Saint Etienne - Smash the System poll

although i think i might hate bad photographer more

Voted Join Our Club although I would find it hard to rationally expain why

he's on the phone is a forgettable bland euro dance track that any random dj could've thrown together in 20 minutes with the hot chick he met on the tube, whereas there's a ton of other st etienne tunes that are 1000X more catchy and moody and interesting texturally/compositionally that could not have been produced by any other band from that era.

"he's on the phone is a forgettable bland euro dance track that any random dj could've thrown together in 20 minutes with the hot chick he met on the tube"

You're just making me like it more.

i don't know what those last four tracks are but this is pretty unfuckable with

Granny Dainger otm, especially the bit about tunes that could not have been produced by any other band from that era

Only Love Can Break Your Heart stands out a mile for me, despite being a cover. It still sounds so tasteful and sussed, and encapsulates why I like St Etienne.

I voted KAMU for the only voteage...

and then I forgot Avenue, didn't I?

"He's On The Phone" is the beginning of Xenomania time, folks, and due to involvement of actual Etienne Daho is immortal.

But it has to be "Avenue." It just has to be.

Only Love Can Break Your Heart stands out a mile for me, despite being a cover. It still sounds so tasteful and sussed, and encapsulates why I like St Etienne.

i remember hearing it for the first time on the 8.15 From Manchester (the kids breakfast TV show) and immediately liking it. Perhaps one of the first songs I remember discovering for myself.

Faith Over Reason - where are they now?

aw i love this album. i keep thinking, oh, it's obviously this track, then i scan back up and remember another track...i guess it's between 'he's on the phone' and 'pale movie' for me, maybe 'join our club' and 'hug my soul' and 'hobart paving' snapping at their heels...gone for 'pale movie' in the end as HOTP will get nuff luv elsewhere.

no one who's ever tried to copy st etienne has ever been any good, right?

also, finisterre is a massively underrated st et album, but my favourite post-smash the system song by them might be 'boy is crying', which i can't really explain.

Yeah, I had a lot to say about Finisterre when it came out but the general reaction seems to have been oh another St Et album zzzz even though quite a lot of what Higgins/Xenomania went on to do with GA etc. is templated here (esp. "Shower Scene").

I'm scratching my head trying to think of anyone who has actually tried to copy St Et, to be honest - you've got Pizzicato 5 but they were working in parallel rather than being a straight copy.

I have the freebie "songs for kids" that came with Turnpike.

I have to say, sorry, the kids were bored rig.

i don't know what those last four tracks are but this is pretty unfuckable with

52 Pilot is great. In fact that whole Places to Visit EP is lovely. Dark and moody and v different from most of their records.

I'm voting Kiss and Make Up, though. Oh to be young again, in summer.

B-b-b-but "Lets Build a Zoo"!

My nephew loves that one!

I wonder if they ever actually recorded the full kids' album they were talking about at the time or just those six tracks.

http://www.saintetiennedisco.com/index2.html

They have a very odd discography, don't they? Loads of oddities and bits hidden away.

And 8 different greatest hits/compilations!! Someone should do a poll.

I've never even heard of that Misadventures of Saint Etienne album.

tough poll. it could be any of the first 13 tracks really. i'll go for 'paper' cos its a mixtape staple.

and here's me thinking I was being slightly 'off-path' !

i'll go for 'paper' cos its a mixtape staple.

lolol

"Like a Motorway". Combination of that folk melody and Underworld production (I think) sounds incongruous, but is actually heart-melting.

Like A Motorway has always reminded me of Cambodia by Kim Wilde

In the absence of "Heart Failed (In The Back Of a Taxi)", this for me is a pick between "He's On The Phone" and "Pale Movie". Going for the latter.

'Avenue' is the most beautiful St Etiene track

You're In A Bad way is my favourite, partly because it's the first I remember hearing but also because it's got that perfect mix of glamour and romantic faded grandeur and rundown hungover shabbiness that characterises their best tunes.

"no one who's ever tried to copy st etienne has ever been any good, right?"

Wouldn't go that far. The Tough Alliance and Air France are both excellent, for example. Dubstar were strong in parts. Shantel's first album was ace. Guess it depends on yr definition of "copy".

Rain falls like Elvis tears...

oh man. i just voted for 'like a motorway' but that 'hobart paving' lyric has literally sent shivers down my spine.

fucking tough call! 'avenue', olcbyh, hms, 'sylvie' even... ugh.

Sarah WANKS OFF THE BEAR at the end of the Hug My Soul video? WHAT MORE could you want, people?

"Burnt Out Car" is a proto-"Hole In The Head". Sarah said to popjustice she wishes it had come out "properly". Would probably make a lot of sense in today's POP CLIMATE.

*eats lunch a second time*

And...

Dear Mark

It’s been a while since our last missive, but don’t worry, all the
while the wheels of the Saint Etienne machine have been turning, deals
have been struck, plans hatched …

Some of which can be revealed now…

A new “career” spanning compilation entitled “London Conversations” will
be released in September by Universal. It will come in 2 editions: one you may not need
cos it's a condensed greatest hits, the other a 2 disc set which will finally include
Lover Plays TheBass!
Plus two brand new singles – the first of which will be out in August.

Went 'Archway People':

a) no-one else will
b) "There's some nice parts of London. You can see them from here."
c) "For once, I felt close to you..."

Sarah WANKS OFF THE BEAR at the end of the Hug My Soul video?

^Directed by Steven Wells, I've just remembered. Which would explain the BEAR WANK scene. YEAH! Does that SHOCK you, INDIE-SCHMINDIE NAZI-SPUNK BOY ARRGH SHOUTY CAPS LOCK SPUNKGASM NAZIIIIII!!!

Haven't decided what to go for yet. Might be "Carn't Sleep", might be "Only Love...", might be "Burnt Out Car", might be "People Get Real", might be "Avenue"...
Won't be "He's on the Phone" though.

"Avenue"

i might have to go with 'hobart paving' though i have a soft spot for 'filthy' because it's just a sick track.

Like A Motorway is spoiled by that whacky drumbreak, i've always thought. Still could be my fave though.

^Exactly my opinion. Fortunately the synth bassline is massive!

I really can't decide. have been staring at the list all day!

this is the indiest poll ILM has ever done. ever.

he's on the phone. obv

"Avenue"

the first ten tracks are killer. i don't find anything after them coming up to the same standard. one pick? well i have 'kiss and make up' in my head at this moment so, why not.

I've never been to Rome
but I don't need to go
I don't need to go to know
life would be sweet and slow

Sarah WANKS OFF THE BEAR at the end of the Hug My Soul video?
^Directed by Steven Wells, I've just remembered. Which would explain the BEAR WANK scene.

I've always considered that to be a homage to this film. La Bete/The Beast. Got a similar weird bear rape scene and pretty typical of St Et to reference some obscure French thing.

no one who's ever tried to copy st etienne has ever been any good, right?

The first Dubstar album was excellent.

Its highs ("Stars"!)were pretty high, but it wasn't excellent all the way through, was it?

what was it all? 4?

"like a motorway". i love that wacky drum break, too. i love everything about that song. it might actually be perfect.

"paper" would be second.

first dubstar album was good all the way through, yes

This is actually impossible. I can't even pick a sentimental favourite.

Voted for something that maybe not many (if any) one else'll go for, but given how great St Et are I'm prob way wrong

this is still impossible despite thinking i'd narrowed it down to 2 choices.

Jack Lemmon and Saturday are aces, people, give them a chance!

this would have been bumped later today, but wth

i kind of wish i'd voted for 'people get real'

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

can't choose

oh the clown's no good....

An abudance of riches. Am tempted to go for "Shad Thames", just to be different and for the Shadows sample.

really hate the edit of Like A Motorway on this - not enough intro

"Sylvie", my favorite song of theirs, even with the congos.

not a single other person on this thread throwing support for "mario's cafe?"

I LOVE "Mario's Cafe. But it doesn't beat "Avenue".

carnt choose

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

so many great songs. good result, overall.

glad to see paper get a couple of votes, too.