FRENCH STYLE FURS

Is Exotic Bait

2014-07-20

  French Style Furs is Nathan Willett and Matt Maust from Cold War Kids, with Nathan Warketin from the band, We Barbarians.  (Also included are guests on percussion, vocals, and horns.) This L.A. band wrote the lyrics for debut, Is Exotic Bait, based on the poetry of 20th century monk, Thomas Merton. The album starts out promising with distorted vocals and fuzzy guitar on opener "Three Friends".  It rocks even more with sludgy bass adding to the mix on second track, "All the Way Down". At this point I am liking it. However, on track three, "The World in My Bloodstream", things get a little sketchy. As the worst track on the album, it introduces keys and heartfelt lyrics to make a pop song like any other. The rest of the disc, while still sometimes offering garage rock overtones is still hit or miss until ninth track, the rocker "Christmas Card" redeems it.  Rebecca Ruth  

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Rock

  • reviewed 04/2014

    DAN CROLL
    Sweet Disarray

  • reviewed 04/2007

    RICHARD X HEYMAN
    Actual Sighs

  • reviewed 05/2015

    Summer Cannibals
    Show Us Your Mind

  • reviewed 11/2010

    THUNDERBALL
    12 Mile High

  • reviewed 07/2007

    SCOTT MILLER AND THE COMMONWEALTH
    Reconstruction

  • reviewed 11/2016

    Handsome Ghost
    The Brilliant Glow

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.