Sexy Rexy

It’s official. The recipe for Euro-rock success in the new millennium has been unveiled. Starting with simplistic and steady drum beats, add some seriously amped guitar and top it off with innuendo-packed borderline raunchy lyrics. It’s worked for The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, The White Stripes, and the more recent Kaiser Chiefs. Louis XIV’s breakout album, The Best Little Secrets Are Kept, takes advantage of this formula. Just one thing – they’re not British. They’re from San Diego.This foursome reigning from US soil has definitely found their groove. From start to finish you’ll have your head boppin’ and a smile fixed as you listen to the pathetically sexually deprived lyrics.

Despite their polished record, it’s difficult to digest Louis XIV as anything more than a parody band. Their first single, “Finding Out True Love Is Blind,” includes the exact chord progression of Green Day’s “Brain Stew,” with lyrics so ludicrous, it’s impossible to hide a laugh. “Hey, carrot juice, I wanna squeeze you away until you bleed/ And your vanilla friend, well she looks like something I need.” Or in “Pledge of Allegiance,” “Milkshake milkshake I love to feel you sweat/ We don’t have to go to the pool/ If you want me to make you wet.” “A Letter To Dominique” is reminiscent of The White Stripes’ minimalistic sound, repeating sparse lyrics over insubstantial sound. Even their artwork is arguably counterfeited from the Strokes.

All in all, Secrets is a campy yet entertaining album most definitely worth a listen. In order to survive the Sophomore slump and beyond, Louis XIV might want to lose at least some of the sexed lyrics to be taken seriously.