NOUVELLE WAVE?

The French musical duo (I may have already lost you, but stick with me) Nouvelle Vague didn't learn from their first mistake. Last time out they made an entire album of laid-back lounge versions 80s post punk/new wave songs, including Depeche Mode's "Just Can't Get Enough", Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart", and the Clash's "The Guns of Brixton", among others. Now they've released a SECOND album of the same dreck entitled Bande-A-Part. Their take on the Billy Idol/Generation X classic "Dancing With Myself" made me throw up in my mouth a little. (Not that the original was that amazing, mind you, but this one is cringeworthy.) It reminded me of the Mike Flowers Pops Orchestra cover of Oasis' "Wonderwall", and if you're not familiar with that, think the sonic equivalent of being beaten to death with a frilly lace cravat. Among the other songs they delicately trash this time around:

"Ever Fallen In Love?" (The Buzzcocks) [listen]
"The Killing Moon" - (Echo and the Bunnymen) [listen]
"Sweet and Tender Hooligan" - (The Smiths)
"Pride (In the Name of Love)" - (U2) [listen]
"Bela Lugosi's Dead" - (Bauhaus) [listen]

BAU-FREAKING-HAUS??? Oh, this can't be good. And my most accounts, it's a hit and miss mess, a perfect iTunes/emusic "a la carte" (French term) album if there ever was one.

A much better way to go would be the Grant Lee Phillips album Nineteeneighties, who incidentally also does a version of "Killing Moon", as well as some Pixies, New Order, The Smiths, and a great version of the Psychedelic Furs' "Love My Way" [listen].