Les Rita Mitsouko - Marc & Robert (1988; 2017) [Hi-Res]

This album proves that the first two records by Les Rita Mitsoukous (aka, guitarist Fred Chichin and vocalist/organist Catherine Ringer) were flukes and that for the most part French rock sucks. The fact that by 1988 they had resorted to collaborating with washed-up producer Tony Visconti should tell listeners something. The music here is hopelessly outdated new wave with stuttering keyboards and the occasional scratched record to add something the French thought approached street cred in the late '80s. All the magic on records like No Comprendo is lost here, bogged down in overly busy production and Mattel drum machines with tired guitar sounds and even wearier ideas that were supposed to be songs such as "Hip Kit," "Tongue Dance," "Singing in the Shower," and "Live in Las Vegas." It's all too cute, too calculated, and too lame. There isn't a memorable track in the bunch, and whoever told these folks that Russell Mael could still sing and write at that stage of his life was onto something bad. But the biggest crime of all is ripping off the Talking Heads' version of Al Green's "Take Me to the River," using the same arrangement with different words and calling it "Smog." In fact, that's what this record sounds like: blech!

Tracklist:
01. Les Rita Mitsouko - Hip kit
02. Les Rita Mitsouko - Smog
03. Les Rita Mitsouko - Mandolino city
04. Les Rita Mitsouko - Le petit train
05. Les Rita Mitsouko - Perfect eyes
06. Les Rita Mitsouko - Tongue dance
07. Les Rita Mitsouko - Singing in the shower
08. Les Rita Mitsouko - Petite fille princesse
09. Les Rita Mitsouko - Harpie & harpo
10. Les Rita Mitsouko - Ailleurs
11. Les Rita Mitsouko - Live in Las vegas