Racine carrée

This is rad. batard is fucking killer.

EDIT: I originally gave this album a 2, which the below review reflects

I've had 3 electropop/dance pop albums in my last four albums, so it seems like that genre is the user album equivalent of Dimery's britpop. Just pointing this out because I'm automatically going in with a biased opinion because I'm tired of this genre already. That said, I feel like by the end I gained a sense of respect for the album.

Starting with my least favorite aspect because it's the first thing on the album: the blaring stuttery synth. I think this sound is incredibly annoying. I said before that this album is electropop/dance pop, but it borrows heavily from late 00s-early 10s EDM, which I think was a low point for the genre and I usually don't like music with that style of production.

There are a few interesting things about this album. There seems to be some crossover with some traditional styles of African music mixed in with Stromae's typical style. It's not very common but it did make my ears prick up, definitely an interesting blend. The thing I found most interesting about the album were some of the songs that seem to follow in the steps of old chanson artists (Jacques Brel and Scott Walker from the main list fall under this category) which isn't something I've heard before, though maybe it's common amongst French language music. I always see chanson as an "old" genre, so seeing that style with a new coat of paint and mixed in with more modern genres like EDM is very interesting in my opinion.

When this album was generated I thought I heard the name "Stromae" about 10 years earlier, but wasn't sure, however after checking the reviews I think I may have been right because apparently this album was very popular in mainland Europe around the time it came out. It's interesting to see something that was a big deal elsewhere that I had miniscule knowledge of prior.

I don't like this album at all, that said I found it to be an interesting album that I would have never listened to otherwise. I do not regret listening to it at all, and that's the best compliment I can give an album.

Should it be on the main list: I'm going to abstain from this one. I was certain it was going to be a no, but apparently this was a huge deal in mainland Europe when it came out and it seems to be held in high regard, so I'll let those people decide for me.

Top 3 songs: Papaoutai, Tous les Mêmes, Merci

Favorite songs: Papaoutai, asf, Tous Les Memes, Formidable, Moules Frites, Ta Fete, Ave Cesaria, Batard

Least favorite songs: Quand C'est?

5/5

I bet this album would be really great performed in its entirety at a club or festival. Instead, it's just okay as an album, with a lot of great ideas, but suffers from the whole "early 2010s" of it all.

I always have time for rapping/singing in languages that I don't understand. I found the arrangements here just a little too pop for my liking, but it was diverting enough anyway.

Très bon

I try to spend my year avoiding Eurovision, so this just isn’t my cup of tea. My wife who loves Eurovision enjoyed it though.

I'm sorry I'm tired and don't feel like going to the club tonight. You go ahead without me.