Released: March 21st 2005

As the cover would suggest, Louis XIV are not the ones to turn to for good, clean fun; they bring the sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll and proffer it to the listeners with an endearing grin. And it’s hard to resist that playful sound.

The album starts off on a deceptive note, with tender violins, before suddenly breaking into Louis XIV, quite the effective opener and the inspiration for the group’s name, followed by the radio success Finding Out True Love Is Blind. Paper Doll has the dirty rhymes and A Letter to Dominique is perfect for a group sing-along, as are most of the remaining tracks. Illegal Tender still resonates as one of the better tracks with its compulsive clapping and theatrical moans in perfect time with the steady beat. Pledge of Allegiance has a nod to Stacey Q and with lines such as: ‘we don’t have to go to the pool/if you want me to make you wet,’ they certainly fulfil their quota of innuendo that’s bordering on the obscene.

In comparison, All the Little Pieces and Ball of Twine are much more low key, lending the quartet a quieter dimension. The former is much more melodic and alluring than the latter, which ends with the same strains of violin music that opened the disc. However, they are not as memorable when compared to the teasing and mischievous sound of the rest of the album.

The riffs are simple and the vocals are breathless, the promise of gratification accomplished. The whole album is a pleasure to listen to because it sounds as if the band had just as much fun recording each song as we have bobbing along to them.

Previously published on This Is Fake DIY.

Released: March 7th 2005

What a strange thing, to have a parental advisory sticker on the cover due to the risqué pictures on its cardboard folds rather than any obscenity in the lyrics. But it’s downright appropriate for a band named after one of the more decadent Kings of the past. Each word drips and tingles with the overt sexuality, and when paired with a danceable rhythm, the mix is hard to resist.

The San Diego four piece has already started taking over the American radio waves with their first single, ‘Finding Out True Love Is Blind,’ liked almost immediately by most upon first listen even though the exact reason why cannot be truly pinpointed. ‘Louis XIV’ is just that, an egotistical trip all about ‘me, me, me, me’, but they are quite ‘neat’ and pull it off neatly. The EP’s title track, ‘Illegal Tender,’ stands as the highlight of this little EP, bringing to mind Jack White and his penchant to sing in a nasally voice over quirky guitars. ‘Marc’ is the slow one of the bunch, while ‘Louis Reprise’ is the mute one. And is that a hint of country music?

Overall, a nice taster of things to come on their forthcoming debut album. One can only hope that they will not be killed by their own hype and the keenness of radio DJs to play good songs one time too many.

Previously published on This Is Fake DIY.