The Poll Adventures of The Style Council

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"Café Bleu". After that, they got worse with every single album. But really, they were never very good.

Right: That does it.

I'm voting "Modernism"

their Greatest Hits is pretty goddamn fantastic for nine tracks in a row - they were an excellent singles band for a good while there. for full albums, not so much.

I think I had My Every Changing Moods and the Everything But The Girl s/t on the same 90-minute tape, back in high school, so I think of them almost as a double album, especially with Tracey Thorn singing on "Paris Match" and how both albums have a really straight-ahead jazz instrumental track; and then both bands had the same disappointing follow-ups (Love Not Money and Internationalists), where in both cases it feels like they lost the feel of a live jazz/r&b/cabaret band. But that tape, if I've still got it buried away somewhere, would be some of my favorite 90 minutes of music.

I agree they weren't so great as an album band. I greatly enjoyed getting their box set, though, and just picking and choosing which songs I liked and putting it all together into about two CD-R's worth. You are right Eazy that in both cases (EBTG & SC), the second albums weren't as good. Our Favourite Shop/Internationalists sounds really overblown now in the worst kind of 80's way, for example. They should have kept a softer touch. I have a particular affection for Confessions of A Pop Group (though I admit it's not perfect) so I'm tempted to vote for that, but that little mini-LP Introducing The Style Council really can't be beat.

It occurs to me you could have included the live album Home & Abroad. I bought it on vinyl a couple of year ago but I admit I didn't listen to it much. Hell, maybe I'll put that out this weekend.

That cover above has to be the inspiration for this:

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THIS CRAP!
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIT BACK AND RELAX!

It's very fair to say that in light of recent events, Our Favourite Shop is really doing it for me.

The first 0:01 of "All Gone Away" may be the best intro ever