French Kicks: The Trial Of The Century : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

When these Brooklyn-based Washington, D.C., transplants debuted in 2001, they seemed driven to make catchy pop out of their hometown's angular post-punk. A few chai lattes and one full-length album later, they have segued into moody, atmospheric New Wave. On The Trial of the Century, joyful keyboards frolic behind drummer-frontman Nick Stumpf's sliding falsetto, as the band cultivates a kicky, melancholic throb. As with most cool New York bands, the lyrics matter way less than the vibe, which slips convincingly into an anxious subway-window daydream midway through the jumpy lead track, "One More Time." Cinematic organ sounds, pensive piano plinks and dark Seventies drama-rock synths color these songs, from the drunken promise of "Following Waves" to the singsongy, Cure-influenced "Don't Thank Me," hinting at more soundtrack-ready lushness to come. Even beyond Brooklyn's hipster enclaves, this is a sweet summer score.