Customer Reviews

Aux Armes Et Cetera

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I haven't heard a non african ("as long as you're a black man, you're an african") catching the essense of reggae the way Gainsbourg does, the groove is a mix of Tosh, Israel Vibration and Alpha Blondy, and the lyrics are hilarious and rebel as reggae on it's peak lyricism. One of the best reggae album of history, and I love true reggae music (not its clones), and it shows gainsbourg's versatility and musical wisdom to dive in all musical styles. if you love reggae buy it, if you love gainsbourg's music buy it, if you love yourself buy it, if you love your woman buy it, if you...buy it!

Did you know half of the Africas are French speaking ? Contacts between France and Africa have always been tight, and musical influences strong. In this Album, Gainsbourg plays with some of the best international and underground Reggae musicians to produce another masterpiece. Rooted in French and African culture, provocative humour, and graphic metaphors, this album is a major contribution to both Reggae and French music. The title song "Aux Armes etc" ridicules the warrior-like French Antheme, which makes a lot of sense coming from a Polish Jew who's parents died in concentration camps waiting for the French deliverance that never came, or for Francophone African reggaemen who where colonised by France.

It received an exceptional welcome when it came out, and most French people between 20 and 40 have this album at home. Older French conservatists hated it, of course.

For Americans, this might be the easiest album to get introduced to Gainsbourg, because the sound is more reggae than French. But entertain no illusion: if you don't speak French, you'll only get skin deep into "Gainsbar"'s genius.

Great reggae album recorded in the late 70's with jamaican musicians. Gainsbourg made a scandal when he recorded his reggae version of the French official hymn AUX ARMES ET CAETERA. It was and still is banned from most of the radio stations. Not long after that, he made another scandal on French television when he put fire to a 500 francs bill (100$) to explain what he had left in his pocket after he had paid all his taxes to the French Government.

This is truly one of his best albums and one he's remembered for in France. Of course, he plays a lot with the words and everything may not appear as good as it is if you don't speak French but on this album just the music is already enough.