Puzzle [ENHANCED]

Tahiti 80

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 6, 2000)
• Original Release Date: June 6, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Minty Fresh
• ASIN: B00004TLYX
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #144,791 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 2000
One of the surprise discoveries of 2000, French charmers Tahiti 80 delight with their refreshing and irresistible pop confection, Puzzle. A sophisticated indie affair, Puzzle conveys Tahiti 80's love for the British Invasion combined with a certain je ne sais quoi. Like a croissant--light, flaky, and yummy! --Kevin Cole

Amazon.com
This French quartet, who borrowed their name from a cheesy souvenir T-shirt, dress up horn- and string-swept '60s pop bliss in a tie-dyed T-shirt and black leather jacket. With their intricate melding of woozy, reverberating guitars, jangling acoustics, sitar, mellotron, breathy, effortless vocals, and almost ridiculously pleasant melodies, a listener would likely place them among their contemporary Brit pop torch-bearers Supergrass or Super Furry Animals (further, lead singer Xavier Boyer's French accent is nearly undetectable). But what gives them away is that seemingly requisite French tendency to leave no edge unsmoothed. Like their techno counterparts Air, Tahiti 80's production is aerated, refined, and simply perfect like a silky mousse. Puzzle is carefree pop at its most elegant and substantive. Boyer's proclaimed adoration of the Kinks is evidenced in the more guitar-crunched tracks like the title track and "Hey Joe," and the charming "Mr. Davies" is a reverent tribute to Ray himself. In it, he sings, "He's considered a songwriter, and I am not--at this time." Au contraire, Mr. Boyer, you are an exquisite songwriter indeed. --Beth Massa

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An innocently beautiful summer album, July 26, 2000

By	Joel Hanson (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

Tahiti 80 is sissy French pop crafted in the spirit of the 60's rock icons - like the Kinks and the Zombies - that the band so obviously adores. However, Tahiti 80's undeniable charm emanates from lead singer Xavier Boyer's ability to successfully channel his infectiously innocent intonations - like a naïve version of Nick Drake - through the filters of a second language. I can't imagine an American band using, much less getting away with, a lyric like "I return home with special food for my spirit," but such linguistic solecisms have an unusual appeal in light of the somatic ambience of the accompanying music - which, more accurately, draws from several 70's sonic sources - and its capacity to transport you blissfully into the past. For example, the song "Heartbeat," with its bouncy, almost house-like rhythms, and K.C. and the Sunshine Band-esque vocal hook, is so intoxicating and familiar, you'd swear that you once heard it pumping out of an eight-track from a passing, matte-black Camaro, or perhaps in an American Bandstand-induced dream. In addition, the trumpet provided by Eric Matthews and mixes by Tore Johansson keep the nostalgia flowing through standout tracks "Yellow Butterfly," the ABBA-influenced "I.S.A.A.C" and the title track "Puzzle."

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5th best record of the decade...It's still the 90's, July 15, 2000

By	E. Matthews "the truth" (the center) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

To my taste this album is in a highly elite group of albums to be made in the last ten or so years. Jason Falkner, Spookey Ruben, Divine Comedy, Supergrass, Radiohead, Cardinal...this is the company that I believe Tahiti 80 hang's with. "When the Sun" is one of the best songs of the last 20 years, the strings, Xavior...it is perfect.

Speaking of perfect, this album like most is not. There are some 3 or 4 songs that I would rather never hear again but this is a great ratio of failure when the other 7 or so are so great, and in some cases ground breaking.

These guys are all under the age of 23 and what has been done on this debut album seems to suggest that there will be far more, far better, far beyond the way I think and listen to music today.

I sit like a wolf in wait for a new collection of songs from the greatest band to ever come out of France.

a concerned fan

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Music to nourish the soul with, October 29, 2000

By	John Avila (Tulare, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I recently purchased this cd after having seen the video for "Heartbeat" on MTV-2. At a time when several of my favorite bands have new releases, I have shelved Fuel & Collective Soul and am unable to stop listening to Tahiti 80. I am very impressed with the unique sound this French quartet has developed. A little bit of 70's mixed in with a refreshing 60's sound, this is a keeper. I doubt this cd will ever be found in a used section at a local music store - it's one of those cd's you'll have to pop in the stereo every once in awhile when you are feeling down, the spirit and sound of this music is uplifting to say the least. Favorite songs on my list would include ISAAC, Mr Davies & the title track, Puzzle. I have found a new "favorite" band of mine!