This album is truly genius. My first impression of the artist was that he was a cross between Rammstein and System of a Down with the musical sensibility of Frank Black. As I don't speak any French, I really don't know what most of these songs are about, though I understand that they are mostly humorous.
I compare the artist to Frank Black in that his style is highly erratic (their really isn't much of a stylistic similarity, though there appears to be a lyrical one). This is the pinnacle of what label-free music should be: a truly creative artist with absolutely no attempt to purify the music to a mass-marketable state. The album is comprised of many different genres, often encapsulated within the same song. Some songs are so bizarre that they demand an immediate replay. It is impossible to deny the artists presence; it is immediately clear that you are listening to something unique and unforgettable.
The centerpiece of this album is clearly David TMX's voice. During some of the more ferocious moments in the album, it is tempting to pick out which more well-known metal vocalist he resembles. This is a pointless exercise, however, as his vocal style is so diverse that you will come up with different answers depending upon the song. More impressive than the diversity of his screams, however, is his melodic ability. I was very surprised to find out that this artist is also part of another project, Echo Lali, which makes music for children. During the quieter moments of the album, he uses a strong, deep voice which is very emotive. Some of the albums best moments are when the vocals bridge this gap, bringing a great deal of melodic power to a furious moment (Mes Collegues). The fact that the songs are all in French, which sounds to me to be a more difficult language, adds an interesting layer of vocal dexterity to the songs.
The songs on this album are split 50/50 between hardcore and 'other.' While there is a common style, it manifests itself more in the way that the artist expresses himself than in the actual sound. Some of the later songs on the album mesh punk and anthemic melodies to produce something very reminiscent of the Dropkick Murphys (la retraite du 507eme, La chute, Tape des nains). One of the songs, Plus jamais en Bretagne, also makes an appearance on an Echo Lali disc, though the performance is slightly modified between the two. There are a few songs which are very simply orchestrated between the guitar and vocals (Sous le pont du bois de chene, La cachette ideale). Several of the songs on the album draw heavily on hip-hop and R&B, most notably Tu vis Tu meurs.
For a really good look at how unique this artist truly is, I would recommend starting with "Dr. Lali vs. Mr. Hardcore." While I can't understand the words, it's pretty clearly some kind of twisted take on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
If you download one album while you're here on Jamendo, download this one.You won't regret it. Sorry about the errors in typing the song titles, and sorry I can't rate this higher that a ten.
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