Whether they like it or not, Je Suis France are hereby decreed the rightful heir to the Some Velvet Sidewalk throne. Before the coronation, however, someone should check the history books and make sure I'm bequeathing the proper crown. Wasn't Sidewalk's reign distinguished by Al Larson's goofball lyrics and guitars that sounded more wrestled than played? Note to you history buffs: I'm not talking newer, slicker, Steve Fisk-ified Sidewalk here. I'm all about the old school, let's-make-rock-even-if-we-don't-know-how confections. Not to say that Je Suis France is inept. No siree. These four kids from who knows where know the rules for playing their instruments. Yet it's those rare moments when they capture that goofball quality ol' King Larsen had, the same one demonstrated by other wunderkid sovereigns like Chocolate USA, that make them less of a Prince Charles and more of a Catherine the Great.

Maybe I'm a bit too hasty in tossing around kingdoms and crowns. After all, Je Suis France's tunes, while bumbling and silly at times, have a certain sheen to them that one would never find on an old Some Velvet Sidewalk album. By no means overproduced or so slick as not to be amusing, most of the cuts don't have the charm of, say "Forklift Rodeo," a quirky tale of making friends while traveling about to various, yes, forklift rodeos. I don't know what it means, but I love it.

As long as we're diving into ancient history, let's recall another chestnut evoked by Je Suis: one of the masters of oddball, baffling pop, Camper Van Beethoven. Though not as folky, Je Suis is a kindred spirit of Camper, taking an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to their tunes. What initially appear to be straight-ahead rock tunes, for example, pop with surprises, namely in the form of cheesy keyboards and hypnotic repetitions more at home on a Philip Glass record than a pop album. These guys see no instrument that isn't meant to rock in some fashion, and it's downright endearing that they're willing to make a Casio squeal in a throbbing rock tune.

While the funny and strange songs stick to your ribs, the other cuts aren't without charm. It's just that in a sea of guitar rock, I cherish the anomalies. Je Suis is off to an auspicious start with this debut. I hope the band finds its voice and continues to devise ways to make strangeness work for them. If the more pedestrian songs are needed to fill in the gaps for the time being, so be it. I can stomach a little nondescript rock n' roll if it's peppered with these tasty nuggets of twisted humor and klutzy pop. Long live the new king. Long live Je Suis France.