Finding out originality is dead, but that's ok.

As requested by the almighty queen D, here's a bit about Louis XIV, the latest in buzzy mc buzzenstein bands of the "rock" persuasion to hit my earholes (original post here but I'm adding a bit to it here).

Louis XIV can be pretty awesome when they want to - and for my money, they do a wonderful impersonation of the Fall at times. For one thing, their album artwork (for the Illegal Tender EP) is so hot. As for the songs - the first track and the last one (a folky/country/what-the-hell-are-they-doing reprise of the first) are throwaways. Track 2 is the big winner - "Finding Out True Love is Blind" is a killer dancey rock song with a perfect groove and the best non-Postal Service twinkley mellow breakdown ever. The lyrics leave a bit to be desired, but I don't care, this song leaves me with the refrain stuck in my head all day. And check out that sexy breathing in the beginning! Don't even pretend that it doesn't make you hot. The title track is a good bluesy sort of rocker, and even though it sounds just a little too much like "Sweet Transvestite" the hand claps make me love it anyway. Finally, "Narc" isn't a bad song, really it's quite pretty and catchy, but the fact that it manages to rip off the Flaming Lips, the Beatles, Queen, and the Polyphonic Spree in the first minute sort of kills it for me (plus using the same trick as in "FOTLIB" is a cop out).

Don't get me wrong though, by no means am I trying to say that this band is crap. Judging by the tracklisting for their upcoming full length, THE BEST LITTLE SECRETS ARE KEPT - out March 22nd, it looks like they know what they're doing... despite starting with "Louis XIV" (the snoozer that kicks off the EP as well), I'm glad to see they left the god-awful reprise off, as well as "Marc." "God Killed the Queen" is on there, and it's a damn good (if a bit Stones-y) song.

It would be easy to call these ugly fellas (and yeah, they're not too easy on the eyes from what I've seen) just another bunch of retro garage humping rockadoof bulldinkles... but hold up there sparky, I think we might actually have something here. Forget their duds, give them credit for the real hit they've managed to pump out and the potential they actually have. Look past the obvious Fall and Stones influence, keep looking at the pretty naked ladies on their artwork, and just enjoy their good songs.

Minus 5 points for having toured with the Killers. Plus 1 point for touring with Hot Hot Heat. Minus 2 points for ripping off too many bands. Plus 5 points for ripping off a song from the best cult movie ever. Minus 3 points for wearing tight pants. Plus 10 points for being butt-ugly. Plus 5 points for starting your own record label to put out your cd. Minus 2 points for naming it Pineapple Records because that sounds silly. Plus 5 points for being a concept band. Minus 6 points for not ACTUALLY coming through with the concept, you dirty royal teases.

Total - 8 points for Louis XIV.