CMJ
NEW MUSIC MONTHLYJuly 2003
CMJ
NEW MUSIC MONTHLY
July 2003
Francine
28 Plastic Blue Versions of Endings Without You
Q Division
Labeling a band's output as "brainy pop" can be something of a backhanded compliment, but the Boston quartet Francine seems to actively court such distinction. Ringleader Clayton Scoble shares Stephen Malkmus' droll mid-register vocal delivery and skewed pop sensibility, absent Pavement's hipper-than-thou aura. Francine's letter-perfect hooks and clever wordplay also recall Fountains of Wayne -- "Silverplated 606" opens with the line, "You're like a tracer fired from a certain undiscovered Yes record coveresque landscape," which somehow winds up rhymed with "stocking up on Beta tape." A mellower, jazzy feel separates Francine from these reference points, however. "Inside Joke" sports an airy "Girl from Ipanema" lilt, and the generally sparse arrangements leave plenty of roaming room for Sean Connelly's basslines. Classy and impressive as it sounds, Francine's sophomore effort would benefit from a few more up-tempo tracks to prevent its laconic pacing from fading into pleasant aural wallpaper. The punchier "This Sunday's Revival" immediately stands out, its chorus so catchy that it takes a while to realize the song is about rehabbing a neglected bicycle. Not until the dumbed-down "Ratmobile" does the quartet succumb to the joys of crunchy guitars and straight-ahead fun. For those willing to invest the time, 28 Plastic Blue Versions is a grower, a disc with depth to spare to reward repeated listenings.
- Glen Sarvady