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Track Listings
| Disc: 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Over The Border | |||
| 2. I've Got Your Music | |||
| 3. Heading For The Fair | |||
| 4. Last Days Of Disco | |||
| 5. Tonight | |||
| 6. Answer Song | |||
| 7. Record Doctor | |||
| 8. Popular | |||
| 9. Twenty Five Years | |||
| 10. DJ | |||
See all 13 tracks on this disc
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| Disc: 2 | |||
| 1. Tonight | |||
| 2. Last Days Of Disco | |||
| 3. DJ | |||
| 4. I've Got Your Music | |||
| 5. Popular | |||
| 6. Heading For The Fair | |||
| 7. Tonight | |||
| 8. Answer Song | |||
| 9. Haunted Jukebox | |||
| 10. I've Got Your Music | |||
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See all 12 tracks on this disc
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Product Description
Review
If any band knows about the magic of pop, it’s Saint Etienne. As their recent deluxe-ing up of their catalogue, the release of a Christmas album, a few EPs, film soundtracks and a spell being artists in residence at London’s Southbank Centre prove: here is a band who know their way around a tune.
The last time they bestowed a full new album on the public was 2005’s Tales from Turnpike House, which had the feeling of a finale about it, especially with its bonus children’s EP. But to those who’ve been thinking that perhaps it’s time to stop getting over-excited about Phil Oakey’s hair, SL2 and David Essex over the past few years: chin up. Put the growing up on hold for a while, as not only have Saint Etienne seen fit to return, but they’ve done so with a stunner.
Words and Music by Saint Etienne (that’s the full title, as suggested by Lawrence Hayward of Felt) sees Pete, Bob and Sarah looking back on a life lived through music, its importance and the daft things it leads a fan to do. Epic opener Over the Border discusses travelling to Peter Gabriel’s house, the labels of love, Smash Hits, "the strange and important sound of the synthesiser," and whether Marc Bolan would still be relevant to a grown woman married with kids.
Produced by a dream team of Ian Catt, The KLF and Sugababes producer (and one-time Rubette) Nick Coler, Tim Powell and Richard X, Words and Music… is a fantastic and warm collection of jubilant happy/sad pop moments, delivering all that Saint Etienne are known for. It’s a set which reminds the listener that the magic is always with them – whether it’s about a chap who has all the answers via the medium of a tune (Record Doctor), the giddy excitement of getting ready to see your favourite band (Tonight), the power of a DJ (um, DJ) or even chatting about vintage pop on internet message boards (Popular). Mortality gets a look in with 25 Years, which will prompt many a listener to take a sad gulp.
Words and Music… offers rewarding assurance that whatever life throws at you, music is quite often the best and only answer. It’s had you, and you’ve had it, for life. To paraphrase one notable pop sage: only when you’re dancing, can you feel this free. Or to paraphrase another: first love never ever dies. Wonderful stuff.
--Ian Wade
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
CD Description
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I must admit to being a fairly recent convert to the Saint Etienne cause. I'd got You're in a bad way ages ago on a mixed compilation album and really liked it. I'd heard of them but didn't know too much about them, they seemed to bypass me in the 90s. I came across London Conversations and decided to take a chance, after listening to it i was totally blown away and i am now cursing myself for not finding them earlier.
I had high expectations for the new album and i wasn't disappointed. The theme of the album is that Music affects our lives in many different ways and reminds us of good times, bad times and defining moments in our lives. The opening track Over the Border takes me back over 30 years when listening to the Charts on Radio 1 was a weekly ritual and my bedroom wall was covered in posters of my favourite Bands. There isn't a duff track on the album from the bouncy DJ to the beautiful I threw it all away!!!
What sets Saint Etienne apart are the interesting lyrics, great tunes and the superb voice of Sarah Cracknell. I was lucky enough to see them recently at the London Palladium and they put on a great show, Sarah never seemed to stop smiling, it's great when the Artist is enjoying it as much as the Fans.
I can't rate this Album highly enough and have been playing it constantly.
I had high expectations for the new album and i wasn't disappointed. The theme of the album is that Music affects our lives in many different ways and reminds us of good times, bad times and defining moments in our lives. The opening track Over the Border takes me back over 30 years when listening to the Charts on Radio 1 was a weekly ritual and my bedroom wall was covered in posters of my favourite Bands. There isn't a duff track on the album from the bouncy DJ to the beautiful I threw it all away!!!
What sets Saint Etienne apart are the interesting lyrics, great tunes and the superb voice of Sarah Cracknell. I was lucky enough to see them recently at the London Palladium and they put on a great show, Sarah never seemed to stop smiling, it's great when the Artist is enjoying it as much as the Fans.
I can't rate this Album highly enough and have been playing it constantly.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By belvoirman
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the first St Etienne album that I have bought, I was tempted to try them out having read several favourable reviews. The album is themed on their love of pop music, an interesting concept. The opening track Over the Border has a rundown of what its like to be an obsessive music fan, telling of a trip to see Peter Gabriel's house while still at school, asking whether Marc Bolan's music will still matter as much in the future, and giving a potted history of their love of music. Lots of namecheck references for those in the know,clever and sophisticated stuff. Subsequent tracks with titles like Record Doctor, I've Got Your Music, Last Days of Disco, and Haunted Jukebox continue to focus on the allure of pop music. Overall the arrangements are poppy, the lyrics give an insight into what has been a lifelong obsession with popular music, and it probably strikes a chord with anyone now in their early 50's, who is likely to pick up on the nuances of the in jokes and specific references made. This is not my usual bag, but it has a lot to commend it , and I am impressed that they have maintained the concept successfully throughout a whole album. For those who are into such things, there is a bonus album of remixes of selected tracks, with various producers playing around with selected tracks , but the main original album is the one that I personally enjoy the most. The artwork on the cover is fascinating in its own right, a pastiche of a street map like you would find in an A-Z, with all the road names refering to past popular hit records such as Penny Lane, Devil Gate Drive, Ventura Highway, Yellow Brick Road etc. Like the music on the CD, you can have lots of fun trying to spot the influence and getting the references to the music knowledge . Good stuff, highly entertaining , nod is as good as a wink humorous hooks abound.
25 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By M. D. Smart
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Its been seven long years since Saint Etienne last graced us with a brand spanking new studio album; it began to look as if 2005's Tales From Turnpike House might prove to be their swansong - but they're back at last, and they've put their long hiatus to good use by providing us with a 24 karat pop nugget.
The band have always come up with stunning singles, but their albums could be a little patchy at times - experiments that just didn't quite work or melodies that didn't quite fulfill their potential. The last album was one of their most consistently strong to date, and this new release follows in the same vein. There are highs of course: gorgeous bittersweet opener Over The Border and uplifting pop rushes Tonight and DJ for instance. However there are no tracks where I felt my finger creeping towards the skip button on repeated listenings. The mood is mainly upbeat, albeit with touches of nostalgic regret, and the sound is mostly Saint Etienne's patented blend of effervescent pop influences from the Sixties to the Noughties, although there's a moving folk ballad, I Threw It All Away, towards the end - and there's more than enough variety in the melodies to prevent any suggestion of repetition.
The theme of the album is music - the effect our favourite music has upon us, the memories it evokes, the emotions it stirs...and the question of what role music plays in our lives as we get older - can it still stir and excite us as it once did? I think I can safely say, as long as Saint Etienne keep making great records like this, the answer is definitely yes.
The band have always come up with stunning singles, but their albums could be a little patchy at times - experiments that just didn't quite work or melodies that didn't quite fulfill their potential. The last album was one of their most consistently strong to date, and this new release follows in the same vein. There are highs of course: gorgeous bittersweet opener Over The Border and uplifting pop rushes Tonight and DJ for instance. However there are no tracks where I felt my finger creeping towards the skip button on repeated listenings. The mood is mainly upbeat, albeit with touches of nostalgic regret, and the sound is mostly Saint Etienne's patented blend of effervescent pop influences from the Sixties to the Noughties, although there's a moving folk ballad, I Threw It All Away, towards the end - and there's more than enough variety in the melodies to prevent any suggestion of repetition.
The theme of the album is music - the effect our favourite music has upon us, the memories it evokes, the emotions it stirs...and the question of what role music plays in our lives as we get older - can it still stir and excite us as it once did? I think I can safely say, as long as Saint Etienne keep making great records like this, the answer is definitely yes.
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4.4 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Curates Egg
I must admit to St Etienne being my guilty pleasure. The song construction and sheer musicality always is acheived. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Incredibly Bendy Dog
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect shimmering pop
Great lyrics, mood altering fabulousness - I bought it in advance of going to see them live - can't wait now.
Published 5 months ago by Ms M Enright
5.0 out of 5 stars
St Etienne - perfect pop
An excellent comeback from St Etienne full of dreamy perfect pop. The 2nd disc with remixes is really good with interesting reinterpretations of the songs from main album.
Published 7 months ago by Iainoco
4.0 out of 5 stars
Saturday?
At what point did the chart run down appear on a Saturday? Surely it was always a Sunday with the sumptuous FM bandwidth being given over to Radio 1? Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ed
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
Over the Border is a standout track. As a indie fan of the 80s and 90s, who is married with kids the lyrics are very fitting. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Malcolm
5.0 out of 5 stars
6 years on, it was woth the wait....
My favourite Saint Etiennne album was always... TIGER BAY, ...... my favourite single was He's on The phone....
Now its. Read more
Now its. Read more
Published 10 months ago by M. Hellewell
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting second time round
Must admit to never being into Saint E and bought this on a whim. Very interesting, but not earth shattering. Read more
Published 10 months ago by R. Nicklin
5.0 out of 5 stars
pure poptastical perfection product
I have a confession to make... I love pop music; there I've said it and I'm not ashamed! There is something about a good melody that just lifts the spirit in a way that is so... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Chris Preddy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Friends Reunited
Always had a soft spot for Saint Etienne, but sort of drifted away for reasons unknown. Did we fall out? Where the hell have all those albums come from on Amazon? Read more
Published 11 months ago by hinge ripper
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not their best
I have been a Saints fan for many years. I have bought all their records and been to gigs, and in my opinion they have produced more good music than anyone else. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Roger H
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