Here at URB, we a disproportionate amount of time talking about Saint Etienne, that loveable indie-pop trio from England who mastered the twee thing a good decade before the homespun indie aesthetic became the norm for the like of groups like Arcade Fire and Sufjan Stevens. We’re probably a bit worried that these innovators, while secure in their status in England, my end up falling through the memory cracks here in America. That would be tragic because, frankly, they’re one of my favorite bands ever. Thank goodness their catalog has been getting the reissue treatment lately—including their 1998 class Good Humor.

The album was the group’s first for U.S. independent label Sub Pop, part of the iconic imprint’s necessary move away from it’s grunge genesis into the more sophisticated label we’ve come to know for Wolf Parade, Fleet Foxes and The Postal Service (all groups that owe a likely sonic debt to Saint Etienne). The album is the groups most pop-rock affair, moving away momentarily from their lounge and balearic inspiration. This caused a wee bit of friction upon it’s release, but the additional attention paid to songwriting opposed to stylistic concerns paid off in spades.

Good Humor is receiving the deluxe treatment from their UK label Heavenly/Universal which means on disc with the album and a second chocked full of B-Sides. The group’s lesser known but equally esteemed most recent album, 2005’s Tales From the Turnpike House, is getting a similar double disc treatment. And their highly recommended (I know we say that about every release) remix compilation, Casino Classic (1996) is also on the slate for 2010, with it’s vintage versions from The Chemical Brothers, Aphex Twin, Andrew Weatherall and more.

Good Humor: Disc 1:
1. “Wood Cabin”
2. “Sylvie”
3. “Split Screen”
4. “Mr Donut”
5. “Goodnight Jack”
6. “Lose That Girl”
7. “The Bad Photographer”
8. “Been So Long”
9. “Postman”
10. “Erica America”
11. “Dutch TV”

Disc 2:
1. “Hill Street Connection”
2. “Hit the Brakes”
3. “Madeleine”
4. “Swim Swan Swim”
5. “4.35 in the Morning”
6. “Clark Co. Record Fair”
7. “Zipcode”
8. “My Name Is Vlaovic”
9. “Afraid To Go Home”
10. “La La La”
11. “Do You Love Me” *
12. “Cat Nap”
13. “Jack Lemmon”
14. “Constantly”
15. “The Emidisc Theme”
16. “4.35 in the Morning” (original version)

Tales From Turnpike House:
Disc 1:
1. “Sun in My Morning”
2. “Milk Bottle Symphony”
3. “Lightning Strikes Twice”
4. “Slow Down at the Castle”
5. “A Good Thing”
6. “Side Streets”
7. “Last Orders for Gary Stead”
8. “Stars Above Us”
9. “Relocate”
10. “Birdman of EC1”
11. “Teenage Winter”
12. “Goodnight”

Disc 2:
1. “Murder in E Minor”
2. “Take Me Home (On a Pushbike)” *
3. “Another Cup of Coffee” (Mike & the Mechanics cover) *
4. “School Run” *
5. “You Can Judge a Book By It’s Cover 6. “Who Pays The Rent” *
7. “Woodhenge” *
8. “Got a Job”
9. “Must Be More” *
10. “Holiday Song” *
11. “The Leyton Art Inferno”
12. “Missing Persons Bureau”
13. “Inside The Hive” *
14. “Aqualad” *
15. “Book Norton”
16. “Quiet Essex”

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