I've Been Trying to Tell You
I've Been Trying to Tell You | ||||
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Studio album by Saint Etienne | ||||
Released | 10 September 2021 (2021-09-10) | |||
Genre |
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Length | 40:08 | |||
Label | Heavenly | |||
Saint Etienne chronology | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 83/100[4] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Arts Desk | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Clash | 8/10[7] |
The Irish Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Line of Best Fit | 7/10[2] |
musicOMH | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 6.9/10[9] |
The Scotsman | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I've Been Trying to Tell You is the tenth studio album by English alternative dance band Saint Etienne, released on 10 September 2021 through Heavenly Recordings. The album is set between the "optimistic" years of 1997 and 2001, and contains samples of pop songs from this time along with related field recordings.[6] It was accompanied by a short film directed by photographer Alasdair McLellan that premiered at a BFI Southbank event on 3 September.[11]
Background
The album marks the band's first sample-based record since So Tough (1993). Bob Stanley described it as "about optimism, and the late nineties, and how memory is an unreliable narrator".[11]
Critical reception
I've Been Trying to Tell You received a weighted average score of 83 out of 100 from eight reviews on Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim".[4] Tim Sendra of AllMusic called it "a concept album that looks to extract the optimistic sound of late '90s mainstream pop and twist it into a suite of songs that feel like the half-remembered afterimages of a dream".[5] Reviewing the album for Pitchfork, Jesse Dorris wrote that the album "feels passive, lost in nostalgia for an age it hasn't fully reckoned with".[9]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Music Again" | 5:45 |
2. | "Pond House" | 4:02 |
3. | "Fonteyn" | 4:50 |
4. | "Little K" | 5:45 |
5. | "Blue Kite" | 4:51 |
6. | "I Remember It Well" | 3:50 |
7. | "Penlop" | 5:30 |
8. | "Broad River" | 5:35 |
Total length: | 40:08 |
Sample credits
- "Music Again" samples "Love of a Lifetime" by Honeyz (1998).[8]
- "Pond House" samples "Beauty on the Fire" by Natalie Imbruglia (2001).[8]
- "Fonteyn" samples "Raincloud" by Lighthouse Family (1997).[8]
- "Little K" samples "'Til the Night Becomes the Day" by Samantha Mumba (2000).[8]
- "Penlop" samples "Joy" by the Lightning Seeds (1990).[8]
- "Broad River" samples "Ripped Inside" by Tasmin Archer (1992).[12]
Charts
Chart (2021) | Peak position |
---|---|
Scottish Albums (OCC)[13] | 7 |
UK Albums (OCC)[14] | 14 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[15] | 4 |
References
- ^ a b Kane, Siobhán (10 September 2021). "Saint Etienne: I've Been Trying to Tell You review – Emotional time travel". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ a b McDonald, Sophia (8 September 2021). "Basking in a nostalgic setting sun, Saint Etienne bottle the feeling of late '90s Britain". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (29 November 2021). "Stream Saint Etienne's Lovely New Christmas EP Her Winter Coat". Stereogum. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ a b "I've Been Trying to Tell You by Saint Etienne Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ a b Sendra, Tim. "I've Been Trying to Tell You – Saint Etienne | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ a b Tyler, Kieron (27 August 2021). "Album: Saint Etienne – I've Been Trying To Tell You". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ Murray, Robin (13 September 2021). "Saint Etienne – I've Been Trying To Tell You | Reviews". Clash. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Wade, Ian (8 September 2021). "Saint Etienne – I've Been Trying To Tell You | Album Reviews". musicOMH. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ a b Dorris, Jesse (11 September 2021). "Saint Etienne: I've Been Trying to Tell You Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ Shepherd, Fiona (10 September 2021). "Album reviews: The Wanderer – A Tribute to Jackie Leven | Hamish Hawk | Saint Etienne | Common". The Scotsman. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ a b Murray, Robin (27 July 2021). "Saint Etienne Announce New Album 'I've Been Trying To Tell You'". Clash. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ Walters, Grant (4 September 2021). "Music Again: A Conversation with Saint Etienne's Bob Stanley | Interview". Albumism. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- v
- t
- e
- Sarah Cracknell
- Bob Stanley
- Pete Wiggs
- Gerard Johnson
- Ian Catt
- Foxbase Alpha
- So Tough
- Tiger Bay
- Good Humor
- Sound of Water
- Finisterre
- Tales from Turnpike House
- Words and Music by Saint Etienne
- Home Counties
- I've Been Trying to Tell You
- You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone
- Fairy Tales from Saint Etienne
- Too Young to Die: Singles 1990–1995
- Casino Classics
- Continental
- Interlude
- Smash the System: Singles and More
- Travel Edition 1990–2005
- London Conversations: The Best of Saint Etienne
- "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"
- "Kiss and Make Up"
- "Nothing Can Stop Us"
- "Join Our Club"
- "Avenue"
- "You're in a Bad Way"
- "Hobart Paving"
- "Who Do You Think You Are"
- "Xmas 93"
- "Pale Movie"
- "Like a Motorway"
- "Hug My Soul"
- "He's on the Phone"
- "Sylvie"
- "The Bad Photographer"
- "Tell Me Why (The Riddle)"
- "Shower Scene"
- "A Good Thing"
- "Stars Above Us"
- "Burnt Out Car"
- "Method of Modern Love"