Louis XIV

Sun, 21 Aug 2005 13:57:06 UTC

T-Dawg told me to! Yeah, ol’ Vegas girl said to go take a listen to Louis XIV cuz she was diggin’ on ‘em. And they are kinda digable!

Their sound reminds me of the new wave punk from the 80’s. Think the Monks, T-Rex and maybe some Ziggy Stardust. Not that there’s anything wrong with that! People are getting into the retro sound again and this is a solid effort. However, if songs about sex offend you, well you better try something else. 80% of the tunes here are about sex, with the classic drug OD/accidental suicide tune and more drugs really!

The CD starts with some string instruments playing a riff, later turning into a rockin’, hand-clappin’ tune all about Louis. Who’s yer daddy?

Then comes the single (getting some XM radio play) called Finding Out True Love is Blind. Great drum machine with the same riff the strings were playing at the beginning of the first track. Apparently Louis likes all shapes, sizes and colors of girls!

Believe it or not, Paper Doll is about sex too! And it has a really cool ending where all the instruments get muddled.

God Killed the Queen is a song about, um, sex! Not with the Queen, but the dueling guitars in the right and left speakers are kinda cool.

A Letter to Dominique begins with a steel slide guitar, and then moves into a Madness song about an empty house because Dominique pretty much killed herself with drugs. YAY!

Illegal Tender is, ironically, about sex! Hand clapping opens the song, and then the lyrics come in reminding me of something from the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Pledge of Allegiance is about sex. Do you see a theme? Fun little song where Louis basically speaks the song as a girl moans in the background.

Hey Teacher is next, and this song is actually about…DRUGS! Hey, drugs, sex, and sex are what it’s all about! I do dig the guitars and hand clapping however.

All the Little Pieces is a pretty song that kinda doesn’t fit the sound of the rest of the CD. I really like it however, a nice change of pace and no sex!

Ball of Twine is certainly the best song on the disc. It starts on an acoustic guitar using the same riff from tracks 1 and 2. Some strings double behind the guitar, then some drums pound in. Louis sings and then everything stops for a moment. Verse two is similar, but the tune changes direction slightly after it with a drum solo and buzzing strings that lead back to the acoustic guitar. Everything then fades out except for the strings. After they slowly fade finally, there is silence for a moment. Drums crash back in with piano and bass beating the riff followed by a chorus of “ahs.” Again silence to slide guitar and pounding drums and bass. This riff is being beaten like a bad puppy! But it’s such a cool riff; I don’t want this song to end! Suddenly, the strings carry it home just like they introduced you to the CD.

Yeah, worth it for this song alone! Thanks T-Dawg!

3 out of 5!

Pat Angello Fan Club Music Blog - Louis XIV - The Best Little Secrets are Kept

Louis XIV