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So Tough

by Saint Etienne

Released: February 22, 1993

Synth-pop, techno

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Experimental Album.

The Album

"So Tough" is the second studio album by British band Saint Etienne. 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. It was released on 9th March 1993 through Heavenly Recordings.

Inside the Recording

The band members Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, and Pete Wiggs are the main performers with Ian Catt as producer.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

This album combines a variety of musical genres…

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.

This album is also notable for its exploration…

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.

"So Tough" is the longest album by Saint…

"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"…

It includes an instrumental called "St Etienne Symphony" which consists of elements from the other songs on the album.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Saint Etienne - So Tough

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Then

Reception

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. One of the singles from the album, "You're in a Bad Way", reached No.12 in the UK Singles Chart.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"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.