What makes Boulevard by St Germain notable?

Boulevard played a significant role in popularizing the nu jazz genre, blending traditional jazz elements with contemporary electronic music. The album received critical acclaim, particularly for its innovative production techniques, establishing St Germain as a key figure in the crossover between dance and jazz music. Released in 1995, Boulevard was St Germain's debut album, introducing his innovative blend of house music and jazz to a wider audience. At this time, the artist was carving out a unique niche within the burgeoning French house scene, which would soon gain international attention.

How many songs are on Boulevard?

Boulevard has 7 tracks, running approximately 63 minutes.

Boulevard

St Germain · 1995

63 min · 7 tracks · house music

A seamless fusion of jazz-inflected house and deep electronic grooves creates a vibrant, atmospheric soundscape.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Deep in It — This track features intricate percussion and lush melodies that encapsulate the album's signature sound, setting the tone for St Germain's unique style.
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Street Scene (4 Shazz) — With its extended runtime and immersive soundscape, this track showcases St Germain's ability to create an engaging auditory journey that blurs genre boundaries.
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Sentimental Mood — This piece highlights St Germain's jazzy influences through smooth instrumentation and a laid-back groove, making it a standout moment on the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

72 /100

Alpine

Higher than 95% of albums we've rated

Boulevard showcases a strong blend of jazz and house, with seamless transitions and rich instrumentation.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent use of live instrumentation, with horns and piano layered over electronic beats throughout.
Each track transitions smoothly into the next, creating a continuous flow that maintains the listener's engagement.
The rhythmic patterns often shift subtly, with syncopated bass lines and intricate percussion that invite movement.
Several tracks incorporate ambient soundscapes, enhancing the atmospheric quality without overshadowing the core musical elements.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 9/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Deep in It 7:20
2 Street Scene (4 Shazz) 15:46
3 Sentimental Mood 10:20
4 What's New? 7:45
5 Dub Experience II 3:47
6 Forget It 7:58
7 Soul Salsa Soul 10:30

What to play next

Listen next

From Detroit to St Germain

1999

Full St Germain discography Artists like St Germain

jazz nu jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata