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.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mario's CafeBob Stanley, Pete Wiggs | Saint Etienne | Play | 04:37 | 10 MB | 0 MB |
| 2 | Railway JamBob Stanley, Pete Wiggs | Saint Etienne | Play | 04:14 | 9 MB | 0 MB |
| 3 | Date With SpelmanBob Stanley, Pete Wiggs | Saint Etienne | Play | 00:18 | 0 MB | 0 MB |
| 4 | CalicoErroll Mais, Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs | Saint Etienne | Play | 05:12 | 11 MB | 0 MB |
| 5 | AvenueIan Catt, Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs | Saint Etienne | Play | 07:34 | 17 MB | 0 MB |
| 6 | You're in a Bad WaySarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs | Saint Etienne | Play | 03:07 | 7 MB | 0 MB |
| 7 | Memo to PriceyBob Stanley, Pete Wiggs | Saint Etienne | Play | 00:22 | 0 MB | 0 MB |
| 8 | Hobart PavingBob Stanley, Pete Wiggs | Saint Etienne | Play | 04:57 | 11 MB | 0 MB |
| 9 | LeafhoundBob Stanley, Pete Wiggs | Saint Etienne | Play | 04:11 | 9 MB | 0 MB |
| 10 | Clock MilkBob Stanley, Pete Wiggs | Saint Etienne | Play | 00:14 | 0 MB | 0 MB |
| 11 | Conchita MartinezBob Stanley, Pete Wiggs | Saint Etienne | Play | 03:59 | 9 MB | 0 MB |
| 12 | No Rainbows for MeBob Stanley, Pete Wiggs | Saint Etienne | Play | 03:58 | 9 MB | 0 MB |
| 13 | Here Come Clown FeetBob Stanley, Pete Wiggs | Saint Etienne | Play | 00:25 | 0 MB | 0 MB |
| 14 | Junk the MorgueBob Stanley, Pete Wiggs | Saint Etienne | Play | 05:12 | 11 MB | 0 MB |
| 15 | Chicken SoupBob Stanley, Pete Wiggs | Saint Etienne | Play | 00:18 | 0 MB | 0 MB |
| 16 | Join Our ClubBob Stanley, Pete Wiggs | Saint Etienne | Play | 03:22 | 7 MB | 0 MB |
| 52 mins | 119 MB | |||||
| 0 mins | 0 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ian Catt | Composer, Engineer, Guitar, Programming |
| 2 | Sarah Cracknell | Composer, Vocals |
| 3 | Ronald MacDonald | Flute |
| 4 | Erroll Mais | Composer |
| 5 | Q-Tee | Vocals |
| 6 | Cajun Queen | Bass |
| 7 | Saint Etienne | Primary Artist |
| 8 | Bob Stanley | Composer, Keyboards |
| 9 | Pete Wiggs | Composer, Moog Synthesizer, Sampling |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |