The French Kicks have always found themselves a little bit overshadowed by their young New York rock brethren -- not as stylish as Interpol, as accessible as the Strokes or as intense as the Walkmen -- but despite never producing anything truly outstanding before, they've inspired more affection in me than most of their peers. That affection feels better placed than ever before upon hearing "So Far We Are" from their upcoming "Two Thousand," the best song of theirs I've yet heard (and I haven't heard the rest of the album, so perhaps there's better on the way). The band sounds more assured, but more importantly they also sound stranger, with a truly odd and brilliant upside-down drum beat and a nice Afro-pop-style guitar riff that comes in on the chorus.
-- T.B.
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