My first encounter with Cocorosie was seeing them open for Bright Eyes two(?) years ago. I found them so unpalatable that I really hadn’t listened to them until last week. I’m still no diehard fan, but there are a handful of songs on their new record that are absolutely wonderful.

Link removed. Here’s my second favorite from the record:

MP3: Cocorosie – Rainbowarriors
Architecture in Helsinki hip-pop verses + a chorus straight out of the Neverending Story.

MP3: Cocorosie – Japan (link removed)
A bit of stop-and-go hurdy gurdy(?) starts “Japan” off slowly, churning along until it’s built up enough steam for the vocals to kick in. I wish I had something profound to say about the lyrics, but really they don’t get a lot weirder or a lot funnier than this. Each verse is covers a different vacation spot, and summarily explains why it’s no good. “Everybody wants to go to Jamaica / Queens in drag will surely fake you / Take you home and then they rape you / But you like it, so say ‘thank you!’