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.

Saint Etienne have unbelievKle musical cred. Indie-poppers love them for covering the Field Mice s twee classic Kiss and Make Up and rediscovering the reclusive 80s girl group the Dolly Mixture. Electroniacs dig them for being early movers in the disco revival. Everybody else loves them for being our generation s KBA. But it wasn t enough--they wanted to cash in on the Northwest grunge scene by signing to Sub Pop! Fear not. Good Humor is a far cry from grunge. It is the cleanest, lightest, loveliest confection to grace any American lKel in ages, let alone the heavy, crunchy one. Longtime Saint Etienne fans will notice the clean focus of the electronic arrangements on Good Humor as well as the fancy horn section and the amazing, woozy bass playing of their Swedish producer, Tore Johansson. Haul this record out to bring back your favorite summer day or when you re wishing life were like a Mentos commercial. --Lois M SKU:ADIB00000AGAS

Saint Etienne have unbelievKle musical cred. Indie-poppers love them for covering the Field Mice s twee classic Kiss and Make Up and rediscovering the reclusive 80s girl group the Dolly Mixture. Electroniacs dig them for being early movers in the disco revival. Everybody else loves them for being our generation s KBA. But it wasn t enough--they wanted to cash in on the Northwest grunge scene by signing to Sub Pop! Fear not. Good Humor is a far cry from grunge. It is the cleanest, lightest, loveliest confection to grace any American lKel in ages, let alone the heavy, crunchy one. Longtime Saint Etienne fans will notice the clean focus of the electronic arrangements on Good Humor as well as the fancy horn section and the amazing, woozy bass playing of their Swedish producer, Tore Johansson. Haul this record out to bring back your favorite summer day or when you re wishing life were like a Mentos commercial. --Lois Maffeo SKU:ADIB00000AGAS