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Kojack - Crime in the City

For a dollar, I'll often take a chance on stuff I wouldn't normally poke with a stick. I've mentioned more than once that I am terrible with genres, especially subgenres within a genre, and here's an album that is well outside of what I normally listen to. Apparently, this is House, and more specifically French House. What I know about house music I could fit into a thimble and still have room for a sandwich. What I have learned about French House is that Daft Punk, being from France, were fitted into the "electronic/house" genre. I'll admit I really liked "Get Lucky," and it's weird to think that was ten years ago.

The album packaging was in immaculate shape, and even the vinyl cleaned up surprisingly well. This was from 1999 - it's cool it was released on vinyl, as I'm pretty sure there wasn't a lot of demand for an actual record. Although maybe in France they were being obstinate and insisted on vinyl. After all, they were DJs, and maybe they used their own records to create new beats (is that what it's called?).

So here I have an album I didn't expect to actually like. Strangely, I found myself playing it through more than a few times. I think what appeals to me is that the songs are mostly mid-tempo and leverage electronic elements with a groove and musical hooks. Oddly enough, if this was rock, I'd consider it progressive. Here, they just sort of throw in whatever seems to work. Heck, the album opens with a sample of Robin Zander from Cheap Trick at Budokan, so you know at some level they at least have good taste.

Oddly, as I'm listening to this, one of the tracks reminds me a little of Air's album Moon Safari - another duo from France. So maybe I know a little more than I thought I knew about the genre. Maybe I won't have room for that sandwich after all.

In terms of listening to Crime in the City, I don't know if this is a good example of French House, or simply derivative and an embarrassment to the genre.

I wonder what would have happened if Marty McFly were to go back in time now and try and wake up George, and all he had was a copy of Crime in the City. I'm guessing hearing Clint Eastwood on "Cold Blood" would have been as scary as hearing Eddie Van Halen do his impression of an elephant on his guitar.

I'm not sure this will get a lot of play, but I will admit that I liked this more than I thought I would. Although the track "You Can't Stop It" was pretty annoying, with the high-pitched, Porky Pig-sounding vocal repeating over and over, "You can't stop it" was super annoying, even if the piano trill and beat was kind of infectious. They sort of cancelled each other out.

Regardless, I feel like getting a sucker and putting on a fedora. "Who loves ya, baby?"

Okay, maybe not love, but this was fun, and there's a lot of stuff here to unpack. I think I'll play it again.

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