REVOLU$ION

Not really imitative, not really very original or innovative. Most often I feel as if members of Rush, Journey, Boston, or perhaps The Mars Volta joined members of 1990's Pink FLOYD while using a French singer instead of Gilmour or Wright. I've been trying for several years to connect to the music of this group, starting with Barbares and backtracking into the "Si" discs. My general feeling seems to always be, "They're okay. Nothing special--nothing new or really innovative." It's like ... regular rock and roll. Not enough effects and interesting subtleties, I guess. (It's quite mystifying to me: so many people just love their work!) My favorite songs on this much acclaimed CD are the opener, "Libérté, égalité, insurrection" (8/10), the peppy, almost Latin- flavoured "Je suis un objet" (8/10), the multi-layered IONA-esque 'intro' to "Seul dans la foule" (6/10), "Aux portes du paradis" (9/10), and I do like the epic "Loin des yeux (Barbares parties VIII à XII)" (9/10)--perhaps the best thing I've heard from Nemo--though the drums drive me to distraction.

Nice work, Nemo. Just not anything that I'll ever feel drawn to listen to. (Does anybody want my disc?)