'Avenue' is the most beautiful St Etiene track
― zeus, Thursday, 19 June 2008 11:27 (fifteen years ago) link
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.
― Matt DC, Thursday, 19 June 2008 11:27 (fifteen years ago) link
"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".
― Tim F, Thursday, 19 June 2008 11:32 (fifteen years ago) link
Rain falls like Elvis tears...
― stroker ace, Thursday, 19 June 2008 11:48 (fifteen years ago) link
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.
― CharlieNo4, Thursday, 19 June 2008 13:26 (fifteen years ago) link
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.
― edwardo, Thursday, 19 June 2008 13:37 (fifteen years ago) link
*eats lunch a second time*
― Dingbod Kesterson, Thursday, 19 June 2008 13:42 (fifteen years ago) link
And...
Dear MarkIt’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.
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.
― Mark G, Thursday, 19 June 2008 15:49 (fifteen years ago) link
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..."
― William Bloody Swygart, Thursday, 19 June 2008 15:59 (fifteen years ago) link
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.
― DavidM, Thursday, 19 June 2008 16:12 (fifteen years ago) link
"Avenue"
― 2for25, Thursday, 19 June 2008 16:21 (fifteen years ago) link
i might have to go with 'hobart paving' though i have a soft spot for 'filthy' because it's just a sick track.
― omar little, Thursday, 19 June 2008 17:27 (fifteen years ago) link
Like A Motorway is spoiled by that whacky drumbreak, i've always thought. Still could be my fave though.
― ledge, Thursday, 19 June 2008 18:02 (fifteen years ago) link
^Exactly my opinion. Fortunately the synth bassline is massive!
― daavid, Thursday, 19 June 2008 19:08 (fifteen years ago) link
I really can't decide. have been staring at the list all day!
― Thomas, Thursday, 19 June 2008 19:48 (fifteen years ago) link
this is the indiest poll ILM has ever done. ever.
he's on the phone. obv
― Alan, Thursday, 19 June 2008 21:03 (fifteen years ago) link
― t**t, Thursday, 19 June 2008 21:22 (fifteen years ago) link
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.
― Frogman Henry, Thursday, 19 June 2008 22:33 (fifteen years ago) link
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
― f. hazel, Thursday, 19 June 2008 23:07 (fifteen years ago) link
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.
― everything, Friday, 20 June 2008 01:54 (fifteen years ago) link
no one who's ever tried to copy st etienne has ever been any good, right?
The first Dubstar album was excellent.
― Geir Hongro, Friday, 20 June 2008 09:18 (fifteen years ago) link
Its highs ("Stars"!)were pretty high, but it wasn't excellent all the way through, was it?
― Thomas, Friday, 20 June 2008 10:20 (fifteen years ago) link
what was it all? 4?
― Mark G, Friday, 20 June 2008 10:33 (fifteen years ago) link
"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.
― grimly fiendish, Friday, 20 June 2008 10:38 (fifteen years ago) link
first dubstar album was good all the way through, yes
― Alan, Friday, 20 June 2008 10:47 (fifteen years ago) link
This is actually impossible. I can't even pick a sentimental favourite.
― Niles Caulder, Friday, 20 June 2008 11:30 (fifteen years ago) link
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
― Niles Caulder, Friday, 20 June 2008 11:46 (fifteen years ago) link
this is still impossible despite thinking i'd narrowed it down to 2 choices.
― omar little, Saturday, 21 June 2008 15:02 (fifteen years ago) link
Jack Lemmon and Saturday are aces, people, give them a chance!
― mitya, Monday, 23 June 2008 02:22 (fifteen years ago) link
this would have been bumped later today, but wth
― omar little, Thursday, 26 June 2008 17:21 (fifteen years ago) link
i kind of wish i'd voted for 'people get real'
― Frogman Henry, Thursday, 26 June 2008 17:29 (fifteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― ILX System, Thursday, 26 June 2008 23:01 (fifteen years ago) link
can't choose
― omar little, Thursday, 26 June 2008 23:25 (fifteen years ago) link
oh the clown's no good....
― Mark G, Friday, 27 June 2008 09:44 (fifteen years ago) link
An abudance of riches. Am tempted to go for "Shad Thames", just to be different and for the Shadows sample.
― Rob M v2, Friday, 27 June 2008 12:00 (fifteen years ago) link
really hate the edit of Like A Motorway on this - not enough intro
― blueski, Friday, 27 June 2008 12:51 (fifteen years ago) link
"Sylvie", my favorite song of theirs, even with the congos.
― Euler, Friday, 27 June 2008 16:23 (fifteen years ago) link
not a single other person on this thread throwing support for "mario's cafe?"
― impudent harlot, Friday, 27 June 2008 16:46 (fifteen years ago) link
I LOVE "Mario's Cafe. But it doesn't beat "Avenue".
― daavid, Friday, 27 June 2008 18:11 (fifteen years ago) link
carnt choose
― Frogman Henry, Friday, 27 June 2008 18:46 (fifteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― ILX System, Friday, 27 June 2008 23:01 (fifteen years ago) link
so many great songs. good result, overall.
glad to see paper get a couple of votes, too.
― grimly fiendish, Friday, 27 June 2008 23:17 (fifteen years ago) link