So Tough

Although associated with Britpop, London trio Saint Etienne operated at a bookish, continental remove from their peers. Their second album is no different: Named after a Beach Boys album and structurally indebted to The Who, it samples from classic films and contrasts the rapidly changing Britain of the \'50s with their \'90s heyday. Despite this rich text, *So Tough* couldn’t have a lighter touch, flickering dreamily from Euro disco (“Conchita Martinez”) to chanson (“You’re in a Bad Way”), exotica ( “Calico”) to minimal techno (“Junk the Morgue”).

The expanded 2xCD reissues of the St. Etienne catalogue continue with 1993's terrific So Tough and 2000's Sound of Water.

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.

Review: Originally released in 1993, Saint Etienne’s sophomore album So Tough features refined electo-pop accented with a splash of kitsch. 16 years later, So Tough’s reissue proves that wine isn’t the only thing that ages well.