Best Music of 2007: French

Music from France has a big role in my life. There's so much that's so bad, there's so much that's so good, and then there's so much that's so bad it's good. I listen to both the latter two categories. But the list that follows is taken from the good category. And it's really nice stuff. That lovely button-hook, Vanessa Paradis, wife of Johnny Depp, has put out the best album of her career. And there are a host of newer musicians doing creative, beautiful, and challenging work to rival anything anywhere else. A couple of demo-level musicians are involved here, although not long of the demo, I hope. I'm really looking forward to Soko's and Cecile Hercule's coming work, both of whom should have some smart label calling them soon. I adore all of this... in different ways. Again, in no particular order.

• Cecile Hercule - demos (Pop)
  
• Cucumber - Boutique chic: Maison close EP & demos (ElectroPop)
  
• Emily Loizeau - L'Autre Bout du Monde (Pop)
  
• Fredda - Toutes Mes Adventures (Pop)
  
• Laïs - The Ladies Second Song (Pop/Folk) (... okay, Belgian)
  
• SoKo - Soko, Not Sokute EP (Pop/Rock)
  
• Pauline Croze - Un bruit qui court (Pop)
  
• Saint Privat - Superflu (Pop)
  
• Vanessa Paradis - Divine Idylle (Pop)
  
• Vincent Delerm - Favourite Songs (Pop/Chanson)
  
• Kraked Unit - Les Poupées Russes Soundtrack (Alt House)
  
• Yelle - Pop Up (ElectroPop)
  
• Watoo Watoo - La Fuite (Pop)
  
• Plasticines - LP1 (Garage Rock)
  
• Mick Est Tout Seul - Les Chansons Perdues (Pop/Rock)
  
• Helluvah - Have a Good Night (Indie)
  
• Turzi - A (Psych Trance)
  
• Monade - A Few Steps More (ElectroPop)
  

Also:
Best Music of 2007: Latin
Best Music of 2007: Electronic
Best Music of 2007: International
Best Music of 2007: Hip Hop