AlizA©e - PsychA©dA©lices

Wonderful, but expect something different.

This CD can't be compared to Alizée's other CDs, and shouldn't be. Listen to it with an open mind and you will find your own personal choice of those 3 or 4 songs which 'get to you'.

Alizée's wonderful voice is there. This, along with the dynamic range of musical influences, earns it 5 stars. January 28, 2008

An Emerging Trend

Alizée, now aged 23 and no longer under the guidance of her former mentors Mylène Farmer and Laurent Boutonnat, undeniably demonstrates her ability to produce music that is on par with if not, at some times, better than what Mylène and Laurent scripted for her in earlier days. Citing a desire to explore new musical possibilities as the reason for her split with Mylène and Laurent, Alizée has clearly succeeded in this regard; her newest album "Psychédélices" reads (or listens, rather) like a journey through varying musical landscapes, each being mastered by Alizée's dazzling voice and the poetic verses of Jean Fauque that are expertly crafted to feature endless double meanings (a quality which Alizée has wisely chosen to preserve from her days with Mylène).

Some of the album's best pieces include the California-rock inspired "Fifty-Sixty" and "Lilly Town," the ever seductive "Mon Taxi Driver," and the delightful Nelly Furtado-esque "Par les Paupières." The album concludes with Alizée's charming love ballad to her daughter in "L'effet." December 23, 2007

The wait is over!

After a 4-year break, Alizée returns with new sounds and fans have not been let down! Let me be honest and say that the first time I heard the album, in its entirety, there were a couple of songs that I was indifferent towards, most notably Décollage. Most likely because I was not expecting such hip-hop sounds. Then the more and more I listen to this album, the more I've come appreciate each song for what they are and how they each hold that je ne sais quoi quality about them that makes each a welcome. You'll enjoy the hit single Mademoiselle Juliette, and Fifty Sixty to the ballads that I love most, Par Les Paupières and Idéaliser, and the lovely L'effet - a young mother's awe over her daughter. But one can go on and on. I would bet that after a while you too will be singing, or humming, to these songs even if you don't know French!

Those who are debating a purchase should Google Alizée's Wikipedia article and follow the external links to her official site and read her biography to get insights towards the inspirations and the motivations behind this new album and the individual songs, as well as hear samples of the songs (which in my opinion is still not as good as hearing them in full but at least gives you something to nibble on). One should also realize that any comparisons between this new album and the prior two are absurd. The two priors were produced by Mylène Farmer and Laurent Boutonnat, from which Alizée has learned so much. This new album is a product of the collaboration with other talents in the French music industry: Jean Fauque, Bertrand Burgalat, Oxmo Puccino, Lore, Daniel Darc, Fred Lo and Jérémy Chatelain. It is with the help of these folks that Alizée spreads her wings. To quote from her biography, "All Lolitas grow up in the end. Now at 23, Alizée's art more closely reflects the woman she has become today. "

Note: This Limited Edition contains the same 11 songs as the non-LE version, as well as a PAL formatted "Spsychédélices" DVD narrated by Jean Fauque, and 1 poster.
December 19, 2007

Mixed feelings

This package includes a short DVD and eleven songs. You can preview both at Alizée's official website, alizee-officiel.

The DVD is 4:13 followed by credits. There is a voice-over in French and background music with the instrumental part of the title song, Psychédélisces. The video shows Alizée driving a red sports car at night. The camera is jittery and only for seconds do you see more of Alizée than an eyebrow, half a face, her eyes, and her lips. There are also several shots of the pavement or parts of the auto. On the web site, instead, the video has no voiceover and the background music is two musical selections.

The music for seven of the eleven songs are by Alizée's husband, Jérémy Chatelain, a 23-year old rocker. Seven of the songs are written by Jean Fauque, a celebrated lyricist. You can find out more about these on MySpace, wikipedia, and elsewhere.

The package also includes a poster and booklet with complete lyrics and credits.

The first piece, Mademoiselle Juliette, makes Alizée's voice sound like a buzzing robot. If you search on YouTube and other such web sites for "Mademoiselle Juliette full single" you will find a version with her natural voice.

All but one piece of music have heavy percussion, in a few cases very heavy. One piece has the singer doing hip-hop. The last two pieces are ballad-like, one with heavy percussion. Two pieces verge on hard rock or disco. The title song, Psychédélisces, is lyrically beautiful but includes apparently randomly placed sharp clicks that sound like breaking sticks or drumsticks struck together.

For me two pieces made the CD worthwhile, Mon Taxi Driver and Lonely List. The rest either bored or annoyed me. But of course you will have your own favorites and dislikes. Happily for all of us Alizée's official website gives us previews of the music and video long enough to tell if we want to buy the CD and the DVD, or just the CD.
December 11, 2007

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