It’s Saturday night. You are putting on your mascara, polishing your Doc Martens, dusting off your black beret, rolling a joint, ironing your Steely Dan T shirt, pouring yourself another glass of Bollinger’s, adjusting your toupee….
All you need is some sparkling, uplifting pop music to get you in the mood for the fun ahead. And who better to provide it than Saint Etienne? I saw them this week at Kägelbanan and was transported away by their career-spanning cavalcade of magnificent bittersweet pop. The new songs from new album Home Counties stood up very well against all my old favourites.
I’ve been going steady with Sarah Cracknell & Co for a while now. I first saw them in the mid-90s at the legendary Gino nightclub on Östermalm. It’s the venue where DuCool and I first started going to gigs together. It’s now a furniture showroom. But Saint Etienne are still going strong after 25 years. Quirky, sophisticated, adventurous, melodic and memorable.
Who are your favourite pop artists and which pop songs from the past 25 or so years hit the spot for you?
All hitmakers welcome even if their songs did not get the chart position they deserved. One hit wonders or veterans who are still producing fine pop songs. No language restrictions apply. If you adore a toe-tapping earworm in Hungarian, I want to hear it.
Off the top of my head I think: Crowded House, Robyn, Kings of Convenience, Tove Lo, The Divine Comedy, Lilly Allen, Kylie Minogue, Prefab Sprout, Amy Winehouse, The Bamboos, Haim, The Disappointment Choir, Coldplay, Cee Lo Green, Rhianna, The Cardigans, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars….
Monsters of metal, atonal Norwegian jazz noodlers, dirgy miserablists: your presence here will not be required.
Hit me with your rhythm hits!
I’ve recently returned to Tiger Bay after 23 years. It’s my opinion that it’s a minor masterpiece.
I bought a chazza copy of Tiger Bay just recently, and it is indeed marvellous.
So Tough is incredibly evocative of 1993 for me. I was 19, carefree, shaggy of hair and living on red Marlboros and ill-advised sex. Heh heh.
“A man could lose himself in London….”
(actually it was Sheffield, but anyhoo…)
So Tough was a huge record for me in 1997. It’s the soundtrack to 2nd year uni, living in drunken Withnailesque squalor and listening to this album on repeat.
And then the enormous Euro house mixes of He’s On The Phone and Sylvie. I still can’t not dance to these.
Very chuffed to find I am not the only Etienne fan here.
This old favourite made a great impression on me on Wednesday. Such a great, idiosyncratic pop song. And it sounds like no other British group I can think of. The flute, the vibes, Sarah’s sensual vocals. They are in a class of their own.
“I’m Helen Stevens, I’m having a party next door…”
“You stick your foot in there mate, you’ve had it… well, fat legs and chunky shoes, it’s ridiculous”
“Come on auntie, we’ll miss the bus!”
…. oh no, wrong album….
I think your premise is slightly astray. Your piece should start “It’s Saturday night, it’s Brighton, I’m watching Strictly and I have just opened the third bottle of Albarino, I’d like to fire up YouTube but not sure how to work the in-laws TV, I’m seeing Jason Isbell tomorrow night and I am just a bit excited, why am I on this blog when I could be making something of my life, shall we open another Albarino?”
I knew we’d find you one this thread, Lodey – sprightly electro-pop sung by a winsome blonde lass, right up your street eh?
PS Technical advice – Remember, when using someone else’s TV that you have to put it onto channel 674 before you turn it off.
As ever, Mooche – spot on advice… perhaps a few hints as to find Channel 674?
Use the numbers on your remote. If that fails, simply yell “I WANT CHANNEL 674!!!” at the top of your voice.
You have to say ”Alexa” first.
St Etienne-lite ?
Dubstar – Not So Manic Now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQTWDudUAHQ
Nothing lite about Dubstar! Another band who I have a great deal of time for.
They have many fine songs. This is a particular favourite.
I do like their first album.
Not so keen on the second – did they release anymore that I should be investigating?
(Note to self: visit Spotify).
Pop Trivia #9572: Dubstar’s first single was number 1 in Israel
The second album is GENIUS. Listen to this… again.
The third and final album Make It Better is not in the same class, but has its moments.
Like this….
Elsewhere on that album, a song with the chorus, “Don’t you just like my ARSE!”
Huzzah!
Enjoyable, rather amusing piece abut Dubstar.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/rita-edie-and-stellar-1344617.html
The big question now for me is: Does @Gary watch Red Ronnie on Roxy Bar?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQE54Z0MAZc&list=PL06A328C634F00B67&index=30
Ha, I used to! In those distant, dark, dire and dismal days (alliteration overload!) before the interwebs when Italian telly was all I had. And that was awful beyond words. Unwatchable. (Still is, in fact.) Pop/Rock music programmes were practically the only bearable programmes, because I liked pop and rock music. Those were the days when I used to treat myself to an English newspaper once a week. My mum used to send over a film on video once or twice a year, and all my friends would come round to watch it. Expat life is SOOOOOOO much more pleasant now!
Here’s a thoroughly uplifting pop song….sets me up as I prepare my fez and cheroot-holder for the short step to my club…..
https://youtube.com/watch?v=p60Wm9xy7Cg
In my book Kevin Ayres is always right. And wrote a damn fine pop song too. As idiosyncratic as Etienne, so I am delighted to have him on this thread.
Amusing that a couple of people in the YouTube comments think the accordion player is Phil Collins. And nobody has corrected them!
Always good to see The Whole World, and Lol Coxhill in particular….
Having looked at the other entries, I concede that I might have misunderstood the OP – is this more like the thing?
New to me. And a little beauty.
Oh man. What a song. And fab album too. 1989?
V. close……1990….. Submarine Bells…..
Either way, that’s still more than 25 years ago.
This is only (!) four years old, and fits the bill. Though it chimes in with Dubstar and Cracknell in giving us a slightly melancholy female vocal on top of the fizz.
It says or so, Tigger…..25 years or so ago….near enough for a class act, surely?
Wise words, Fitter. What is 20 years here or there when you have a fine song you want to share?
I mentioned The Bamboos from Melbourne.
And The Kings of Convenience from Bergen
Burt Bacharach rates Rumer. So do I. What more do you need to know?
Yummy yummy Saint Etienne – I wouldn’t swap my London Conversations for your ABBA Gold, ta very much. Still, if talkin’ bout the last quarter century of pop, you’ve got to respect the many faces of the All Bran Man…
(Bobby Womack – Stupid)
*p.s. You mentioned Disappointmentband in the OP – currently higher on the Emusic pop chart than the Steps lp, Very Best Of Soft Cell and the Essential Kim Wilde. Get in!
That is cracking news! Go Choir go!
(Whispers) I agree with you about London Conversations. But I really don’t want to Abba Wars to escalate and end up with a skirmish here!
Love that Bobby Womack song.
Wait – what? Really? Have you got a link to such a chart?
Well, if you browse by “most popular this month” and filter for “pop” there’s the DC on page 13. Not sure how reliable this is an actual chart – Soft Cell have jumped up loads and Kim’s dropped a bit since I last looked, while the IHYILH remain unmoved..
I have a soft spot for Christina Aguilera.
Ain’t No Other Ma
Saint Etienne? Tinny bing bang bong, you know the rest, but Dubstar? Wonderful uplifting splendour.
Saint Etienne? Tinny bing bang bong?
Retro! You’re in a bad way ………
Just dial my number. I’ve got some plans for you.
I only know the first three albums, but there is a fantastic variety of music on there. House, indiepop, trip-hop, exotica, film music, Neil Young…
Nice to see so much love for Dubstar on here, however. I thought I was the only one.
Here’s another.
I’m generally in this camp. The second Dubstar album is a thing of wonder. Heavy rotation album.
St Etienne are ok, as far as they go….
Still, takes all sorts. And jelly babies.
Love both Saint Etienne and Dubstar. The Swedes also do this sort of indie pop very well:
There’s a strong connection between SE and Sweden. When I saw them, Sarah made a point of pointing out that Etienne had recorded in Malmö.
And that this is a song about sibling rivalry. (Not so obvious from the vid!)
Come on in, Locust and Neela! A few contemporary Swedish pop gems please!
While you think, here’s Lykke Li.
Contemporary? I was starting to think that this was a 90s thread…. 😉
I’ve been meaning to write a Nights In on the new self titled album by Loney Dear (yes, he dropped the silly comma…name’s still pretty silly though!) It’s a serious contender for Album Of The Year for me. Full of gorgeous electronic pop tunes that will crush your heart into dust, but somehow leave you feeling uplifted and cleansed. Imagine a cocktail of John Grant, James Blake, Sigur Rós and their singer Jónsi’s solo album (and of course Emil Svanängen’s own earlier non-synth music if you know it), modern pop hymns of raw emotion… (Good – now I won’t need to write that review! 🙂 )
Perhaps too “miserable” to fit the brief (but nothing this beautiful can be too miserable) but I’m posting it anyway; my favourite track “Hulls”:
But if you want something more “sparkling and uplifting”, how about a proper EDM tune from Galantis ? New album is full of potential hits, but none as dancetastic as this one, from their previous album: (“Peanut Butter Jelly”)
“Contemprary” on the AW means “some of these artists may still be alive”.
Alright – but remember you asked for this: from one of my favourite !pop! albums of the year so far…
(Note she ✔️off all three of the naughtiest words before the first chorus…)
(Kehlani – CRZY)
That sounds like quite a real earworm. I’ll counter with Kygo’s remix of Seinabo Sey’s wonderful Younger from last year.
In reply to Moose’s comment, I should point out that “contemporary” for me means anything after Hildegard Von Bingen.
Hildegard Von Bangin’, you mean!
Hildegard Von Banger? Yes, the very one. The rocking Kraut abbess who was queen of the 12th century Rhine Rave Scene.
Here’s Garmarna’s remix of one of her biggest hits. A classic navefiller.
Two absolute crackers there, Locust. Both with imaginative videos which really enhance the songs, To my shame, I have never heard of Galantis. Two more talented Swedes!
We did a bit stuck in the 90s but all top-notch pop from approximately 1990 until the present is welcome.
Not sure if this was a hit, but it’s a wonderful song.
Aimee Mann – Ghost world
One more before bedtime. Modern pop perfection? Jenny Lewis is the girl!
Suddenly remembered this gem.
Excellent! Not much C&TR gets a mention on here but I love their albums. I’ll be playing this today while I do my ironing. That’s how rock n roll I am.
Rooooock and rooooooll!I’m off to the laundry room!
But first I’ll post this beauty by Clare & Co. I saw them live once and they were magnificent.
Have seen them twice, once supporting Duke Special, and once headlining an unfortunately very sparsely populated Social in Nottingham, a few years back. Utterly wonderful both times.
Love the That’s All cover.
Another trio with a charismatic female singer of the same vintage as Etienne and Dubstar.
That lovely song makes me think of Brighton but I suppose it could equally well be Skegness or any other groovy seaside resort.
Always have a nagging doubt that Saint Ettienne were a triumph of style over substance.
A studied, almost detached, experiment of 50’s mod cool and clothes before getting down to writing tunes ( though I can’t deny they have some very good tunes). Bob Stanley seemed to get a pass on the same kind of fanboy nonsense that Boaby Gillespie was mocked for.
Weatherall’s remix of Only Love Can Break Your Heart remains one of my favourite tracks of the 90’s. Spacey, dense and Gallic
The ‘Cheebs are another wondrous sound, still active, sort of, 2/3 of them:
Thanks Retro. That was a treat. Great to hear Skye’s voice again. I hadn’t heard about that album.
And I hadn’t heard about Mark Ronson’s splendid Zutons cover until it got posted here on the AW.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HLY1NTe04M
Saint Etienne seem to get quite a lot of stick for being too clever for their own good. I don’t really buy it.
They do write fab songs and their ace card is Ms Cracknell and her ability to deliver them with such feeling and conviction. Listen to her do this Chris Rea cover.
Another band who shone in the 90s when they re-invented themselves.
Everything but the girl
Walking wounded was a stupendous album.
It was. I think I’ve got nearly everything they have done, and the two I go back to are Eden and Walkinh Wounded.
I wouldn’t argue with that, Paul. Eden with those splendid jazz arrangements and then WW with that quite astonishing reinvention of their sound.
A thumbs up for Tracey Thorn’s excellent solo albums would not inappropriate here-
I’m going to nip over La Manche to see what La Belle France has to offer in the way of contemporary pop….
Christine and the Queens – I think we will be hearing a lot more about this combo
Indila – classic French pop. And what a voice!
Air – sophisticated, delicate and melodic
Alizee – even without her goldfish, she’s a pop princess.
Daft Punk – great song and a cracking video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OTryGzS-G8
Posting a few French songs, took me back to a playlist I made a while back where I stumbled across this gem, which fits in very nicely here. (The translation of the lyrics is a bit shakey.)
Arnaud Fleurent-Didier
This catchy gem, Les Voiles, by Poom also is a perfect fit alongside the other electropop here.
Is there anyone here who can remind me of a French pop tune that was posted on here ages ago? All I can remember is the film clip, which has the besuited singer warbling away in front of a formally-dressed collection of musicians, when the camera occasionally pans over to a group of, er, scantily-clad (if not nigh on bare) young ladies grooving about.
Damn you Sniffity! I fear that I will now be ransacking my French playlists to see who that might have been.
My first thought was Sebastian Tellier who makes great pop records and has a wicked sense of humour. He represented France in Eurovision
But mercifully not with Cochon Ville
Warning this video is …
Not Safe for Work! Pas sur pour le travail! Unpassend fur den Arbetsplatz!
But is very entertaining.
He looks like Bill Bailey in the first episode of Black Books after eating the Little Book of Calm.
Clare and the Reasons, Dubstar, Galantis, Morcheeba, The Chills etc: this thread is putting the limelight on some very fine combos.
My apologies to Locust for getting all nostalgic again, but Moloko must get a mention.
Fun for me is a wonderfully quirky, hallucogenic pop song.
I saw them in the enormous Arena tent at Roskilde playing songs from Things to make and do. An ecstatic, euphoric moment of pop magic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl8mpAvTm_Y
From Denmark to Oslo for more breathy, sparkly nostalgia from pop princess, Annie. I suspect that the target audience was teenage girls in Bergen not a wrinkled, bald AW blogger. I must be discovering my inner Norwegian teenager.
Swedish ass kicking!
Magnificent! That really blew the cobwebs off. I really liked her first album so am very pleased you posted that and reminded me about her.
Ooops! Back to nostalgia. From 1997, the title track of an album by Michael Franti and Spearhead.
They’ve done a lot of music since then but none of it has been on my radar for some reason.
Natch, when most of us are asked about perfect pop we turn to the sweetest tunes, but pop has always come in all shapes and sizes.
Let’s relive a moment many of us experienced. It’s Thursday evening, TOTP is just starting, but – what’s this? – our fusty old dad has not got up to leave and the end of Tomorrow’s World. He has chosen tonight to give the youngster’s music one more chance. Then something like this comes on:
(Lone Taxidermist – Knicker Elastic)
Two things:
– is that a boy or a girl?
-they’re all on drugs!
You forgot thump thump thump
Thump, Thump and Thump? Weren’t they the solicitors in Bleak House?
Long liked St Etienne as well; nice to see the love here. But…always a disappointing live experience, in my opinion.
This is early 90s pop fun:
The Stone Roses were going to sue them over that. I don’t know if they did.
Tunes was brilliant. “I’m gonna loosen me lungs…”
Thanks Pessoa. I’m enjoying all these small, lesser-known gems being unearthed.
Much though I love Saint Etienne, I have to agree that somehow they have difficulty when performing live. On Wednesday, Sarah seemed to be having some problems with her voice but we got one fine song after the other, The cumulative effect ought to have been magnificent but was only very good. Like a string of pearls without the right string? I’ve seen them several times and it is often like that.
We have had several bands on this thread with a small but loyal following here on the AW.
Back to Denmark for one that Moose and I hold a candle for: Qaudron
Here’s Coco doing a fine live version of Hey Love.
I should cocoa!
Now, a Danish band whom really do know how to put a show that really builds up to ecstasy: WhoMadeWho.
I’ve seen them twice at Roskilde and both times left with an enormous smile on my face.
From Holland: The first Solex album is a favorite period pop piece.
Gosh! Solex sounds like an interesting lady.
I love the idea of her Sound Map of the Netherlands.
When Saint Etienne started out, their original plan was to not have a permanent vocalist but work with different people. I think they were very wise to change their mind and stick with Sarah.
Norwegian duo Röyksopp took another path and have collaborated with some very talented singers from Sweden and Norway, Robyn being a particular favourite.
Then there’s the charismatic Suzanne Sundfor whose recent albums are top notch.
Anneli Drecker was previously in Norwegian dreampop band Bel Canto who were an early influence on the ‘Soppers.
Karin Dreijer Andersson from The Knife
I saw them once at Roskilde with all these four singers alternating at the mike. Impressive.
And talking of Denmark, I can’t resist mentioning Junior Senior’s pop pearl, Move your feet.
Hopefully better late than never, here’s one which will appeal to fans of the funky stuff with a mish mash of influences coming out of NYC in the late 70s / early 80s. I couldn’t find it on Youtube, but I believe it is from 2014. It’s the first track Style that I’m talking about.
The Soap Company
https://thesoapcompany.bandcamp.com/album/file-under-pop
I enjoyed that @Alias. But it is difficult to find their tracks, as you say.
They have a lively FB page anyway.
https://www.facebook.com/SoapCompany/
I was amazed this sublime retro pop song by The Pipettes wasn’t a monster hit when it came out in 2006. The video perfectly recreating the party scene from Beyond The Valley Of the Dolls is brilliant too.
Brilliant stuff, Droogie. Talk about a floorfiller.
And the video, with its recreation of a scene from Russ Meyer’s Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (thanks you YT comments for pointing that out) is a small work of genius in itself.
That video reminds me of a scene from a film I saw, but I can’t quite put my finger on which one it was…
I forgot the Pipettes ever existed. I saw them live supporting someone and they were great fun. It’s odd how bands just disappear…
” I’ve been to parties where they danced to records by The Strawberry Alarm Clock, but this is the first time The Strawberry Alarm Clock’s ever been to the party! “
Saint Etienne supporters may find this piece by Pete Paphides an illuminating read.
https://medium.com/@petepaphides/the-suburban-renewal-of-saint-etienne-851104a9751a