St. Germain des Pres attempts to capture the sophisticated feeling of Paris' artistic district in song, gathering 17 tracks from artists such as
Yves Montand,
Juliette Greco,
Jacques Brel, and
Jane Birkin.
Montand's "Les Feuilles Mortes" is richly romantic and bittersweet, as is
Brel's "Ne Me Quitte Pas," both of which define the throaty, brooding, slightly theatrical style of French chanteurs. Meanwhile,
Barbara's "L' Aigle Noir" and
Juliette Greco's rendition of the
Serge Gainsbourg-penned "La Javanaise" prove that the collection gives equal time to chanteuses as well.
Jane Birkin sings another
Gainsbourg tune, "La Gadoue," and the man himself performs "Chanson de Maglia." Other highlights include
Boris Vian's proudly elitist "Je Suis Snob,"
Claude Nougaro's "Le Jazz et la Java," and Arthur H.'s "Sur la Place." A witty and cultured album,
St. Germain des Pres may not be a definitive collection of French popular music, but it is an enjoyable one. ~ Heather Phares