Saint Etienne: International (and new single: Glad)

The initial sales positions were artificially high because of the missing Spotify data at the start of the week
 
Helps explain Toyah falling heavily then, but makes Saint Etienne holding on to top ten more impressive.
 
FetchFugly said:
I guess cutting the interludes for streaming does make sense but it does change the flow of the album a bit, as the interludes help to bind together what is Saint Etienne play the greatest hits.

I'm very into Save It For a Rainy Day this afternoon (both versions). I keep coming back to the bonus EP as well, especially Walk Away From Her and Things Break Down. I've changed my mind, I think Walk Away From Her at least would fit on the album in that final third - it sounds that bit more polished than the others. Also it is the only extra so far with a production credit for Tim Powell so maybe it was in the mix at one point.
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Yes, I’m enjoying the bonus CD too but it seems a bit of a kerfuffle to stick it on and remain near a CD player for four songs.

I’d swap in a couple of the tracks to the main album proper. If I had to drop a couple of the album tracks it would actually be the Nick Hayward and Confidence Man collabs.
 
I'm in the quite attached to everything stage, though the repeated hook is the weakest part of Why Are You Calling. The somewhat daggy charms of The Go Betweens won me over but it is still probably at the bottom of the pile.

Their Spotify numbers are obviously pretty slim but was interested to see that Sweet Melodies has the most streams of the album tracks
 
Finally got home and undid all my packages today but feeling grim, I haven’t yet played it. That’s unheard of. I shall go in tomorrow I hope.
 
Thought this was a Saturday so got a little excited.

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Parcel from St Et arrived this evening. Twelve inch present and correct but no sign of the CD single. Slightly concerned... are they going to need to have a hopeful dig down the back of the sofa for me :(
 
A little over seven minutes of music over two sides of the 12 inch... those grooves RUN WIDE

They really could have knocked up an extended Brand New Me or just stuck the original 7 Ways on there. Love the card sheet though.
 
Sandbag apparently have people working Sunday evening and I have been advised a CD single will be sent to be VERY SOON
 
Timely bump as I finally played this two days ago and a few times since.

I love it, naturally, and I’m glad I waited til my headspace was right for it. It’s basically a grab bag tribute to all of their previous eras, which is very much the point, I guess. I’m so glad they’re going out on an absolute high, but it’s going to give me a difficult relationship with this album, I think. It’s wrapped up in so much sadness around finally saying goodbye to a band who have been so important to me for so long.
 
I'm glad you are enjoying the album, for a grand finale they really nailed it. I think it can't help but feel a bit frustrating that they have given us classic pop Et for the first time in a long while and now that is going to be it (well itish).
 
FetchFugly said:
I'm glad you are enjoying the album, for a grand finale they really nailed it. I think it can't help but feel a bit frustrating that they have given us classic pop Et for the first time in a long while and now that is going to be it (well itish).
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Indeed, that sums it up better than I ever managed.

I’m going to go in on all the bonus tracks etc this week. I’m staggering things!
 
Brand New Me is fast becoming one of my songs of the year. Such a delightful throwback to classic Et.
 
More b-side treats on Brand New Me.

A Chance To Breathe is lovely and probably the most polished (but definitely still not an album track). Carbon Fibre would fit right in with the tracks on the Rough Trade EP and She Needs Love a fragile, stripped back number.
 
Having just seen their latest Insta post I need an expert to tell me if I need ‘The Character Of Saint Etienne’ in my life.

Farewell tour next September, interested to see where they’ll play, it’s a definite must attend for me.

 
So they are saying it is their final UK tour... the previous impression I got was much more open in terms of non-album activities.

I would recommend The Character... Very good odds and ends compilation. Worth it for Broken Bricks alone!
 
The Character of Saint Etienne is great, as most of their fan club releases are.

Annoyed they've suddenly decided to bring CDs back though. I'm QUITE happy without them. I still haven't gotten around to playing all the extra material on the CDs from this album.
 
FetchFugly said:
So they are saying it is their final UK tour... the previous impression I got was much more open in terms of non-album activities.

I would recommend The Character... Very good odds and ends compilation. Worth it for Broken Bricks alone!
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Final tour...doesn't say final shows!
 
I imagine they'll still do some festival stuff and, hopefully, BRING BACK THE CHRISTMAS PARTIES!
 
Always hedging their bets.

I love the CD extras we've got, some wonderful tracks and it has made it feel like a proper old campaign. I guess they could have bunged them on one CD/LP but they have retirement coffers to fill.
 
Oh put me down for a bundle then.

Never having seen them live I am definitely WILLING to travel for this tour if there’s nothing convenient. I assume it will have to be a fabulous singles party.
 
FetchFugly said:
Always hedging their bets.

I love the CD extras we've got, some wonderful tracks and it has made it feel like a proper old campaign. I guess they could have bunged them on one CD/LP but they have retirement coffers to fill.
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I was hoping there would be a Christmas release rounding them all up on vinyl.

I still don’t get not bunging them on streaming once the initial furore has died down.
 
I will see what form the tour takes but I fully intend to travel round doing the lot like I did in the old days, presuming it’s not a crazy long schedule. And obviously dependent on where/ if they go abroad.

I do have a prior engagement in September 2026 already, but I’m willing to forget the Ultimate World Athletics Championships for this.
 
That wasn’t too bad (apart from when the product page I was refreshing literally disappeared). P&P is always a shocker though. £6!?
 
jyxz said:
That wasn’t too bad (apart from when the product page I was refreshing literally disappeared). P&P is always a shocker though. £6!?
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I will say this time and again as it really does get on my breasts as a seller myself.

It’s actually entirely valid. Postage itself will be around £3 tracked (which they send everything as). PayPal or whatever platform they use for the financials will take around 7-10% of the total amount, so let’s be generous and say 60p. The same for the actual platform they use to flog, so again, 60p. The cost for the mailer (presumably cardboard) will be about 50p (more for records), the ink and paper for labels etc minimal, but let’s say 10p a copy.

That leaves £1.20 per copy to:

Pay for the time for the person actually packing
Take the time to go the post office to send
Petrol etc to go to said post office

Etc etc.

It really isn’t just a £3 mark up on postage and it’s different to an independent seller who is sending 1/2 items at a time. I wish they’d just include it in the cost- it would be far easier and no one would bat an eyelid at £15.99 for the album and £6 for the single.
 
I forgot until just now, also had a mild panic when I refreshed the page and the item vanished, but went back in and got the CD single.

Postage for the Glad CD was £4.29.
 
If anyone lives near a Rough Trade tomorrow, there’s a limited (about 10 copies in each shop) run of signed test pressings hitting stores at opening apparently, limited to one per customer.

Darling @lolly will take a look in Bristol if he gets chance but if anyone isn’t bothered and could grab one, I’d gratefully appreciate it. Collector’s nightmare.
 
Not going to lie, had totally forgotten :D

Unfortunately I don't think I'm going to be able to get there for when they open.
 
It will be interesting to see how they manage their catalogue from now. I feel like the sensible thing would be to make 2026 a celebration - new singles collection, repress stuff like "Boxette", do a similar set for film soundtracks, get all the Xmas stuff together. But I feel like we're all braced for "Foxbase Omega" - full re-recording with new vocals by Lulu and Chris Eubank, edition of 15 and you have to win an actual fist fight to be able to buy a copy.
 
lolly said:
Not going to lie, had totally forgotten :D

Unfortunately I don't think I'm going to be able to get there for when they open.
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Like I said, don’t worry, just if you’re in the area…I’ve resigned myself to not getting it really.
 
octophone said:
It will be interesting to see how they manage their catalogue from now. I feel like the sensible thing would be to make 2026 a celebration - new singles collection, repress stuff like "Boxette", do a similar set for film soundtracks, get all the Xmas stuff together. But I feel like we're all braced for "Foxbase Omega" - full re-recording with new vocals by Lulu and Chris Eubank, edition of 15 and you have to win an actual fist fight to be able to buy a copy.
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The issue with just repressing stuff is they have publicly said before how they feel uncomfortable having fans fork out eBay prices, only to put things back out again. That’s why Boxette came out in the first place- borne out of the idea of not just reissuing those early fan club CDs in their original format.

As for the Christmas stuff being all together, they’ve already done that- a few years back on A Glimpse of Stocking.
 
Their manager said there was talk of ANOTHER Greatest Hits a little while ago, and that would make sense at the end of this little run, so don’t be surprised for that.
 
I am fully expecting a GH, after a flurry of comps it has been a while now to be fair.

Vince Clarke said he did another song with them. I think the implication was that he was expecting it to be released at some point.

They mentioned an International remix album as well on one of the podcast interviews too.
 
Re: Vince Clarke, Martin said this week on FB that the song is done but “still needs some work” and will probably come out as a standalone release.

Made me wonder if they’re holding it back for said inevitable GH.
 
No Rough Trades over here I’m afraid Shee luv otherwise I’d have tried to find a way to bag 2 test pressings.

Missed out on a bundle due to work overrunning but got a Character CD which was the MAIN goal.
 
Sheena said:
The issue with just repressing stuff is they have publicly said before how they feel uncomfortable having fans fork out eBay prices, only to put things back out again. That’s why Boxette came out in the first place- borne out of the idea of not just reissuing those early fan club CDs in their original format.

As for the Christmas stuff being all together, they’ve already done that- a few years back on A Glimpse of Stocking.
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*slaps forehead* So they did. Missed it, forgot.

I do also take the point re: Boxette etc - it's very difficult to keep a large catalogue in some level of availability without landing yourself with a stock mountain or feeling as if you're double dipping and making life harder for your fans than it needs to be. Most labels don't give a monkeys about such matters so bless 'em for caring.
 
Sheena said:
If anyone lives near a Rough Trade tomorrow, there’s a limited (about 10 copies in each shop) run of signed test pressings hitting stores at opening apparently, limited to one per customer.

Darling @lolly will take a look in Bristol if he gets chance but if anyone isn’t bothered and could grab one, I’d gratefully appreciate it. Collector’s nightmare.
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:angel:
 
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