FRANCES THE MUTE

I realize that I really can't beat Christopher French's review in its thoroughness, but I do want to give an opinion on this album.

It's very good.

There, I said it. Me? An indie rock fan? Me? Gathering in small, dirty clubs and getting pushed into sweaty mosh pits among kids in long underwear and Weezer glasses? Yes, indeed, for this band. They've captured the indie rock scene but they are undoubtedly progressive to the finest point progressive can be.

I don't speak Spanish. I know nothing about it. I took French in middle school, high school, and college. Yet the lyrics of these songs are beautiful to me. I can't explain it. The way Cedric sings, he could turn anything into poetry. I absolutely love his voice, I daresay he has just about dethroned Jon Anderson. (Don't quote me on this, but!)...

I get moved by this album. I love the tape-effects... Roxy Music / Brian Eno was experimenting with this stuff in the 70s, Radiohead had some nice results in the 90s, and this band brings it all full circle, with excellent musicianship to boot, in the 2000s. The drama presented in "Francis" is inexplicable. Very very f'in good.