Everybody Was In The French Resistance... Now!

Fixin' the Charts, Vol. 1 (Cooking Vinyl)

By Eleanor Whitney
Published: March 4th, 2010 | 7:00am

Part of a pop band’s function is to capture the imagination of its listeners, and on Fixin’ the Charts, Vol. 1, the duo known as Everybody Was In The French Resistance… Now! takes this phenomenon to a new level by writing responses to popular songs of the last four decades. Whether they are talking back to the snotty Avril Lavigne on "G.I.R.L.F.R.E.N. (You Know I've Got A)" or chiding absent fathers on “Billie’s Genes,” band members Eddie Argos of Art Brut and Dylan Valdés of the Blood Arm have decided to “fix” the popular music charts by composing 12 responses to songs they feel have somehow missed the mark.

Argos and Valdés have stated, “Pop music transmits all of our culture’s most valued ideals from one generation to the next; let’s make sure we get it right.” Clearly, they take pop music seriously and this shows in their songwriting. The songs feature dual male-female vocals and strong harmonies, chiming organs, and infectious melodies. The compositions are well-rounded with guest musicians playing guitars, horns, and strings that result in a very full sound.

However interesting a concept and well-produced it may be, Fixin’ the Charts’ longevity is questionable. Once a listener grasps the basic concept and listens carefully and figures out the references, the novelty soon wears off. There seems to be a limited shelf life for songs such as “Scarborough Affaire,” a response to “Scarborough Fair,” the traditional song made popular by Simon and Garfunkel and “Hey! It’s Jimmy Mack,” responding to Martha Reeves’ song of love lost.

Perhaps the biggest selling point of Everybody Was In The French Resistance… Now! is their name. It’s explained more fully on the album’s first track “Creeque Allies,” which references both the sixties West Coast folk scene and the 1940’s French resistance to the Nazis. It seems an odd pairing and, indeed, the duo’s name has little to do with their overall concept. In essence, Everybody Was In The French Resistance… Now! have produced a fun pop culture footnote, but not a memorable record.

Everybody Was In The French Resistance… Now! official site

Everybody Was In The French Resistance… Now! MySpace

Cooking Vinyl