Foxbase Alpha- I remember finding this tape under the seat of my car and thinking, "what the hell is this?"- weird cover + title, a group I'd never heard of- it wound up being my friend's who never missed it. Umpteen years later, it still rocks my world- especially Stoned to Say the Least, but actually every track. Cracknell's voice is almost incomparably girly and sexy, and the music as described above is poppy but eclectic accessible to even the most purist of house fans. But Saint Etienne fit into no strict category- like Groove Armada of "Vertigo" fame, it's "dance" music that's breezy and catchy while being musically and creatively balanced. And FA is, doubtless, their best album.

Saint Etienne's first album, FOXBASE ALPHA, rightfully set the standard for pop music. In a world where "pop music" is seen as somehow substandard, Saint Etienne proves the critics that pop can both be catchy and musically worthwhile (the humorous and sample-heavy interludes notwithstanding). "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," a Neil Young cover, is an obvious hit, but less likely tracks also sparkle: "Girl VII," "Spring" and "Carnt Sleep" run the gamut from uptempo fun to downtempo lullaby. And, as if to prove their range, "Stoned to Say the Least" is a instrumental house track, while "Like the Swallow" starts off ambient, then verges into melancholy. There are a few missteps, like the overused sample on "She's the One" or the slightly watery "London Belongs to Me," but the summery warmth of "People Get Real" and "Nothing Can Stop Us" amply make up any shortcomings.