Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Was fun and catchy, avoided being repetitive like so many others of this ilk/genre.
To be honest, I forgot I listened to this. It was fine, I guess, but nothing about it was memorable.
Weird, but in an alright way.
In a similar vein to yesterday’s B&S album there were some songs I liked and others not so much.
An interesting mix of musical styles but not really hitting the mark. I liked the instrumental song and the Neil Young cover, but pretty average otherwise.
It’s just a bit boring isn’t it. On paper it’s always promised to be good, 60s pop pastiche, house, dub, trip hop etc. But nothing really hits home as remarkable in any way, other than ‘Only love…’. It somehow fails to sound particular unique. So yeah, pleasant but a bit boring.
This album was fun. Way more fun than I thought it would be. Grabbed me track one and kept my attention coming back while I cooked. Background music in the best way. Interesting themes, great influences, and a lush backing to fall into and explore.
This has low-key vibes and reminds me a bit of experimentation. It is from 1992. I do not think I have heard before. I had some issues with Spotify and am not sure I heard whole album/ in order. Overall I found it to be pleasant and chill.
I guess maybe I would put this on during a long flight but some of the songs are too upbeat for that. I can't think of a context in which I would put this on during a time I intended to remain conscious.
Painfully French. But actually so good. And catchy as well. I’m a bit turned on as well??
sublime genre blending house music. blown away. will be revisiting.
Fun french electro poppy
Ethereal. I appreciate that this album was groundbreaking for its day. Listening today, however, it sounds dated. I feel like I've heard many elements of this music in later shoegaze, trip hop, and electronica music. Overall, I can see the value in this album as a trendsetter, but didn't love the actual listening experience.
The Good: It’s a saint, it’s got to be good! The Bad: Seems like we have been deceived… The Ugly: Foxbase Alpha, FA, Fucking Assholes… Slowly, but surely, I am starting to believe that we are being duped… Though we think we are listening to 1001 albums that we need to hear before we die, half of them are albums we DON’T need to hear before we die. Not that this album is bad, it’s just not great, nor good, nor will it improve my life now that I’ve listened to it. As with many albums on this list; it’s neither here, nor there it’s neither good, or bad it’s neither fish, or meat, or vegan, for that matter. Off to listen to Anthrax, next one on my list… St Stephen is getting 3*
Super
I was not previously familiar with the artist or album. This is a sort of dream pop meets dance music. I did not really care for it. Even the most popular track, a cover of Neil Young's Only Love Can Break Your Heart did not do anything for me. I would not listen again.
I've crossed paths with this group but I find it odd that this album is on this list. Prior to listening to this album, I knew Spring and Wood Cabin(not featured on this album) both simply cute songs. The rest of the album doesnt really match that vibe, unfortunately kind of boring and repetitive...but theres still a charm to it. Not something id listen to again but I may look at their other stuff.
Decent mix of indie dance and fresh pop.
Repetitive early 90s electronic? It was mellow but boring.
Oh great, another spacey european style techno album 🍑💨
Some cool grooves and samples in here, but pretty boring to me.
A bit twee. But enjoyable nonetheless. A minor 4 stars
When the best song on the album is a cover, that's probably a sign that you are missing creative inspiration. Most of the tracks on here are dull dance grooves with under-developed melodies. There are a few exceptions - notably "Girl VII" and "Nothing Can Stop Us" - but far too few. The general conceit has promise - 60s girl pop over a dance beat - but the songs simply aren't strong enough.
они хотели быть модными, сэмплировали, но "комбинацию" не скрыть увы)
A fine album with catchy beats but I probably won't revisit
Between a 2 and a 3 on this. IMO it felt like pretty generic 90s proto edm. There was one song I found maybe annoyingly catchy with a grandma asking a kid about candy
The 90s interpolation of the 60s is now (late 2025) roughly as far in past as the actual 60s were to those responsible for said interpolation. Shaggadelic, baby! What the 60s meant to the 90s (britpop qua revivified swinging soho and all that attaches itself to such claims of cultural hegemony) is however less interesting, to me at least, than what the 90s has meant to the 60s. That’s principally because of just how often I’ve been stood still by something that subverts my expectation that sixties fare be syrupy, saccharine silliness. At times I’ve actually struggled to believe that what I’ve heard coming out of the sixties was genuinely, actually made and produced all the way back then. Time out of joint, not quite. I’ve merely fallen victim to the twin forces of underestimating the primacy of the past (blame youth) and taking postmodernism at face value (blame the 90s). It’s with this perspective that I find myself encountering Foxbase Alpha. A lively cover of “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” (released in 1970, but I’m not sure the sixties strictly ended on December 31st 1969) starts the album; it’s an exuberant reimagining, and what it loses in replacing the chordal interplay of the original’s verse, bridge and chorus with a single loop it more than makes up for with general grooviness. (In the process achieving a thorough victory for postmodern hyperreality; a cover of a song somehow carrying more “of its time” characteristics than the original recording.) There are other gems scattered through this record – typically those most adherent to the sixties revival theme: “Spring”, “Nothing Can Stop Us”, “London Belongs To Me” – but also some pretty dreadful pap. “Kiss and Make Up” and “People Get Free” sound more like milquetoast 90s prime time reality TV pop than anything that’s time travelled its way onto the record; “She’s The One” is so extraordinarily bad that it makes my lower abdomen hurt a little bit out of second hand embarrassment. Here the 90s falters, and owes the sixties, a decade distorted by misrepresentation in my formative years, an apology. As with any act of impersonation, when it’s good you delight in the fact you didn’t even notice, but when it’s bad all you can do is try to find joy in spotting the flaws. And as for time’s habit of repeating itself, I guess we’re due a third wave revival. (Maybe “67” is early portents.) There are some lovely moments in Foxbase Alpha – but I’d struggle to call them era defining by either’s standards.
The best of this album was some really dreamy electronica. The worst of it were stretched out sequences that lingered on for way too long and overstayed their welcome. I enjoyed the vocals because they really add to the atmosphere, but some of the instrumentals got to be too much. I'm increasing my initial score from a 3 to a 4 after doing a relisten just over half a year after my first listen. I really liked those instrumentals and sequences this time around. I think I'm just enjoying electronic music more than I used to, which I can attribute to doing this project. Great album!
This album surprised me!
90s electronique sound. Lots of repetition and a voice talking over music.
Perfection!
Some of the songs had some nice beats, the album was ok
Pleasant enough
Having never heard of Saint Etienne I was bracing myself for yet another UK pop band that didn't bring anything exciting to this list. I was only half wrong in that this is a good trip-hop album that drags in areas but still a pleasant refreshing listen. 3.5/5
Not my kind of thing really
Interesting
Aight
surprisingly very good. New to my ears.
Just didn't grab me at all.
Such a great album. Falls a bit in the same category as Massive Attack's first two records, Suba's Sâo Paolo confessions and Malcolm McLaren's Duck Rock. I love the use of real life recordings, chatter, radio shows in music, especially for albums that are worth listening to from start to end. It just gives them this narrative context which makes them very compelling. Really enjoyed both the instrumental and sung tracks on this one. A great one to listen from start to end.
A lot of the vibe is like if you wrote/arranged a bunch of hip-hop tracks without actually rapping over them
Would be more enjoyable on ecstasy. Some interesting stuff, but too pedestrian.
This sounds like so many of the other British groups that incorporate pop/post-punk/electronica on this list. Some cool beats, some cool melodies, and about 15 minutes too long. 2.5/5.0: Mixed
not bad in any sort of technical sense, but i did not enjoy listening to it. i didnt mind when they actually focused on making music but tracks like wilson or the opening to like a swallow make this feel so a chore to listen to.
lovely 5/10
Way too repetitive. This album sounded like a parody of the music on repeat at Old Navy and Sears
It's pleasant but mostly doesn't match up to the transportative dreaminess of the album's first real song
Very Strong 4
Had fun with this one! I think there are better examples of the genre but it was a nice play.
This album is hot fucking garbage
Despite its French-sounding name, St. Etienne is a British band, but to me it actually sounded as if it were rooted in French culture. “Fox Base Alpha” is technically good but otherwise fairly insignificant 90s pop. I can't think of much else to say about it that's worth mentioning.
half the songs are good, the other way too Casio
Love to see Neil Young covered but this version doesn't do anything for me, unlike Chromatics spectacular "Into the Black". Pretty unexciting stuff. Want to give it a 2 but it's fine enough. It'd be cool if I could find a new favorite record from the year of my birth but I already know most of the classics and boy do they step all over this. This is better than Blood Sugar Sex Magik though.
Not at all what I was expecting by the cover. I liked the majority of the album and the few songs I didn’t were still fine just not exactly what I was wanting.
Musically, it wasn't my favorite. Getting a higher score for resolving some trauma from my childhood.
Solid background music. Gets bery annoying when paying close attention. What is going on here? Random people talking in the background saying the same lines over and over. I can respect it, but I won't listen again. I think the singer has a pretty good voice. The backing tracks are also fine. Just nothing stands out and it gets annoying at times
The cover of the Neil Young song Only Love Can Break Your Heart is the standout track on an album that has promise but doesn't quite deliver otherwise.
I literally fell asleep while listening to this. Do not operate heavy machinery while this is playing.
Very generic 90s pop. Not for me.
Being in my twenties in the '90s, this is another album I loved revisiting. Those happy tunes, uplifting beats, trip-hop elements, and fragments of movies, it was all so new, and such a joy to listen to during those sunny, drug-filled, post-rave hangouts in the park or wherever. Classic! Just like Massive Attack, Underworld, or Björk in the nineties, those were the days :-)
Bardzo ciekawe, warto wrocic
This was fine as background music but not really for me.
This is a hard album for me to rate because it’s one of my mainstay college albums. I think I listened to this album on repeat while playing Battlefield 1 and Minecraft. I really love the sound and beats on this album- it’s this hypnotic mix of house beats and mellifluous singing. However, this album never made it to my main rotation of albums the same way some others from that period did. I’m not going to call it filler, but there’s a lot of songs off this album that break the flow from the singing and beats I mentioned above to dip its toe into some heavier sampling from movies and television that kinda brings the sound to a screeching halt. I still really like this album, but I won’t let my nostalgia blind me to some of its flaws. 4 stars.
Carnt sleep has a gorgeous bass that pairs well with the ethereal voice. Kiss and Make Up has a nice drum. Like the Swallow has a little too much instrumental for me, but the buildup into the lyrics works well.
Another utterly pointless album that I barely realized was playing in the background.
It was ok.
Pretty impressed with the talented grooviness of this album, especially as I place it in its 1991 context. (Release year in the UK.) Not quite my type but you don’t choose all your friends. Sometimes they choose you. Sometimes, they rescue you from the algorithm’s other cruel offerings - like that scene in the movie where the hand reaches down to pull our hero out of certain doom. Ok, that got melodramatic. Which is exactly what this album isn’t. It’s nice. Enjoy.
Like most electronica, this sounds good, fine, with grooves, and interesting beats. I think one critic labeled them soft rave? Anyway, it is fine for what it is, but if it has to be amazing in a club to be amazing, I probably won't return to it.
It was fine … probably won’t ever listen again.
so diverse and charming!!! will definitely relisten a lot of times. 4.7/5
burbly french techno pop synthy background music. Meh.
Another day, another English album that doesn't make any sense to include on this list.
You know those cheap third-party video game companies back in the 2000s that created games with that constant electronica menu music, and unknown female singers bellowing on these menu screens? If you remember those games, and loved that music, then this should be one of your favorite albums. Favorite Track: "Spring".
When the music kicked in on Only Love Can Break Your Heart, I turned the volume way up. Never heard of the album or band before, but it’s really good. Carnt Sleep and Nothing Can Stop Us were my other favorite tracks. I think some Jay Z might sample the piano in Carnt Sleep. I’m a fan.
Loved the intro rolling into the cover of only love can break your heart, as well as four or five other tracks. Definitely heard influences from traditional pop artists (esp. Madonna and the Cranberries) and New Wave artists (INXS and Tears for Fears), but I also get hear traces of artists to about to blow up with entry of sample-based House/Dance music into top 40 like Moby and Fatboy Slim. Really enjoyed the album in spite of a couple duds.
Oof, this one was just not my thing…I know it’s a matter of taste and I guess I’m too cynical but the whole album sounds like it’s 1996 and I’m in the Air France lounge, listening on a Walkman on my flight back to London, looking at a Benetton ad and imagining what the world could be if everyone would just DANCE. I don’t really like 90s London sunshine/psychedelic rave, adidas track suit, buzz cut with an earring music to begin with, and the singer sounds like Diana Ross if she was from Manchester and not allowed to see the sun. Refrains like “People get free…”, “in this world of ups and downs”, ”nothing can stop us now”, “let’s kiss and make up”….meh I’ll pass
This was a good album. I liked the variety of songs and musical arrangements.
Indie, Dancy, Dubby
Pure vibes I guess
ok
mah ok sicuramente è un fatto interessante però lo riteniamo tra gli album che devo sentire prima di morire? non direi
Allora è un po anonimo, però ci sta. Non mi è dispiaciuto. I brani sono anche abbastanza eterogenei ma restano coerenti. ci sta. diciamo 3.3 stelle
Forse l’album che mi è piaciuto di meno. Va bene magari come sottofondo mentre si fanno altre cose, ma verso la fine stavo impazzendo
Non è un 4 pieno. Alcune canzoni mi sono piaciute molto, altre meno. La voce di lei purtroppo mi ha irritato un po’, mi dava troppo la vibe da hippie nel pulmino Volkswagen.
M’e piaciut assai
vibes molto belle mi so divertita ho anche sorriso un po' a qualche pezzo, non lo conoscevo proprio ma bella scoperta un 4 se lo merita tutto ma forse se lo riascolto con calma raggiunge anche un 5
64/100
I prefer the football team. It was a bit stuck between things. Sometimes verging on baggy, sometimes a bit house-y but didn’t really lean into it. Some nice moments but overall nothing I’m really excited to return to.
Pretty chill house music, but most songs on here sound fairly similar?
I felt like I had fallen back into the 90s. Rather enjoyed this album.
Pretty neat
not memorable at all
Groovy, made me moody. 3-3.5 stars
I remember really liking at least one Saint Etienne album from the late 90's or early 00's, but this one wasn't it, and I think it must be another "time and place" album that only certain people from that era, and maybe also from the UK, really connect to. It's not bad music, and it is rather enjoyable, but it just feels like an imitation of something else and doesn't hold up for me as something significant in its own right. I am going to dig into their discography more to try to find the album that I liked a couple decades ago, but from what I remember, they evolved into something much better than this album.
Some creative 90s mixing. And sampling. But I don't think a single song stuck. Nice album tho.
### 🎵 **Overview** *Foxbase Alpha* is the debut studio album by English band Saint Etienne, released on September 16, 1991, by Heavenly Recordings. Formed by music journalists and avid record collectors Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs, the band initially envisioned a rotating vocalist setup before settling on Sarah Cracknell as the primary singer. The album blends house, pop, indie, dub, and 1960s influences, creating a genre-bending tapestry that bewildered and impressed critics upon its release . --- ### 📝 **Lyrics** The lyrics on *Foxbase Alpha* were primarily written by Bob Stanley, with contributions from Pete Wiggs and occasional input from vocalists. Themes include urban life, love, nostalgia, and British cultural references. Tracks like "London Belongs to Me" romanticize the city ("Close our eyes, breathe out slowly / Today London loves us only"), while "Spring" explores unrequited love with a conversational, heartfelt tone. The use of sampled dialogue (e.g., film snippets in "Etienne Gonna Die") and folk-inspired lyrics ("Like the Swallow") adds layers of intertextuality. However, some lyrics verge on cliché (e.g., "Nothing Can Stop Us" leans into overly optimistic platitudes) . --- ### 🎶 **Music** The album’s music is a kaleidoscopic fusion of: - **House and Dance Rhythms**: "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" transforms Neil Young’s folk ballad into a 4/4 dance track with piano loops and dub basslines. - **Dub and Reggae Influences**: "Carnt Sleep" uses the Youthman riddim, a reggae staple. - **60s Pop and Soul**: "Nothing Can Stop Us" samples Dusty Springfield, while "She’s the One" references Motown. - **Experimental Instrumentals**: Tracks like "Stoned to Say the Least" and "Wilson" incorporate sound collages and psychedelic textures. The diversity is both a strength and weakness: it showcases creativity but occasionally feels disjointed . --- ### 🎛️ **Production** Produced by the band with engineer Ian Catt, the production is DIY and resourceful. Recorded in a home studio and even a bathroom for vocal acoustics, it has a lo-fi charm. Sampling technology is used extensively, from film dialogues to pop snippets, creating a "scrapbook" aesthetic. However, the production varies in polish: some tracks sound crisp and innovative (e.g., the Weatherall mix of "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"), while others feel rudimentary (e.g., the flat vocals on "Kiss and Make Up") . --- ### 🧠 **Themes** Key themes include: - **Nostalgia and Pop Culture**: References to 60s icons, football, and London evoke a sense of curated nostalgia. - **Urban Romanticism**: The album paints London as a mythical, beloved space. - **Hybrid Identity**: The band’s scholarly eclecticism mirrors the UK’s cultural melting pot of the early 90s. These themes reflect Stanley and Wiggs’ backgrounds as music journalists and fanzine writers, though they sometimes prioritize style over substance . --- ### 📊 **Influence** *Foxbase Alpha* was: - Shortlisted for the inaugural 1992 Mercury Prize, losing to Primal Scream’s *Screamadelica* . - A precursor to the Britpop movement, influencing bands like Pulp and Blur with its pop-conscious experimentation. - Celebrated for bridging indie and dance music, akin to contemporaries like Massive Attack and The Orb . Its sampling techniques and genre-blending inspired later electronic and pop acts. --- ### ✅ **Pros** 1. **Innovative Genre Fusion**: Seamlessly blends house, dub, pop, and indie . 2. **Cultural Time Capsule**: Captures the early-90s UK vibe where acid house, indie, and retro nostalgia coexisted . 3. **Standout Tracks**: "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," "Nothing Can Stop Us," and "London Belongs to Me" remain iconic . 4. **Sampling Creativity**: Clever use of samples adds depth and wit . --- ### ❌ **Cons** 1. **Inconsistent Vocals**: Moira Lambert’s flat delivery on "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" contrasts poorly with Cracknell’s later contributions . 2. **Lack of Cohesion**: The album feels like a "melting pot" without a unified direction, jumping between genres abruptly . 3. **Dated Production**: Some tracks suffer from thin sounds and overly repetitive loops . 4. **Lyrical Shallowness**: Some lines feel more like pastiche than profound commentary . --- ### 🎧 **Conclusion** *Foxbase Alpha* is a flawed but groundbreaking debut that reflects the creative ambition of its makers. Its fusion of dance and pop, coupled with its nostalgic themes, paved the way for Saint Etienne’s future work and influenced 90s alternative music. While uneven, its best moments are timeless, and its cultural significance remains undeniable . **Key Tracks**: "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," "Nothing Can Stop Us," "London Belongs to Me," "Like the Swallow."
I actually really liked this. I had no idea what to expect with it, but it sounds ahead of its time IMHO. I’m trying to decide if I’d listen to these songs again or not… I think I just might.
Mediocre lofi dance album. Little catchy
Protest and stoner music. A bit too much of both for me, and repetitive.
I was pretty much either bored or annoyed with this album. I hated the cover of "Only Love Can Break Your Heart". The electronica elements and the uninspired beats layered over spoken samples didn't do this album any favors. One or two half way decent songs couldn't save this one.
What is this
No ty
DNF
Favourites: Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Girl VII, Spring, She's the One, Stoned to Say the Least, Nothing Can Stop Us, London Belongs to Me, Like the Swallow
Inoffensive. Not my jams.
A pretty good indie pop and dance record. The first half of the record is a mixed bag of subpar and good tracks, but it picks up to being consistently good in the second half. Favourite Track(s): Spring Least Favourite Track(s): People Get Real
Best Song: Kiss and Make Up Meh. A genre of music (house) I don't like and an average at best band at it. Uninspired. It felt like music you would have heard shopping for clothes at the Gap in the 90s. 2/5
Saint Etienne was Len Houmous’ 6th wife! On one of his legendary LSD trips he married an actual city! Len has the paperwork and is convinced it was a legally binding marriage. The French forced the annulment. It almost started a civil war! Crazy really! 3.0 9/13 Nothing Can Stop Us
It's pretty good. Strange that I missed this one in the 90s
Bit on the random side, but must say I enjoyed it. Similar to The Avalanches.
Fair
A strong 1st album with a unique sound for the time. However it doesn't stand the test of time as it falls rather flat compared to the evolution of the genre. While I found myself enjoying a few of the songs, and was never outright disliking anything, I can't imagine myself listening to anything again or even particularly remembering this album. I'd summarize this as harmlessly and unremarkable enjoyable. 2.5/5
This album hit me perfectly. Of the early 90s UK-based techno albums we've hears here, this might be the most concise. 3.5
totally new and unexpected and not something I would have come across on my own! what a fun a group, what a good album from outside my normal musical wanderings
This wasn't bad, but I really wish there was about 15% more of something there.
This was a super chill album, very easy to listen to. No, it's nothing groundbreaking, and only one track is truly a banger: the cover of "Only Love Can Break Your Heart". Even though it's not a "must listen," it's still a solid 3.5 stars for me.
Dull dull dull.
Pretty forgettable but inoffensive
It was alright but not like anything I’ve heard before
point2.
3.5
Definitely of it's time. Quite nice, but not particularly interesting - like lofi music, enjoyable to have in the background but bland if you're actively listening.
An interesting album - there was some nice like muggy spring day pop and some cool stuff that reminded me a bit of fatboy slim. I liked Only Love Can Break Your Heart and Like The Swallow. 3/5 stars.
cover of only love can break your heart is good. otherwise has the vibe of elevator music.
Mixing down tempo house beats and eclectic samples, with some gorgeous vocals this album hits all the right notes for me. Their most famous track is a cover of Neil Young’s Only Love Can Break Your Heart which is in strong contention for one of my favourite covers of all time. This track was recorded in two hours, featuring Moria Lambert on vocals and earned the band a recording deal and a respectable hit in the process. Lambert was later replaced by Sarah Cracknell who performed the rest of the tracks on this debut album. I’m not sure why I missed this album first time around, but I’m glad I’ve found it now and I’ll certainly be listening to more of their work.
I'm not a huge fan of electronic music, but this is in the range I can appreciate. To be honest, I originally thought that this album was released 5 to 10 years later than its original release, when I started listening to it. It's well built, chill enough without being boring, the voice is a nice addition even though I'd be curious to listen to an instrumental version of this album.
It was ok
Mellow 90s electronic music album. A big percentage of filler, but the killer tracks make it worthwhile.
On Foxbase Alpha, Saint Etienne manage to walk the fine line between pleasant, house-based sound washes and carefully orchestrated bliss. Don’t mistake it for mere easy listening, though — it’s not. Whether you fall for its modest, 60’s-tinged pop approach is a question of perspective. It’s club-rooted music for the after-hours and the comedowns; music for those who find beauty in the cracks of society at dawn, when most of us are still asleep. Best digested while waiting at rural bus stations in the wee hours of the morning, as dust slowly drifts in the shy sunlight across fields waiting to be plowed. But there is more than just a soft indie music/alternative dance element to it. Saint Etienne know how to write an instantly memorable melody and a catchy hook — and this is why it stands out from the pack. What’s truly engrossing about the album, however, is Saint Etienne’s playful handling of their source material. Be it the profound re-arrangement of the Neil Young classic Only Love Can Break Your Heart (ever wondered how it would sound in 4/4 with a dubby backbeat?), the looping of a Hey Jude cover (Wilson), or the Dusty Springfield sample in Nothing Can Stop Us. The scatter of odd and brief movie or audio samples strewn across the release only adds to its timeless yet melancholic feel. I was sad to learn that, after more than three decades, Saint Etienne have announced that their upcoming release will be their final studio album. They’ve been around so long that I’ve somehow taken new music from them for granted. While certainly not reinventing the wheel on their latest records, they have always managed to refine the formula they crafted on Foxbase Alpha. And that’s a feat far from common.
Yawn. I recall hearing Only Love Can Break Your Heart in the past. The rest was very average.
Does nothing for me
Enjoyable and relaxing! A bit proggy, very abstract, but not life-changing :)
V nostalgic album for me as my mum is a big fan and played SE a lot
Layering retro sound clips over modern music is an interesting take. There's not really a notable track on here, but I didn't hate any of it. It's not something I'll put on regular rotation, but I wouldn't fuss if it got played. It's good. My rating: 3/5
Hate myself for saying this but pure vibes. Just a really nice chill dance/indie record. Great range of influences went into this thing, really satisfying use of samples and some great basslines. Vocals are dreamlike. Really reminds me of The Radio Dept who I guess must have been heavily influenced by this. Favourites - Carnt Sleep, Girl VII, Spring, Nothing Can Stop Us, London Belongs to Me
Didn’t dislike it as I usually would a dancey album like this; vocals were enough to carry it through. Doubt I’ll be listening to it again though. This Is Radio Etienne (N/A) Only Love Can Break Your Heart (8/10) Wilson (3/10) Carnt Sleep (7/10) Girl VII (7/10) Spring (7/10) She’s the One (7/10) Stoned to Say the Least (5/10) Nothing Can Stop Us (6/10) Ettiene Gonna Die (6/10) London Belongs to Me (7/10) Like the Swallow (7/10) Dilworth’s Theme (N/A) 6.4/10
kolaz z gatunku muzyki elektronicznej, moze dzisiaj nie zyje, ale wczoraj w uszach dzwonil rownie tragicznie jak dzisiaj
Not a electrónic music fan but OK. It was different from I've heard so far
Beautiful, and a lovely trip down memory lane
Slow, and a bit too long
what I'm listening? Not in 10.001
Cool stuff! House music you could have on when people are visiting
Me gustó pero porque es armonioso pero se hace aburrido porque parece todo un poco lo mismo, Música de fondo de un bar que quiere imponer una tendencia aestetic, de esos que dicen: ”acá el café se sirve a temperatura barista, si lo queres más caliente avísanos, putito sin gusto, muchas gracias”
Fakin hippies madafakers
Me gusto bastante, a diferencia de otros experimentales, la armonía estuvo bien y tenía cierta cohesión pero cayendo en la repitencia en varios temas. Otros temas podían ser el soundtrack de algun jueguito de investigación de Play 2
Me gustó la onda con la que arrancó Y...quedó ahí je
Just a little too repetitive and boring
3.3 2x worth another listen. catch up 8/7/2025
Pretty interesting, but not my favorite. Still, a solid album, and a pretty important one in the electronic scene.
this was a vibe, i enjoyed the trip hop vibe and found it good to drive to, spring was an absolute banger as well, overall, pretty good
Early 90s electronic house/art-pop, an absolute treat and wonderful discovery. IDK what it is about vibey/downtempo house music with silky female vocals, but goddamn it always just does it for me.
Listened to B4? No Tracks Already Saved on Spotify: 1 - Only Love Can Break Your Heart Standout Tracks: Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Carnt Sleep, Stoned to Say the Least, Nothing Can Stop Us (80/100)
This album is pleasant and sounds great sonically. It also represents everything I dislike about today's music. The repetition, lack of movement in the songs and unimaginative lyrics just don't inspire me to become a fan. Music seems to have become a background noise instead of something you actively listen to and take in. This album is a great candidate for that role. It sounds great and doesn't disrupt your attention from scrolling or doing whatever you're doing.
A good album, I like the trip hoppy production and beats but some of the songs don't quite land for me Wilson, for example, is quite annoying. Vocal samples can be used to form part of the rhythm of a song but that's an example where it becomes irritating quite quickly 3.5 Highlights: She's the One, Nothing Can Stop Us
Nice, but nothing special
I don't recall ever hearing of this band or this album. I guess that shouldn't be too surprising considering that they are in the "indie dance" genre, but it still seems strange. Maybe they had no MTV presence? Anyway, I don't hate this but I am just not into dance music and never have been. I did kind of like "Kiss and Make Up" though. Did NOT like "Like the Swallow."
Fine
Some songs were good some great a couple songs not for me
I thought this was pretty cool. Not something I ever would have listened to otherwise.
Better than most electronic/pop albums I've heard, but I still found it hard to stay attentive throughout the whole thing
much better than it should be
Enjoyable easy listening and not in that 70's category it's just a pleasurable listen.
Honestly that was kinda fun. I THINK i've heard of them before - not entirely sure. But i do know. Something i've learned in this project - I like the 80's wayyyyyy more than I thought I did. Just had to find my niche in the heavy metal and hairspray
Never listened to St Ettienne before. "Only love can break your heart" is ponderous. 'Carnt Sleep' (sic) is like elevator music tier music. 'Girl VII' is enjoyable. 'spring' too. There's a few hiccups along the way, but overall I am definitely enjoying this album.
I quite liked this one. It felt like the early 90s London club scene (the one that gave us artists like Massive Attack and early Bjork releases) but heavily coated in 60s nostalgia. The result is hypnotic, lucid, and chill. It feels like a constant movement between two worlds. My only issue is that I'm not sure how significant it is. There are surely better, purer examples of that London club scene. Saint Etienne are probably a bit more niche and maybe too much for this list. But hey, it was a new discovery for me and I was happy enough to hear it.
One or two interesting songs cannot redeem this bloated, uninspired slog of an album. Tedious samples, very forgettable songs. Not for me. 1.4/5 - > 1/5
Full of windy poppy flavorings mixed with some danceable beats. It also feels like some early shoegaze in Girl VII.
I also thought this was quite fun
too many skits.
Wonderfully summery, trippy and dancey like any good british downtempo album from the 90s should be, I think it has both the right variety of sounds of the era to sound interesting while also just being pretty consistent. It's just my kinda thing and I can see myself coming back to it for this kind of relaxed summery vibe. Definetely a new favorite
Set up house nicely
Didn't love it, didn't hate it. Don't get why this is among the 1001 best album though
Fine for one spin. No need to ever come back.
Dig this one. Cool vibe, pretty listenable, nothing offends. Not gonna blow your socks off, not gonna piss you off. I'd spin.
Too "dreamy" and ambient with a 60's feel. Not for me.
very cool atmosphere and genre mix here!!!!! 7 (solid so idec if I lean up or down)
No me ha gustado mucho. Se nota el estilo del dance y ambient de los 90, por momentos parecido al Play de Moby pero sin acercarse a la calidad de este. Tengo entendido que forma parte del movimiento DIY por lo que si es una producción amateur y casera puede aumentar su merito. Aun así se hace largo y algo monótono.
Pleasant listen. Kind of like a soft Portishead at times. Only Love was fantastic. Carnt Sleep, Girl VII, Nothing Can Stop Us too. Definitely would return to, low 4*
It's ok, I'd happily have this on in the background and it's a relaxing album. I suppose this is one of the first post-club chillout albums and it's alright. Only Love Can Break Your Heart and Nothing Cam Stop Us stand out. Maybe if I'd heard the whole album years ago I would have grown to love it but I don't think it's one I will be coming back to soon.
Very much of the same cloth as a Screamadelica. I enjoyed this. It has a good flow to it. Solid music to listen to while working and cleaning. Favorites were Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Nothing Can Stop Us, and Girl VII.
Maybe you had to be there to appreciate it but this album was a million watts bright light in the dark tunnel that was early 90s pop music. Brought out my inner mod, which had been in remission since Paul Weller bleached his hair a few years before. The tinny drum machines sounded dated even then and some of the tunes are a little boring/irritating but coming out of the gate with a radical reimagining of a Neil Young deep track was a clarion call for sanity in a sea of acid house, gangsta rap and grunge. I am so grateful I bought subsequent albums of theirs, and liked them, too! Thanks, guys.
I'm not sure I've ever heard of or listened to Saint Etienne before, so it's nice to get a new-to-me album and sound, and thankfully they've largely followed through on the promise of an interesting album. And in many ways, even though they're *not* part of the whole Madchester scene, I feel like Saint Etienne delivered on fun/bouncy/interesting dance music much better than most of the Manchester bands of the same time. I particularly enjoyed their creative cover of Neil Young's "Only love can break your heart", "She's the one" and their semi-big hit "Nothing can stop us" (semi-big in the sense that I might have heard that single before--I'm not sure), but I also enjoyed it that there were few duds in the album too, aside from the mood-killer of "Like the swallow" (although there's also nothing particularly exciting either on the album, I'll admit).
The dialogue from "House of Games" (great movie!) redeems this album a little, but as a whole it's a meandering not-unpleasant trip. I found tracks 10-13 the best of the bunch.
I liked this more than I thought I would. I thought some of the samples especially were fun. A high 3.5
Fine as background music, but nothing too exciting.
"Only love can break your heart" is nice, the rest doesn't interest me.
Fun and creative album
spirited rhythmic fun
Another European trip-hop-esque 90s electronic/dance/club album of MANY on this list. I gotta say, this is my favorite sub-genre I’ve discovered through this list. A wonderful mix of all kinds of musical elements creatively mashed together for a trippy and rhythmic ride. Aka the type of music that would hit different if you smoke some weed first
Bof. Pas mauvais mais ca me remue pas
Enjoyed some songs more than others, quite liked Stoned to Say the Least and Nothing Can Stop Us.
This is kind of interesting but I'm not impressed so far. It's very low key on some songs and I find they kinda blend together. Only Love Can Break Your Heart is pretty good, but so far it's the only standout track. After listening the whole way through, my outlook hasn't much changed. It's not bad, it just doesn't make me feel much of anything.
I enjoyed this album listen! I always enjoy listening to new artists so this was a fun new album to listen to. I liked how they used sampling and a blend of genres together to create a catchy sound and beat within their songs. This music would be so much fun to dance to! I see myself listening to this album and more from St. Etienne in the future!
Great vibe! Precursor to the avalanches. Got that same nostalgia mixed with contemporary beat music. Only heard the fantastic ”only love…” before.
Knew only love can break your heart. That's been played a lot and I guess stood the test of time.... But it was probably successful because of the Neil Young hook. The rest of it isn't bad, but it's definitely nothing special either... Not sure it's list worthy really. I liked the kinda dubby bass on some tracks. 2.5⭐️
haven't heard of it, don't care, will never listen again no way this is top 1001 ever i didn't necessarily dislike it but like what
Like the Classic HipHop vibes. Bit too slow and abstract for my taste. Repetitive vocal samples 👎. Solid sound though and cohesive vibe
Not bad.
Not bad but they have done better.
There's some interesting samples here and there, but nothing stood out to me. I wasn't even aware that my music player had auto shuffled over to another artist. So meh.
90's vibes for chilling and studying to.
Reminds me of Primal Scream/Fatboy Slim sunshine 90's electronic/funky pop stuff.
Some nice grooves but kinda meh otherwise.
HOUSE 😝
meh
Kan fungere som lav bakgrunnsstøy på en sommerjobb, men jævla irriterende å faktisk høre på!
I’m actually not sure how I feel about this album. Parts were good, parts dragged on. Overall decent I guess, but maybe better background music than anything else
know it like it
The combination of dance music and whimsy is under explored so it’s nice to hear it on Fox Base Alpha. They clearly like a 60s reference or two and at the same time they love the club music which is swirling around them in 1991. This kind of unusual combination of influences needs some confidence to pull it off and Saint Etienne clearly believe in what they’re doing. As a result this album manages to be odd, experimental, approachable, fascinating and endearing all at the same time. A major achievement.
This would have been background music at Abercrombie or another trendy store in the 90's. There are some beautiful parts that made me feel like I was floating in a super calm sea or the ocean. I have a difficult time connecting to music without lyrics. Maybe if I had the opportunity to sit in a field somewhere and just appreciate every note in the songs without life getting in the way I could appreciate it more, but sadly I am just not there with this type of music. She had a nice voice, the piano was pretty, and it was all connected to itself but just not my thing.
No thanks. Didn't especially care for this.
The older I get, the less I vibe with the chaotic energy of rock music. I just want to chill now. Downtempo house is where my soul thrives at this moment in time. I love the deep bass grooves that I can feel shaking my bones, the chill vocal delivery, the images in my head of the colorful nighttime, the stoned blissfulness of it all. While this album is not perfect as the spoken word parts aren’t necessary, some of the songs are: Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Spring, Stoned To Say The Least, Nothing Can Stop Us, London Belongs To Me, and Kiss and Make Up.
I really liked this! It grooves so smoothly. Loved the variety of songs and sounds too...some dancy, some chill, some in between, and all very ethereal feeling. Fave track was Stoned to Say the Least, and Only Love Can Break Your Heart was a close second. She needs to lose that dude though!
this is radio etienne- 5 only love can break your heart- 6 wilson- 5 carnt sleep- 5 girl vii- 5 spring- 6 shes the one- 5 people get real- 5 stoned to say the least- 7 nothing can stop us- 5 etienne gonna die- 5 london belongs to me- 5 kiss and make up- 5 or 6 like the swallow- 5 dilworths theme- 5
Not a style of music I enjoy
This album sounds like early 90s house music you would hear in a clothes store. I don’t understand why it is held to such high regard. It’s fine but why? Also the one track totally rips off Madonna’s vogue which came out the previous year. Overall not my kind of music to listen to, but it’s fine as background music.
Could be fun for a retro party, but otherwise it's more of a background thing for me.
Literally had no idea what to expect. Love the samples and vocalist adds a great touch to some of these beats. I like that they incorporated instrumental tracks. This definitely gives 90s/early 2000s pop, these songs make me feel like I’m in a game or a movie. Very vibey. Songs I liked: This Is Radio Etienne, Wilson, Girl VII, Spring, She’s the One, Stoned to Say the Least
Love this. It’s not my favourite St Etienne album, that’s ‘So Tough’, but I really enjoyed it. A playful blend of samples, 60s style and infectious pop hooks, this manages that delicate balancing act of coolness/self awareness with heart on sleeve fun. I’m particularly fond of Nothing Can Stop Us Now.
I really the band TV Girl, and I feel like they wouldn’t exist without this album. That doesn’t mean I like this album though.
Surprisingly effective pairing of acid house rhythms and indie pop sensibility for a chilled out bit of emo dance music. Warm and bright and optimistic feeling.
Another obscure British album that is just meh
Favs *Carnt Sleep *Only love can break your heart *Spring
Stand-out tracks: - People Get Real - Stoned to Say the Least - Nothing Can Stop Us
Shitty electro-indie? They do a cover of Neil Young's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" that isn't horrible...the rest of the album is forgettable at best...another useless pick by Robert Dimnery for essential albums... Big surprise....they're British....it's surprising how different musical tastes are on both sides of the pond. That is something I've definately learned through this generator. All this Britpop/electro horseshit....I just....don't care ....it doesn't translate over here. Nothing Can Stop Us is the original version of Kylie Minogue's hit. This version sucks as much as Kylie's. Favorite songs: Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Spring Least favorite songs: This is Radio Etienne, Etienne Gonna Die, Dilworth's Theme (fuck skits), Girl VII, Like the Swallow 1/5
Pretty chill, it reminded me of music you hear at a hotel poolside bar during the day
drei plus Only love can break your heart
Prima voor in de ochtend. Hippe koffietent muziek. De gesproken delen zijn wat vaag, maar al met al geen slecht album.
Bijzondere mix van leuke energieke nummers tot rare psychedelische muziek.
Not bad, interesting Neil Yoong cover
Nice relaxing ambient jazzy stuff
Honestly, wasn’t a huge fan of this album, there was one or two tracks I could stand, but I found myself skipping getting a few minutes into some of the tracks. The very last song I enjoyed and looked back at my phone to see what it was, only to see it was half of a different album. I think it’s maybe a little bit too much of a first album, trying to find their sound, and they sound like a band who really came into their own a few years later. Unfortunately, giving this one a one, I don’t think I wanna hear it again.
No idea how this one snuck onto this list. Really nothing special about it at all. 4/10.
It’s OK. Not exceptional, but not bad. Too long. Three stars.
Nothing excited me about this album. It's like melancholy electronic music that your friend who thinks they're really edgy and into really unknown artists would listen to, all while swearing that you don't understand the significance of it. It's not bad. It's just not doing anything for me. A lot of the bass is cool. I just wish the highs were higher and the lows were lower. Very middle of the road, in my eyes.
I don't like chill music. This album is too laid back and repetitive for me. Not bad, but feels just like background music and is not particularly engaging. 5/10
O album é muito bom. Mistura de indie com pop. Primeiro album que ouço diferente de tudo.
the spotify about says stylish, and I would agree. fun at times but could have used more substance. maybe seeing the album cover of a protest sign gave me false hope
some pleasant moments, but oddly dated
Sounds very much of its day. Didn't really grab me.
This was an enjoyable, kind of lo fi trip hop, electro pop fusion thing. I have heard a few of these songs at some point in my life and were always good background tracks. This album is pretty much just that, background music. I forgot I was listening to it at a couple points. Even though I enjoyed this album and will definitely listen to it again to get some good focus time going, it does not belong on this list. It wasn’t revelatory in any fashion. This record is over 30 years old and hearing it didn’t make me think, how has this escaped my attention for 3 decades. 6.8/10 #56/1001
I know the name, I've tried a few songs over the years, but I had NO idea they'd been doing this since I was in college. Flying undercover! Sunny, fun, bland music with no soul, that's how I'd sum this album up. Background music. I definitely could have gone my lifetime without having heard this. There's no way this was influential, it has no hits, it has a couple songs with respectable listen counts (cover of "Only Love...", "Nothing Can Stop Us" & "Spring") which are all average at best & no one remembers them. I was hoping for a shiny penny on the ground, I didn't find it, not impressed with this one. 2 stars, maybe.
Not my cup of tea
Pretty fun record. Their new stuff is great too.
I thought there were some interesting stuff on this album. I’m not sure that there’s anything extraordinary though that would make me included on this list. Maybe it just has an age so well.
1991 no fue un año cualquiera, fue el de Screamadelica y Blue Lines. Este debut de los adorables Saint Etienne comienza, después del preludio de This is radio saint Etienne, no con Sarah Cracknell sino con Moira Lambert y la versión del Only Love Can Brake Your Heart de Neil Young que nos conquistó a todos. Tampoco canta en el segundo sencillo del álbum, Kiss and make up, sino Donna Savage. Es un temazo. Su estilo, pop, sin más, ya fuera orientado a la pista de baile, con toques sixties, easy listening, house (sin ir más lejos: He's on the phone, tampoco de este disco), electrónica, indie o lo que quisieran. Siempre con su sello de calidad y el del Heavenly (también pasaron por Creation, hasta su cierre). ¿Entre Massive Attack y Kilye Minogue? Puede ser. Carnt Street o Like the swallow suenan a esto y seguro que allanaron el camino a Portishead. People get real, suena a pop ochentero (ecos de New Order, y aún más en Stoned to say the least) pero como el resto del disco, sigue funcionando hoy en día. Girl VII recoge lo mejor de los Pet Shop Boys, que también cantaron a alguna estación de metro... Y de paso, una versión del La,la,la no incluida aquí. Su mejor disco? este o el posterior So tough. A destacar la faceta escritora de Bob Stanley y su indispensable Yeah yeah yeah! Otros discos del 91: My Bloody Valentine- Loveless, Pixies- Trompe le monde, Massive Attack- Blue lines, Spiderland- Slint, Nirvana- Nevermind, Pearl Jam- Ten, Primal Scream- Screamadelica, U2- Achtung baby, REM- Out of time, Red Hot Chily Peppers- Blood sugar baby..., Metallica- Metallica, Teenage Fanclub- Bandwagonesque, Dinosaur Jr.- Green Mind, Soundgarden- Badmotorfinger, Mathew Sweet- Girlfriend, Sepultura- Arise, PM Dawn- Of the heart, of the soul..., A Tribe Called Quest- The low end theory, Talk Talk- The laughing stock, Mercury Rev- Yerself is steam, Lenny Kravitz- Mama said, Uncle Tupelo- Still feel gone, Chapterhouse- Whirlpool, The Farm-Spartacus, De La Soul- De la soul is dead, Ice T- OG, The Wedding Present- Seamonsters, 3rd bass- Derelicts of Dialect, Electronic- Electronic, Slowdive- Just for a day, Van Morrison-Hymns to the Silence, Neil Young and Crazy Horse- Weld, Superchunk- No pocky for kitty, Blur-Leisure, Orbital- Orbital, The Magnetic Fields-Distant Plastic Trees, Babes in toyland- To mother, Jesus Jones- Doubt, Spacemen 3-Recurring, The Filed Mice- For Keeps, Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine- 30 Something... También: Prince- Diamonds and pearls, Crowded House- Woodface, Guns and Roses- Use your illusion, Michael Jackson- Dangerous, Queen- Innuendo, Roxette- Joyride, The Silencers-Dance to the Holy Man, Spin Doctors- Pocket Full of Kryptonite, Enya- Sepherd Moons...
Another one I didn’t need to hear.
Laulajan äänestä tykkäsin. Mutta kokonaisuutena levy jäi kyllä vähän tylsäksi.
Jykevät bassolinjat, pehmeän lempeä naisääni ja rytmikäs sointi... Mitäs tässä nyt oltiinkaan tekemässä?
Tässähän oli muutama hyvä laulu. Muutama ei niin hyvä
Ihan mukavaa taustamaalailua!
first listen kinda boring tbh
p668. 1991. 2 stars. Tedious, repetitive 90s Brit electro pop. It speaks volumes that the best track on this is a cover of a Neil Young song. Not essential listening.
Used to love St Etienne - and still have soft spot for them - although was never that big fan of this album - preferring So Tough and Tiger Bay as peak St Etienne. Had massive crush on Sarah Cracknell for long time. Should really give this a 3 as whilst it has some great moments ( Only Love can break your heart) its a bit weak and light weight in others. But am rounding up to a 4 for nostalgia.
Foxbase Alpha In the end I had to listen to this on YT, as Tidal doesn’t have all the tracks available, so it’s slightly difficult to rate as the listening experience is a bit fragmented, and occasionally, such is the nature of some of their music I wasn’t sure if it was one of their songs or a Vrbo advert. I know their version of Only Love Can Break Your Heart, and I’ve always liked it, the dreamy electronic feel works well with the plaintive nature of the song, but I didn’t realise until today that it’s not Sarah Cracknell singing. I really like Stoned To Say The Least, with its Richard Whitely sample and excellent, propulsive, nagging bass line as the song unfolds over a leisurely and excellent 7 minutes. Kiss and Make Up is great too, the 60s guitar and string arrangement with the dancey bass and drums is great. London Belongs to Me is another great, dreamy track, the harpsichord/keyboard part giving it a nice texture. I didn’t listen to the US version of the album, although I did listen to Kiss and Make Up from it, which was released as a single, and that is another great track. I do like their dreamy, spacey, slightly dubby, trip-hoppy, 60s lounge electronica, and I quite like the proto David Holmes, pre mid 90s use of movie and tv dialogue samples It does have a nice atmosphere that washes over you very pleasantly, although some of the bass and drum sounds do feel a little too early 90s, and while that washing over-ness is one of it’s strengths I think it does also slightly let it down, some of the tracks are a bit fillery and that does colour it with a slightly anodyne sheen. Overall though, despite the YT interruptions, it’s a very nice album, great for working to. I’ll go for a high 3 🦊 🦊 🦊 Playlist submission: Stoned To Say The Least
Would you like some sweets willy? I have never understood the appeal of Saint Etienne. A stylized and non-coherent pastiche. Foxbase Alpha leans on sampling, spoken word, pastiche of 60s pop culture - and I like that concept a great deal. Yet its execution feels very weak, often done at the expense of emotional heft or songwriting strength. It's a band that were caught in a burgeoning music scene and got lucky - they'd never be signed in any other musical period. Guff.
It’s ok. Cannot fathom how it got on a greatest anything of anything list
I thought some Of the songs were catchy.
Yeah, it’s a no for me, dawg
If I was nice I would give a 2. But I’m not nice
Lame
Gave it a good ol try. Just wasn’t feelin’ it..
Lamr album. Felt really lazy to me. Completely uninspiring. Weird, out of context sound bites. The cover was probably the best song.
ta bien bailonguer
Pas mal dans le genre un peu techno
Nice enough 3/5
Highlights: Carnt Sleep, Girl VII, London Belongs to Me. In a nutshell: poppy trip hop. I like the 60s pop touches (especially in Spring) but I don't hear enough to set this album apart from other trip hop/alternative dance releases. Massive Attack released Blue Lines mere months before Foxbase Alpha. Sarah Cracknell's voice reminded me of Shara Nelson (who performed on Massive Attack's Safe From Harm), early Goldfrapp, maybe Isobel Campbell? Cool band name, the music is very hit and miss for me. Overall: 4/10
Heerlijke auto muziek, luistert lekker weg en vraagt niet te veel van de luisteraar. Ik heb wel het gevoel dat als bepaalde nummers ietsje korter waren het een betere ervaring is, Alhoewel dat vaak een probleem van dit genre is
Nope, I just don't understand the hype around Saint Etienne. On paper, danceable indie with trip hop influences should be right up my alley, but nothing from Foxbase Alpha stuck with me. Bland record.
Infuriatingly boring record. Too bland to just listen to on its own. Too artsy to be suitable for any party. Foxbase Alpha has nothing to offer, but pretends that it's a full-course dinner. Saint Etienne is not nearly clever enough as a group to pull this off.
More electronic pop…meh. Two stars.
Stereolab lite. I could vibe to it a little but only select songs.
Good background music
I wanted to like it but just never could really get into it. But it wasn't bad either. Kind of middle of the road meh vibes.
Long interludes don't belong in house music. Otherwise, very nice.
I spent a fair bit of this album wondering if I actually liked trip hop or not. Which, y'know, I like my fair share of songs from the genre (at least one from Massive Attack, and any Gorillaz have done in that lane), but I couldn't help but wonder throughout the album if those elements were what was dragging the whole thing down for me. Off the bat, I'll grant them that I've heard **far** worse from this genre. It clears MAXINQUAYE, certainly. And, hell, I wouldn't even go so far as to say it's bad. There's a pulse in a lot of these beats that keeps from completely disliking them. And yet... I'unno, you'll get a good, groovy, danceable beat on a song, and the vocals will come in maybe just a bit too light and airy and it'll suck a bit of energy from the track? Take "Girl VII" as an example. When it hopped on that Madonna "Vogue" flow for the second verse of the song, things really picked up and I was getting into it. But then the slower trip hop vocals came back... And you've got a good voice, Sarah, you really do. You really work on stuff like "London Belongs To Me" and "Nothing Can Stop Us". It's just when this album dips into trip hop and dub... Blurrgh, I don't know. It's just not great. And I'm not a fan of the repetition within some of these songs, either. Like, "Wilson" is an interlude barely under two minutes, but I don't think I needed to hear "WOULD YOU LIKE SOME SWEETS, WILLY?" that many times. Or you got something like "Stoned To Say The Least", which, like, gawd, whose idea was it that it needed to be nearly eight minutes? It just gets me thinking about acts like Daft Punk and songs like "Around The World". People can rag on it for repetition, but, y'know, you gotta understand, that's the foundation of music, and dance music particularly. On a song like "Around The World", too, it evolves over time, and morphs into all of these different permutations. It's not the same-ass thing for seven minutes, which is how "Stoned To Say The Least" comes across. I got similar-ish complaints to lob at "Like The Swallow", too, by the way. When the lyrics kick in and the song actually gets started it's good, but I don't know why it needed **three-and-a-half minutes** of atmospheric build-up. And then the outro's nice when it gets to the acoustic guitar, but the, like, nearly two minutes of drumloop and more atmospheric synths before that? You coulda cut that down some, honestly. Like, I'unno, this thing has parts I like. Once more, I'll shout out "London Belongs To Me" and "Nothing Can Stop Us"; they're really the best song here, if you ask me. But the rest is like... I can do without it. Just goes a bit too nowhere for my tastes. And besides, I gotta knock points off of any album that makes me wonder what the point of a genre is. Like, what did it look like when people played trip hop in the club? How did people dance to that? Did they at all? Honestly now...
Pretty good early 90's dance and trip hop tracks; not much else to say here. 4.5 bumped down to 4.
I’m at a 3.5 that I’ll bump down to a 3. It’s a nice enough 3, though. Honestly, my closest comparison is “Maxinquaye if it had a personality”, which feels pretty apt. Unlike Maxinquaye, I really did enjoy a good chunk of this. The trip-hop beats infused with pop sensibilities work really well at certain points on this album, and out of the 15 tracks here, I’d say that about 8 of them clicked with me at a higher level, and most of the other 7 still sounded pretty good regardless. There’s not a boring track here, just boring moments within each track that slowly build up over the course of the album experience that drags this down immensely. I feel like anything more I have to say would be negative (i.e., pointing out all of those boring moments to justify my giving it a 3), but really, the positives of this album are best heard by listening to it. Realistically, all of my negatives are only there if you’re *really* paying attention to the music while listening to it, because it’s very very easy to get lost in the soundscape of a lot of these tracks and never even notice the repetition. It does sneak through during some extended instrumental sections, where the vocals go away and sort of minimize the soundscape, but those moments aren’t *super* prevalent in the album. They’re still there though, and they happen often enough that at best, I think this album has a ceiling of a 4. All that said, I think it’s a genuinely enjoyable 58 minutes. It’s a long one, but it was at least interesting enough to keep me engaged. Mileage may vary, so I can understand people giving this a 1 or a 2, but for my ears, I just had a nice time listening to it. It’s not super special, and I can’t necessarily say it deserves to be one of the 1001 albums to listen to before one dies… but I liked it regardless. A solid, solid 3.5 that goes down to a 3.
I very much enjoyed this science experiment of an album. Sixies folksie vibes with house and synthpop tonalities. At times this sounds like a vampire weekend album too which is hella cool.
Decent pop record with 90s trip hop influence
Chill and enjoyable
It was meh. Some stuff reminded me of Madonna at her least exciting. Didn't offend me, but didn't surprise or excite me either. DNF
Groupe complètement inconnu. Que j'ai immédiatement détesté, entre l'intro sans intérêt, la reprise terriblement monotone et répétitive, et le pompon 'Wilson' avec les mêmes phrases qui se répètent pendant 2 minutes. A ce stade la note envisagée est 1/5. J'ai continué, le début de 'Carnt Sleep' et ses passages instrumentaux au piano étant plus réussis. Et j'ai aussi apprécié l'ambiance de 'Like the Swallow'. Le reste n'est malheureusement pas au même niveau, mais ces 2 morceaux le sauvent de la note minimale. =>2/5
Good
It’s not terrible terrible. It’s just so.. beige. Like it wanted to flirt with house, pop, lounge, and trip-hop all at once but couldn’t commit. The vocals are fine, production clean, but no groove? Where’s the tension? Felt more like background music for a slow-loading webpage. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions: - Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Nothing Can Stop Us
Their cover of Neil Young is a satisfying and exciting take on that classic, while their sampling verges on MF Doomian peculiarity and creativity. The sweetness of the 60s - not The Beatles but Petula Clark, Lulu, The Crystals ('He hit me / and it felt like a kiss') - gets a house makeover that culminates on tracks like 'Girl VII,' 'Spring,' 'People Get Real,' 'Nothing Can Stop Us Now,' 'London Belongs to Me.' More coherent than The Cocteau Twins and more persuasive than Portishead, Saint Etienne is an imperfect act w/ a whole lot of heart and a talented cast that has engendered enduring songs. A bit long for what it is, no matter, it gives me a pleasure I don't often know where to go to possess. And if you didn't know, 'Carrie's got a boyfriend.'
I read the description for this album which gave me such a sense of hope for my listening experience. That was a mistake, I should know by now that it is often the album I don’t expect anything of which end up surprising me the most. There were a pleasant few times where Foxbase Alpha lived up to the hopes I had for it, but what came between those moments left me wanting more. There’s also an interesting dichotomy going on with this project. Is it impressive and well-produced for its time? Yes. Did I find it largely toothless and safe? Also yes. The opening tracks sampling technique had me hoping for some four-on-the-floor beats and colorful loops to come, but it wasn’t until “Spring” that I really settled into enjoying this album for what it is. Then it once again took me a while to be pleased with anything I was hearing. “Like The Swallow” toward the end of the track listing is by far the best song on here, it actually commits itself to a unique song idea that takes its proper time to develop. Some much needed variety! I’m a bit sad this one didn’t pack as much punch as I’d hoped for. It’s not bad, but it’s not crazy. It’s the opposite of crazy. Not my cup of tea for electronic music, although it checks off some of those boxes to get close
some good vibes but generally booooring
Pretty interesting
It's a pleasant, enjoyable album. There were a couple of tracks I really liked and saved, but the majority of it makes for good background music. Highlights: "Spring", "Carnt sleep", "Kiss and make up", and the cover of "Only love can break your heart" 3 stars
All over the shop
sure
This is not good music much less a must hear album
A little weird at the end, but overall I really liked it
3.5
This largely passed my by without ever really being engaging. Fine I guess.
5/10
4/10 not really for me
Decent. Some better songs than others. Background music for a dinner party or slipping into a long deep edible nap.
Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Spring, Nothing Can Stop Us