"So Tough" is the second studio album by British band Saint Etienne. It was released on 9th March 1993 through Heavenly Recordings. The album peaks at number seven on the UK Albums Chart and is their highest-charting album to date. It also earns a Gold certification from the BPI for selling over 100,000 copies in the UK. This album combines a variety of musical genres including indie pop, house, and dance music with sample-heavy production and lyrics discussing the highs and lows of romantic relationships.
The band members Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, and Pete Wiggs are the main performers with Ian Catt as producer. This album is also notable for its exploration of distinctly British themes, with inter-song sound collages and samples from UK films and TV shows, creating a nostalgic mood. One of the singles from the album, "You're in a Bad Way", reached No.12 in the UK Singles Chart.
"So Tough" is the longest album by Saint Etienne but it isn’t so consciously a concept album as some of their other works. It includes an instrumental called "St Etienne Symphony" which consists of elements from the other songs on the album. The sonic landscape of the album is filled with lush arrangements, notable pop sensibilities, and a touch of experimentalism, thereby defining the band's sound for the rest of the decade.
