Customer Reviews

Acoustic Clubbing

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First, I have to confess that I have always been a Négresses Vertes fan. I have all their records. I went to their concerts. I once disgraced myself singing "Zobi la mouche" in the metro ("elle a de jolies fesses, etc.") without realising that I was actually singing aloud (I noticed when people started staring at me). I was angry at Helno for weeks when he OD'd (who did he think he was, Jimi Hendrix ?) So, I have no pretence of objectivity.

One of the most enduring qualities of this band, at least in my eyes, is that they have their own "sound" and that at the same time, each album is totally different from the others. For instance, LNV dabbled in electronic music for "Trabendo", and successfully at that, however strange it may sound (for a comparison, imagine the Pogues doing a trip hop album). This album, their latest, is in a sense a continuation of that idea, but ... with acoustic instruments (why make it simple when it can be complicated ?) That's why the album is called "Acoustic Clubbing" (why make it complicated when it can be simple ?)

There are only three new songs on this album, including a cover (their first ever on record, if I'm not mistaken) of the disco classic "Spank", but the new versions of old favorites such as "c'est pas la mer à boire" and "les mégots" are so different from the original versions that you don't feel cheated: it's a real rediscovery.

A final word for our English-speaking friends: don't worry if you don't understand the songs, the Négresses' trademark are silly, almost nonsensical lyrics with lots of hilariously bad puns.

As a NV fan, I concur with earlier reviews that each of their CDs goes in a completely different direction. I really enjoy Acoustic Clubbing - it's cool, calm, and collected. I wish I was at a small hip cafe in Paris listening to them play live. From the opening track til "Hasta Llegar", they give a great spin on all their former tracks plus giving us some new ones to enjoy. Definitely a great CD to put on with my Sunday coffee.

I really love LVN and their earlier works and I was hesitant about Acoustic Clubbing but geez, they're definitely better with less. This cd is quickly becoming one of my favorites and they're all neck to neck for different reasons but this one sticks out a mile. Can't wait to hit the sheets with this in the background, a little candle light, some rain might be nice.

once again - a successful voyage into somewhat new terrain. LNV are always fun,
and continue to showcase their talent in a way that even those of us who aren't fluent in french can readily enjoy.