Simple Pleasure is the fourth studio album by the British alternative rock band Tindersticks. It was released on 13th September 1999. This album marked a major departure for the band, as they began to move away from the chamber pop and orchestral styles to a soulful rhythm and blues soundscape. This shift in musical direction was greatly influenced by lead singer Stuart Staples' love for soul music. It also led to changes in the band's lineup, with Dickon Hinchliffe and David Boulter, who were responsible for the band's string arrangements, leaving the group.
The album includes such standout tracks as "Can We Start Again?" and "If You're Looking For a Way Out" - the latter being a cover of an Odyssey song. The influence of soul music is highly evident in these tracks, which utilise soul-style horn and string sections. The album’s production was made slicker and the sound more immediate and accessible compared to their earlier music.
Overall, Simple Pleasure signaled a significant change in musical direction for Tindersticks and is often seen as the point where they broadened their sound by integrating more diverse influences.
Please note, despite the album's generally positive critical reception, it was not as commercially successful as its predecessors. It charted only in France and UK Independent Albums Chart.
