What in the hell is wrong with me? Maybe I should have done those piano lessons when I was a little tyke. Perhaps I should have joined my friends in choir. What part of the gotta-be-a-rockstar attitude did I fuck up? Why can't I make breathtaking rock 'n' roll tunes? If I sit back and think about it all, maybe I did do it all right -- I just didn't get the genetically engineered "indie-rock bad ass chip" implanted in my body.
Almost immediately after hearing the marvelous numbers on Le Projet de John Hughes, you'll come to the modest and inarguable realization that someone knows how to get it right. This batch of New York City friends got together a few months back and penned a slew of tunes -- ingenious bursts that balance quirky chords with ethereal ambiance, all the while quietly masking a concentrated pop core. Tempting vocals and sparse guitars are predicated on the less-is-more school of rockdom, as taught by Professors Low and Blonde Redhead.
"Le Lycée" fades to the sound of lush guitars quietly ringing into oblivion, creating a fragile yet beautiful temperament that woos and soothes your senses. With the amusing title "Tu es de la balle" ("You are the coolest"), shiny guitar strings match up word for word with tongue in cheek lyrics and a mod-outfitted disposition, leaving you wondering in what decade you're living. The album hits its comfortable peak with "Je fais marcher toi", as an acoustic guitar quietly works its delicate wonders, meshing into a near-perfect blanket of warm lines and tightly-knit patterns; carefully avoiding clichés and musical dead ends, it sets a straightforward goal of moving your body and embedding its chorus in your frontal lobes.
When the members of Les Petits Sous describe the product of their artistic gifts as a batch of tunes written in Central Park on a Sunday afternoon, it's nothing less than gross belittlement, understating the sanctity of this enigmatic group's creative sparkle. With stirring elements, this debut release quickly develops a distinct tone and structure, capable of laying a coaxing foundation of inventiveness with the tried and true formulas of well-rehearsed musicians. You may not have heard of Les Petits Sous before now, but don't be surprised when you see their name on the local marquee and hear your hip friends yakking up the band's wonderful artistry.
