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French Kicks Swimming [Vagrant/May 20] |
| I have no idea why I’ve (sadly) not listened to French Kicks for some five or six years (I remember loving their earlier albums), but after randomly grabbing and listening to their latest release, it’s a mistake I plan to remedy. Swimming actually reminds me a lot of early Walkmen tracks — what with its waves of reverb, mellow vocals and slowly unwinding song structures that gradually ascend to an unheralded and understated breakdown. The triple-punch of “New Man”, “Said So What” and “Atlanta” is particurlarly flattering, as Nick Stumpf’s airy, laid-back vocals lay atop a backdrop of trashy drums and jangly guitar lines that pefectly compliment his nonchalance — at times sounding like Grizzly Bear while other times reminiscent of Radiohead. Swimming is the type of album that definitely gets better after multiple listens, and I am pretty sure I’ll be giving it plenty.
RIYL: Grizzly Bear, Walkmen, Arcade Fire |
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Music, 2008 albums
french kicks - swimming (2008)
By drunkie mcdramaqueen, April 18th, 2008 | |
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2 Responses to “french kicks - swimming (2008)”
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french kicks - swimming (2008)
By drunkie mcdramaqueen, April 18th, 2008 | |
Digg this story |
----------------------------------------------------
2 Responses to “french kicks - swimming (2008)”
» By
April 20th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
dead on review.. I’ve always thought they had a New York Walkmen’s sound. It’s one of their best album, though I don’t think this album would translate well live.. I’ve seen em twice, their performances at time can be a little lackluster.
» By
April 20th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
oh and With the Fishes and Said So What are probably my favorite tracks… mostly for their pop appeal and mo town feelings.
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