Welcome to my French pop and rock section... Here are a few recommendations to albums I've enjoyed that I think you might like as well, ranging from 1960s ye-ye to a few more contemporary albums from France's blossoming indie and electronica scenes. There is also a separate section for older musical styles, such as chanson and musette, if you like the old stuff, too!
Yael Naim & David Donatien "Yael Naim & David Donatien " (Tot Ou Tard, 2006)
JP Nataf "Plus La Sucre" (Tot Ou Tard, 2004)
A solo set from the lead singer of the 1990's indie/pop band, Les Innocents...
JP Nataf "Clair" (Tot Ou Tard, 2009)
Marie-Josee Neuville "La Collegienne De La Chanson - L'Integrale Pathe: 1955-1962" (Marianne Melodie, 2010)
A generously programmed 2-CD selection of folkie-acoustic recordings by "the schoolgirl of chanson," teenaged Marie-Josee Neuville, whose guileless, plainspoken vocals are in some ways a precursor of the French ye-ye teenybopper rock scene... Disc One is dominated by acoustic recordings, just Ms. Neuville singing solo while strumming her guitar; on Disc Two they add light pop arrangements and these tracks are more charming and musically diverse, including a few goofy rock/R&B approximations. She really does straddle the worlds of old-school chanson and rock, fitting roughly into the same ecosphere as Annette Funicello or Connie Stevens in the USA. Not great, but kind of cute.
Nous Non Plus "...Nous Non Plus" (Aeronaut, 2005)
An outstanding album by this spinoff of New York's faux-French frogpop band, Les Sans Culottes (which imploded among "creative differences" in 2004...) Unlike the various Sans Culottes albums, this disc seems like less of a one-note joke, displaying instead greater musical depth and variety, ranging from breathy, Francoise Hardy-esque ballads to nervy '77-style punk, jittery technobleepery ala StereoTotal, steamy Roxy Music-ish synthpop and New Wave, dreamy modern indie stuff... all done with great aplomb. The French-language lyrics remain blithe, silly and self-mocking, but the musical chameleon act is quite impressive. This is a darn good record; definitely worth checking out... If you liked Les Sans Culottes, then this disc will blow your mind.
Nous Non Plus "Menagerie" (Aeronaut, 2009)
Nous Non Plus "Freudian Slip" (Aeronaut, 2011)
French Music Index
French Chanson & Musette
