Track Listing
1. Woodcabin
2. Sylvie
3. Split Screen
4. Mr Donut
5. Goodnight Jack
6. Lose That Girl
7. Bad Photographer, The
8. Been So Long
9. Postman
10. Erica America
11. Dutch TV
| Details | | Distributor: | Phantom Import Distributi | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Recording Mode: | Stereo | | SPAR Code: | n/a |
Album Notes
GOOD HUMOR contains a bonus CD that is limited to the first 10,000 copies.
Saint Etienne: Sarah Cracknell (vocals, percussion); Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs (keyboards, synthesizers).
Additional personnel: Jez Williams (guitar); Tore Johansson (harmonica, bass); Sven Andersson (saxophone); Petter Lidgard (trumpet); Jens Lindgard (trombone); Gerard Johnson (piano, keyboards, vibraphone); Mats Larsson (piano); Rasmus Kihlberg (drums); Debsey (background vocals).
1998, U.K. issue of the group's fourth studio release; includes "Lost That Girl" and "Sylvie."
St. Etienne's fourth album, GOOD HUMOR, abandons the dance elements of earlier releases to focus on the ultra-melodic Bacharach/Wilson/Beatles pop that has always been at the root of the band's music. The record sounds swoon-inducingly gorgeous. Leslied keyboards, vibes, and real strings and horns color Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs' arrangements. Sarah Cracknell's underrated voice, always the band's strongest feature, has matured into a fine instrument pitched somewhere between Dusty Springfield's soulful English Rose and Petula Clark's young sophisticate.
The achingly lovely "Erica America" is the immediate highlight, though the near-conversational "Mr. Donut" comes very close. The groovier "Sylvie" and "The Bad Postman" recall earlier club hits but with a lighter touch. All 11 songs, from "Woodcabin" to "Dutch TV," are frothy, melodic, and magnificent pop. GOOD HUMOR is one of the best albums of 1998. Original US copies included a bonus disc of singles and remixes.
Editorial Reviews
...While GOOD HUMOR lacks some of the bold juxtapostions of Saint Etienne's previous efforts, its unassuming sweetness is hard to resist. - Rating: B
Entertainment Weekly (09/11/1998)
3.5 Stars (out of 5) - ...their most relentless album yet, every bit as smashing as their 1995 singles collection....they go for a warmer, more acoustic sound, with piano, vibes and jazzy saxophone to decorate their bittersweet melodies...
Rolling Stone (10/01/1998)
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