ARTIST: French Kicks
TITLE: Swimming
LABEL: Vagrant Records, Universal Music
RELEASED: 1 April 2008

Reviewed By: Lauren Eldridge (Port Moody Correspondent - Canada)

This being my first French Kicks album, I had no idea what to expect. The iTunes genre "Alternative" is so vague it basically means "Music". And what music! Swimming is swiftly becoming my top summer album. A perfect blend of vocals and instrumentals, French Kicks are a diet, summer-lite version of Death Cab for Cutie. If there is a band that can compare to the light style of French Kicks, I've never heard of it. Given my limited knowledge of all varieties of music, don't take my opinion the wrong way.

What I love about this album is its versatility. This track list could be played as the background music for an evening get-together, or while studying for an exam. It could also work as the main focus of an afternoon in the sun or a night of stargazing. On its own or combined with an activity, Swimming is bound to sooth the soul. Not so loud as to overwhelm your focus, and not bland enough to tune out, French Kicks has done a wonderful job. While the album has a uniform, relaxing feel, each song has its own distinct combination of notes and sounds. This is especially apparent in the primarily drum-focused intros. I look forward to great albums from them in the future, as well as some hidden gems from the past. Don't let the "Alternative" genre distract you from trying a new band.

Favourite tracks: All Our Weekends, Sex Tourists

TRACKLIST:
1 Abandon
2 Over the World
3 Carried Away
4 New Man
5 Said So What
6 Atlanta
7 Love in the Ruins
8 With the Fishes
9 The Way You Arrive
10 All Our Weekends
11 Sex Tourists
12 This Could Go Wrong