Comments on: The French Mythic America

By: glenn

glenn — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:25:53 +0000

You didn’t like his most recent 2009 album? He’s not breaking any new ground but I do honestly think that “Ex-Teds” is almost an equal to The Auteurs’ “Junk Shop Clothes” and he’s entered that interesting phase where he’s writing about himself quite a bit — the self-mythologizing has taken hold.

Personally, the first two Black Box Recorders seem almost perfect to me now, unlike some of the Auteurs tracks I used to enjoy so much.

Not to derail your French post but the question on my mind now is: Where is Anita Lane?

The ultimate “meta” French moment is perhaps in “Irma Vep” when Luna’s cover of “Bonnie and Clyde” is playing in one sequence and it seems there are too many references to keep track off on the screen and soundtrack at once — America filtered through France and back again.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:30:56 +0000

Yes, two great songs from a (once) great songwriter (one of the few recent ones who could vaguely hold a candle to Gainsbourg), shame he’s become a bit irrelevant and uninteresting now.

Shall have to check out that Mick Harvey cover. His and Anita Lane’s version of Harley Davidson was a minor hit over here years back, and I actually once saw him do a couple of songs from Melody Nelson live as part of a special all-star performance of the LP.

By: glenn

glenn — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:03:48 +0000

I can’t help but read this post and think immediately of two tracks from the genius mind of Mr. Luke Haines: “New French Girlfriend” from The Auteurs’ wonderful second album and “French Rock and Roll” by Black Box Recorder from their second album.

I think Mr. Haines was attempting to mimic/get at/mock/honor the efforts of Gainsbourg and his ilk — that sort of awkward mix that a song like “Ford Mustang” so clearly illustrates.

I also recommend highly the cover of this Gainsbourg track by Nick Cave associates Anita Lane/Mick Harvey from one of Mick Harvey’s first two albums of Gainsbourg material — where he didn’t literally translate all of the lyrics.