Je Suis France

Je Suis France ("I am France") is truly amazing. Somehow they convinced the legendary rock critic Lester Bangs to write their bio in an issue of Creem Magazine, dated December, 1971. That would mean that the band would have to at least be in their mid-to-late 40s. Okay, so maybe their bio is bogus, but their music is really worth hearing. Hailing from Athens, GA, Je Suis France writes music that gets the creative juices flowing. Falling somewhere in the indie rock realms of Pavement, Built To Spill and Wire, JSF likes to use their imaginations. The inner sleeve tells a legendary tale about lions conquering zebras, how the France careen off one another and how the band play the game that is "music" (which includes band member Chris Rogers playing badminton with Satan). The music is a blast of flailing guitars, sudden energetic bursts that become endless jam sessions and occasional dabbling with a keyboard. Songs such as "Forklift Rodeo" and "B-Slacks" are great examples of how this band can write a good, flowing pop song (not to mention "Coming Out Party," which they contributed to Kindercore's anniversary compilation, unfortunately not included here). And while Je Suis France are as entertaining and interesting as their name, they seem to baffle minds. The album ends with a keyboard-driven instrumental that sounds like it belongs with the end credits of an '80s John Hughes flick. Add that with their mysteriously freaky artwork, liner notes and bio and you have a great fucking band.