Frenchmen - Sorry, We Ruined Your Party
by Chris Jones
published: 16 / 9 / 2004
Label:
Clairecords
Format: CD
intro
Hyperactive, derivative indiepop from Sacramento group the Frenchmen, which possibly borrows a little too freely from C86 groups the Flatmates and Heavenly
It's said that imitation is the highest form of flattery and if that's truly the case then this album by the Frenchmen should make the Flatmates and Talulah Gosh/ Heavenly feel quite flattered. The ghost of C-86 seems to reappear from time to time via reissues, compilations, and "new" bands. The Frenchmen (who call Sacramento, CA home) are the latest band to flesh things out and give a body and face to that ghost. Depending on how you covet your "legends of the past", listening to this album could either be quite thrilling or completely exasperating. This album is a 12 song, 25 minute pop blast filled with slightly distorted guitars, hyperactive drums, hand claps, ba-ba-ba's and ooh-ah's. This is the kind of music that induces fits of bouncing around with a big grin on your face until you knock over that lamp or fall off the couch. And even then, you just sort of laugh and start bouncing around again. It's boys and girls singing about good times and bad times, crushes and being crushed. If you happen to be driving when listening to this album, a speeding ticket or questions about why you were swerving about the road will surely be in your immediate future. It's twee-pop, cuddle-core, and to steal a line from a college radio show I once heard, "it's punk rock for pussies". To say the sound is derivative would be an understatement - at times I felt like I was listening to a tribute album! Clearly the Frenchmen know from whom they borrow and they actually do quite a nice job on their cover of the Flatmates' 'Tell Me Why.' 'Chemistry Lessons' sounds like it could have been a Heavenly song, as do 'Black and White' and 'Flake for You.' If you've been longing for that sound from days gone by, then this album should make you quite happy. And if you feel those bands are sacred, then this album may make you quite mad. I've sort of had both responses to it, much like I did with Interpol and Franz Ferdinand doing their versions of the post-punk sound. The Frenchmen may not be covering any new ground here, but they do a good job of following the footsteps of the C-86 sound. Playing this album at your party surely won't ruin it either, though glasses will be spilled and some furniture might get broken. If you haven't heard the original version of this sound, this will be a nice primer. And when you get done bouncing around, go out and track down some Heavenly albums and the soon to be re-issued (by Claire Records none the less) Flatmates compilation 'Love and Death.' What's old is new again!!!
Track Listing:-
1 Change Of Season2 Crimes Of Fashion
3 Tell Me Why
4 Chemistry Lessons
5 Private Name, Private Number
6 Runaway
7 Black And White
8 Veterans Day
9 Flake For You
10 Like The Weather
11 Matthew Mark Lupe And Jon
12 Powdered Blue (Live On Kalx)
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Liam Gallagher and John Squire - Olympia Theatre, Dublin, 16/3/2024
Nico - Profile
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
Doug Dillard Expedition - Live At The Hotel Fremont, Las Vegas, September 1970
bdrmm - Arts Centre, Norwich, 16/3/2024
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadKula Shaker - Natural Magick
Ian Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Ty Segall - Three Bells
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes - Dark Rainbow
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart