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GOOD HUMOR contains a bonus CD that is limited to the first 10,000 copies. Saint Etienne: Sarah Cracknell (vocals, percussion); Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs (keyboards, synthesizers). Additional personnel: Jez Williams (guitar); Tore Johansson (harmonica, bass); Sven Andersson (saxophone); Petter Lidgard (trumpet); Jens Lindgard (trombone); Gerard Johnson (piano, keyboards, vibraphone); Mats Larsson (piano); Rasmus Kihlberg (drums); Debsey (background vocals). St. Etienne's fourth album, GOOD HUMOR, abandons the dance elements of earlier releases to focus on the ultra-melodic Bacharach/Wilson/Beatles pop that has always been at the root of the band's music. The record sounds swoon-inducingly gorgeous. Leslied keyboards, vibes, and real strings and horns color Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs' arrangements. Sarah Cracknell's underrated voice, always the band's strongest feature, has matured into a fine instrument pitched somewhere between Dusty Springfield's soulful English Rose and Petula Clark's young sophisticate. The achingly lovely "Erica America" is the immediate highlight, though the near-conversational "Mr. Donut" comes very close. The groovier "Sylvie" and "The Bad Postman" recall earlier club hits but with a lighter touch. All 11 songs, from "Woodcabin" to "Dutch TV," are frothy, melodic, and magnificent pop. GOOD HUMOR is one of the best albums of 1998. Original US copies included a bonus disc of singles and remixes.

GOOD HUMOR contains a bonus CD that is limited to the first 10,000 copies. Saint Etienne: Sarah Cracknell (vocals, percussion); Bo

Though only a brief six-track EP, Saint Etienne's PLACES TO VISIT is a fully-realized and extremely satisfying record. 1998's magnificent GOOD HUMOR had been a departure for the Northeast London trio of Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley, and Pete Wiggs. Saint Etienne abandoned the club-oriented dance sound of the group's first three albums, FOXBASE ALPHA, SO TOUGH and TIGER BAY, for a mature, lush, orchestral pop sound somewhere between classic Dionne Warwick and The Cardigans. PLACES TO VISIT combines the two sides of the band's sound into a coherent whole, melding slow, trip-hop-styled dance beats to rich, catchy pop songs to create an atmospheric and stimulating whole. Cracknell's classic pop voice recalls Petula Clark, and the layered arrangements of Stanley and Wiggs support her beautifully.

Though only a brief six-track EP, Saint Etienne's PLACES TO VISIT is a fully-realized and extremely satisfying record. 1998's magn