Eux Autres: Hell Is Eux Autres

Originally released in 2004, this album has found a new life with a new label. And that’s a good thing. While there is a Parisian vibe underneath these songs, the record, produced by Janet Weiss, has some simple but smart pop gems beginning with “Ecoutez Bien”, with its “woohoo” in the vein of Blur’s “Song 2”. It makes you want to boogie like Austin Powers. Fans of Bishop Allen would love this record, because it’s very infectious, especially “Other Girls”, with its handclaps and melody that has you humming along. The brother-sister pair of Heather and Nicholas Larimer is based in Portland, but the French is spot on. “Salut Les Copains” is rock-oriented and has a ‘60s hue to it, as does the infectious “The Sundance Kid” and the equally pleasing, dual-lead vocals on “The Things They Carried”. Aside from the slower, romantic “Wind and Windows”, this is choppy, punchy rock. While all of the songs are highlights and could carry most albums, “Partick Nil” is hard not to put on repeat. The same can be said for “Carolina!”, which again is chock full of hooks and sing-along portions. C’est tres good!