CP's 1st FNAC Attack Of 2007

Readers to the fine blog will no doubt wonder what has happned to CP's habit of ordering cds from French music superstore, FNAC? Has this whole learning Mandarin thing gotten him away from his francophone roots? Is he spending all his time downloading Chinese pop mp3s from Baidu? While true - it has been almost a year since the last FNAC attack the man is still very much clued into the continent. Just not so much FNAC. Earlier in the year, CP's web shopping has taken him to such beautiful destinations as the UK Amazon (new Waterboys CD, Ricky Gervais dvds), Germany's amazingly cool Dancehall Tapes (for rare reggae soundsystem tapes) and Galway Ireland's Mulligan Records (picked up a benefit cd for the lifeboat patrol of the Aran Islands)

So then - here we are with the first FNAC attack of the year. The goodies....
Vincent Delerm, Les Piqûres D'Araignées

Delerm is without a doubt my favorite modern French songwriter. Piano driven pop delivered in a calm, unassuming manner that tends on first listen to hide the lyrics that focus on the complexities of society and relationships beneath a breezy and humerous cloak. Les Piqûres D'Araignées is his third album and again is on the wonderful Tot ou Tard label.

Les Rita Mitsouko, Variety
After falling in love with French and all things as such back in college, Les Rita Mitsouko was the first French band I heard that didn't suck. And that's a big deal, since if you know me - you'll also know that when I get into another language I listen to anything in that language, watch any movie in that language and pretty much hurl my bullshit alarm out the window. It happened big time with French. Before Les Rita Mitsouko's completely au courant Parisian new wave hit me I was listening to Plastic Bertrand's kids records. Since this time I've learned boatloads about French music and Les Rita Mitsouko still do not fail me. They've been around for over 20 years and this new record hits solidly consistent. Not the best record of their career, but that's like comparing REM's last disc to Murmer. When you've raised the bar early in your career like they have all you can hope to do with later albums is to bring a smile to the face of fans. This works.
Florent Marchet, Rio Baril
I honestly did/do not know a whole lot about Florent Marchet except that I've heard him quite a bit on Radio France's FIP fm. The station actually picked it a few months ago as one of their selections of the month. An acknowledgement which shouldn't be taken lightly since this diverse radio station is exceptional with taste. Their playlist oozes 21st century mashups which moves from Big Youth to Chopin to Waits to Cheb Mami and back again all within 20 minutes. A magical radio station and a national treasure. So what about Florent Marchet? So far, so good my friends. This is thoughtful French chanson. Well arranged and flowing.

Links
Vincent Delerm
Les Rita Mitsouko
Florent Marchet