Les Chaussettes - Triple Water 7" - Red Vinyl

Punk Fox (2016)

I had reviewed the first Les Chaussettes 7" when Punk Fox had sent it to me for review.  I said some less than flattering things about it, but then again I less than enjoyed it.  You could say I felt some trepidation about firing up this latest 7" of theirs, but it turns out their new one is significantly better than the last.

On this 7", Les Chaussettes is definitely moving more in the direction of jangly guitar bands like Baby Shakes.  I realize that Baby Shakes are becoming a somewhat common reference point that I use for female fronted guitar bands, but since they are undoubtedly my favorite of those kinds of groups it should be taken as a flattering comparison.

The songs are more upbeat than on the prior Lew Chaussettes single.  I still think the vocals are the weakest part of the band.  While they're a massive step up from the dead inside monotone of their last record, I still never get the feeling that they are really all that excited about singing these songs.  I just wish they had a bit more oomph.  Still, I particularly like the little Pizzicato Five-esque chanting part thrown into "Russian Boy."  As a whole it's such a big improvement from their last 7" that I'm curious to see where they go next. 

Les Chaussettes - Triple Water 7":

https://leschaussettes.bandcamp.com/album/triple-water-russian-boy

Les Chaussettes - Kate 7" - Red Vinyl

Punk Fox (2014)

There are times that I wish I got a few more records sent to me to review.  After all, who doesn't want free records? Then there are times where I'm kind of glad I don't get a ton of records sent to me.  I do this website because I think it's a fun way to catalog my weird record buying habit.  If this was to turn into a predominantly review driven website, I think that would suck the joy out of it for me.  So I guess the moral is, if you put out good records, send them over.  If you don't, keep them.

Punk Fox should maybe think about keeping their records instead of sending them to me.  I honestly feel bad, they have sent me every record they've released so far and I just don't like any of them.  I really would like to write nice things about someone that sends me records, but these just aren't my cup of tea.  I don't want to constantly be in the position of writing bad things about someone who is doing a nice thing.

That being said, Les Chaussettes is probably the best record of the bunch to date.  A-side "Kate" has a warble-y, underwater sounding guitar riff that reminds me a little of early Beck.  Despite the interesting guitar tone, the song is still not very good mainly due to the vocals. The just don't have any energy to them at all.  They sound like a bored grammar school chorus being forced to sing in front of the rest of the school.  B-side "Volcanoes" is just kind of there.  It elicits no feeling from me one way or the other.

Another thing about the records Punk Fox is sending me is that the cover art for all of them kind of look the same.  I assume it's the same person doing all of the art.  I know for a fact it is for their 3rd and 4th single, but there's no art credit on the first two.  The person designing these covers seems to be hung up on odd angled close up shots of people with writing on them.  I'm no artist, so it's probably not my place to critique, but I just don't like the way they look at all.  I have one more Punk Fox 7" waiting in the wings.  If I'm to judge the book by its cover, it is probably the worst of the bunch.  I'll get to it eventually, but the last thing I want is for doing my review in the morning to become a chore.

Les Chaussettes - Kate 7":
http://leschaussettes.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-7