Saint Etienne

So Tough

  • MOG Editorial Review

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    Coming across like a cross-pollination of everything great in music at the time, So Tough found French act Saint Etienne hitting their stride in 1993. Featuring lush, electronic beats that evoked new wave and Balearic equally and hooks that would make Morrissey jealous, tracks like "Railway Jam" found them creating a distinct dream-pop sound that many of today's indie bands are still taking cues from. Songs like the trip-hop-leaning "Calico," however, showed that they were willing to add even more elements to their catch-all sound, one that without a doubt was more than the sum of its parts.
  • AMG Review of So Tough [Bonus Track]

    Amg
    Stephen Thomas Erlewine
    All Music Guide

    St. Etienne's second album, So Tough, is a remarkable step forward from Fox Base Alpha, boasting a stronger set of songs and a sharper focus. Not only are the pop melodies catchier than before, the group's mastery of swinging '60s arrangements and Eurodisco rhythms is positively infectious, and Sarah Cracknell's light, airy vocals are alluringly dreamy, giving the record a wonderful, floating quality. The cool club beats, occasional samples, and synthesized textures provide an inviting sonic backdrop for Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs' infectious pop songs, and while the singles "You're in a Bad Way" and "Hobart Paving" stand out, there are several other tracks here that are nearly as good, making So Tough an irresistible set of danceable, well-constructed pop. [Another version of the album was released at the same time with "Who Do You Think You Are?" added as a bonus track]

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