now out of print and going for major bux on ebay so i recommend snatching up the other deluxe editions before they go OOP as well. i've got FA, ST, TB, and finisterre. might have to get turnpike house, if the deluxe is worth it.

sug ones (omar little), Monday, 12 November 2012 22:13 (eleven years ago) link

oops, never got myself a copy of the sound of water deluxe edition. pffft... it had like two extra tracks on it.

the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Monday, 12 November 2012 22:16 (eleven years ago) link

Did someone just run to Amazon and buy one of these? I was about to put So Tough (or was it Tiger Bay) in my cart for $17 and when i clicked add to cart it said it was no longer available. Picked up some of the others I was missing but still need to get a couple to finish the set.

brotherlovesdub, Monday, 12 November 2012 22:39 (eleven years ago) link

Just voted.

Not so many deep cuts - my Year Zero for SE was Too Young To Die, a flawless record IMO (apart from Timmy Burgess ahem) I didn't really ever listen to the studio albums that made up that compilation until much later. I guess I only bought their studio albums from Good Humor onwards. Looking forward to hearing the fan club stuff I'm unaware of.

kraudive, Monday, 12 November 2012 22:54 (eleven years ago) link

Cosign on the German edition of Tiger Bay (which reminds me, I forgot to vote for "Hate Your Drug"). Still haven't caught up with the last handful of albums - based on this thread, is "Teenage Winter" their "Come In From The Cold"?

etc, Monday, 12 November 2012 23:01 (eleven years ago) link

Next poll we should do is people's favourite music critic liner notes for StEt albums.

Tim F, Monday, 12 November 2012 23:20 (eleven years ago) link

Over The Border really is fantastic. I already think I might have put it too low.

kraudive, Monday, 12 November 2012 23:31 (eleven years ago) link

sent!

I included three from W&M.

the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 12 November 2012 23:32 (eleven years ago) link

Next poll we should do is people's favourite music critic liner notes for StEt albums.

― Tim F, Monday, November 12, 2012 11:20 PM

Ha, there's more scans of these floating around than I'd imagined!

http://www.saintetiennedisco.com/fullhtml/full/tigergerman2.jpg

http://www.saintetiennedisco.com/greatesthtml/greatest/youngback.jpg

etc, Monday, 12 November 2012 23:54 (eleven years ago) link

I love that Simon Price one - did he also do one for the original Tiger Bay or was it someone else?

The notes are usually fairly telling - like, Burchill and Reynolds basically just write what they would already write if they were writing reviews (which can mean different things e.g. equation like song descriptions for SR and almost no song descriptions for JB).

The So Tough one kind of annoys me in its cutesiness.

Tim F, Monday, 12 November 2012 23:59 (eleven years ago) link

Just voted. I can't believe the amount of amazing tracks I hat to leave out! ...but 20 tracks it is.

Here's the breakdown:

FBA - 4
ST - 2
SOW - 1
WAM - 2
Other- 11

daavid, Tuesday, 13 November 2012 05:30 (eleven years ago) link

Officially the poll is closed. However if someone wants to sneak a last minute ballot in today I'm not going to play hardball.

As I'm busy over the next few days, I'll probably start the roll out on Sunday with the albums and then run the tracks next week.

fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 13 November 2012 08:43 (eleven years ago) link

FAO etc: I am assured that Bob S co-produced that Elizabeth City State record, which I too like very much indeed.

Tim, Tuesday, 13 November 2012 09:47 (eleven years ago) link

FBA - 3
ST - 3
TB - 3
GH - 2
F - 1
TFTH - 4
UTWH - 1
Other - 3

Jeff W, Tuesday, 13 November 2012 12:30 (eleven years ago) link

do you have to believe all that 'pop is holy' crap to 'get' SE?

Blue Collar Retail Assistant (Dwight Yorke), Tuesday, 13 November 2012 12:35 (eleven years ago) link

no.

Mark G, Tuesday, 13 November 2012 12:46 (eleven years ago) link

http://pinkie.ponychan.net/chan/files/src/135146554314.gif

sug ones (omar little), Tuesday, 13 November 2012 14:30 (eleven years ago) link

Billy, with the gap between polls closing and results, I'm going to go ahead and recommend Pleasant Plains start the Hüsker Dü poll, if that's cool with you.

WilliamC, Tuesday, 13 November 2012 14:42 (eleven years ago) link

Fine by me, don't let me hold things up.

fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 13 November 2012 15:01 (eleven years ago) link


You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.