Chris

I can’t review music on an objective basis unless I either enjoy listening to it, or I find it interesting enough to continue listening because it’s weird and different. I did not find this interesting and I did not enjoy listening to it. It’s not offensive it’s just boring.

Well-made pop that didn't leave an impression on me. The vocals were nice and some of the instrumentals were good (Goya Soda) but overall I didn't gel with this in particular. Some songs were repetitive to the point of being grating and I can't see myself returning to this. Highlights: Doesn't Matter

What a pleasant, Pop-y surprise!

Never heard of before. Reminds me of Haim. Listened to the English version and enjoyed it.

Liked it more than I thought!

Canzoncine pop dozzinali

This is ok. I like the singers voice even if disco/dance music is not what i am into.

Chris is 2000s French electro-pop that wants to sound 80ish. I’m sure someone will like it, but that person is not me. 3.8/10

Meh.

Half way through disc 1… I am absolutely in love with this. It’s so fun and poppy! I preferred it in French over the English versions!

I didn't expect French electropop to hit this good. Some of the production can be a little basic, but that honestly just makes the fantastic vocals stand out that much more. I listened to the English version and enjoyed it enough to listen to the French version after. That alone makes this a 5.

I found this album very interesting! Multiple genres were included, though electropop was the most common, but mostly it just screams "I belong in the eighties"! Several of these songs could've been by the Eurythmics, even. Since Chris came out in 2018, maybe the album is a little cheesy, but I can't help that I enjoyed it anyway. I enjoyed the French inclusion, too. Even though Christine and the Queens (honestly, my favorite artist name) is French, I found the English lyrics quite impactful and smartly written. And thank goodness for more queer artists.

I really do like modern electropop, and it's criminally underrepresented on this project, so I was happy for the inclusion of an album centered around it, and from a queer artist, no less. I feel like what makes this album such a standout among other similar electropop albums of the time is the very clear funk elements, which come through as what is essentially homage to Michael Jackson. As someone who doesn't get much exposure to French music, I also appreciated the "Frenglish" approach this album takes. At the end of the day, this album is just fun, and as a queer person, let's be real, I have no choice but to stan this; this music is for us. 3.5, but definitely rounding up.

Again, not sure why this album is on as an essential.

Retro-rehashed '80s and '90s pop that countless other artists did better. What a useless pile of crap this album is.

this ones really just not for me lmfao

This makes me want to listen to Caroline Polachek. I might like this more if I remembered more from my French classes.

A strange addition to the list - I can think of way better (and more important / impactful) albums from the late 2010s that should be on this list. I've not listened to a lot of Christine and the Queens but this is pretty much what I expected based on the limited knowledge I did have. Not bad but just kind of boring. This isn't objectively bad like some of the stuff on this list, but I also will not put it on again on my own volition. A very high two - I just can't bring myself to give it a three.

far from the worst of the list, still does nothing for moi

You're not a gallic Michael Jackson so please stop. God this is awful faux 80s shite. Overproduced. Overexcited. Over it.

French Pop.

nice drums, ambient tracks and voice

jo men det här är ändå gött. känns som en bra florence and the machine

This album is really beautiful, so enchanting and funny at times, ethereal and dreamy at others... I've enjoyed it a lot, it has been a very pleasant experience. Some songs didn't resonate in me much, others were blander but, overall, this album has a great and very cohesive sound atmosphere and delivery, with some great songs.

This album broke me. I really didn't find it warranting a place on this list. Crap Europop. No stars - did not finish!

This album is like living in England, and going on a weekend holiday to Paris with a few friends. You go to a nightclub and get to dancing. Nobody around you speaks English, so you don't care about being judged. You're having a great time and the drinks are flowing. Next thing you know, you are talking to a French woman wearing a tight black dress and a woolen beret. You don't speak each other's language, so communication is difficult, but you dance the night away. A few more drinks later, the two of you are in a car heading (presumably) to her house. She pulls out a tobacco pouch and rolls herself a cigarette. Pretty cool. She proceeds to light it in the car, and smoke it in open defiance of the uber driver. Super cool. You are lost in the aura of this woman. So much so that you don't even care that you've got no idea where your hostel is and the battery on your phone is almost dead. You're not even sure this is a legitimate uber. Is this woman taking you to her house for an evening of romance? Or is she taking you to a dark alley to rob you? Is the driver in on this? Ahhh who cares.

I guess if we are "cancelling" Michael Jackson and pretending his music never existed, then this album could be considered worth a listen. But as it is, I sounds like recycled MJ vocal hooks over 80s beats. And sure, if this came out in the 80s, it may have had some impact musically. But it came out in 2018. I understand culturally this album is of importance. But as just an album to listen to, it sounds like radio pop that'll be stale and forgotten about in 6 months.

2.75

First disk was giving Barbie fashion designer video game for the PC in the early 2000s that I didn't want to relive. Second disk was just a total vibe that I felt the need to lean back and watch a lava lamp. Weird vision, but it's a good feeling. With this coming out in 2018, I'm wondering what the French are doing. I do love French music since they're so diverse, but what era am I in? First half has me reliving my early childhood that wasn't great. Second half I'm vibing like it's the 80s-90s. Still, I'm going to give a 4 because the second half is such a vibe.

A collection of synth pop that lacked any real energy or purpose

Pop is not my jam, but for me Christine and the Queens does it better than most on “Chris”. Part of it may be the depth of the lyrics, but I think the more important factor is that the music embraces and explores the genre. The artist leans into it. Some of the tunes of this record remind me of dance tunes from the 80s, others were clearly inspired by some of the top pop stars of decades past. Yet the music does more that rehash these sounds, it recreates these sounds into something fresh. Some subscribers of this project get excited when one of their favorite albums pops up here. I'm the opposite and get most excited when I get something unfamiliar. Sometimes, this means that I've heard of the work but just haven't ever taken the time to explore it. More rarely I get something I've never heard of, which was the case for me with this selection. A little weird consider the album’s critical acclaim, but I don’t pay much attention to pop music. I’m unlikely to add this album to my rotation. Again, not my jam. However, I’m still glad to have had the opportunity to explore this music, which likely never would have happened without this project.

förvånansvärt bra, brukar inte gilla pop

Wow what a nice surprise! From France no less, which makes me wonder how many hundreds of international albums deserve to be on this list. I like the sound of this pop record with its subtle arrangements and dry beats with a sparse mix. The vocals are performed very well, often carrying the whole tune over a minimal soundscape with some nice harmonies here and there. Looks like there’s french versions of some of these songs which I’ll be checking out as I bet they sound even better in their native tongue. It sure was great to listen to a modern day artist exploring pop music in this way!

Very reminiscent of HAIM, particularly "Comme si." "Goya Soda," "The Stranger," and "Follarse" were other notable highlights.

Voru þetta sömu lögin en bara á frönsku eða var þetta bara allt eins? Erfitt að segja, fannst eitthvað kjánalegt við þetta

Það er eitthvað sem er að grípa mig þarna. 80s sánd, grúví línur, hljómurinn í röddinni, franska inn á milli. Gott.

Toppenbra ny upptäckt

Överlag ett jäkligt snyggt o genomarbetat popsound, få grejer sticker ut men känns inte som det behövs heller med en så hög lägstanivå!

Fransk musik har nåt.

Not my usual style but pretty solid. Nice electronic pop backing music, nice vocals, catchy.

Sort of a baffling choice. I feel that about almost every post 2015 album. I think that’s the benefit of hindsight. This makes sense maybe as an album that’s emblematic of the more retro pop sound that was and still is popular? But I can’t say this album does it in a way that’s exceptional

This made the list?? Hell yes. I don't know if this is an automatic 5 bc it doesn't have the second disc, but *what* an album.

80s synth pop with a good but not memorable singer. I guess fake 80s is good, psst its not. Its not nearly as bad as I'm making it out to be & it sure as hell isn't as Great as they are claiming it is. Feels So Good is the silliest, fake-ist 80s song on here. Just pick a random 80s singer artist & it will be better than this. This isn't my cup of tea, so I'll wade into French version to see how deep I get. Not far. The French versions are better but I don't care enough to listen more. Doesn't matter is a great song in either language. It's poppy, it can be fun. I just do not care for it. You might. 2.5

Some songs were pleasant, some were irritating.

Good but not really in my genre. Worth another listen I think

Not really my style, and not much else to say. It could be good, but I don't think I am into the genre enough to be able to tell. It sounds ok, but didi not like the pacing and the overall feel. One of those cases where I truly believe I am not the target audience. And that's fine.

Didn’t finish, it’s ok but too mediocre?

5/10 Set beat. sing. repeat. 11-05-2025

I don't really follow the music scene in France, so i'm not sure how popular Christine and the Queens are there.....which by the way, is one person. "And the Queens" does not refer to other people in the group apparently, it's all just one person. I listened to the French side first since I assumed it would feel more natural. Definite Janet Jackson and late 80's/early 90's pop vibes, which I think they were able to pull off well. It's a good catchy sound which kinda does fit in a niche group when we have seen a small synthpop/synthwave revival. They definitely channeled their inner Michael Jackson for Feel So Good. Seems like this was their "coming out" album in being a bit more secure in their gender identity and sexuality, which is why there are a lot of snowflakes upset in the reviews like this album personally kicked their dog. It definitely is a culturally important album representing a larger movement that includes the the less "black and white" side of LGBTQ that blew up around this time and continues to today. There are plenty of homosexual artists that have been huge in the industry, but fewer trans or genderqueer artists even today that I am aware of. Overall I found the album good and catchy. Although the English side was a bit hard to catch all the lyrics, the essence was still there. I didn't find it "edgy" or "in your face" at all in a way that called attention to their sexuality or gender, but still a cool album nonetheless that I would have never heard otherwise.

This was okay… interesting

Better than I expected given finding her extremely annoying on social media adverts

Fun, French pop - highly enjoyable!

I've always said I don't like 80s music, but I've had an interesting, and frankly, shocking, run of 80s albums lately that show me that it's not 80s *music* I don't like, it's 80s *pop* music I don't like. Well, this album was released in 2018 but sounds like it was released in 1981. It's bubblegum poppy, complete with a heavy reliance on synth. Actually, the more I listened to it, it's still obviously *heavily* influenced by 80s pop, it is kind of an updated sound that I actually didn't hate. Yet another time I wish for half stars, but since I don't have them, and I'd listen to this album 10 times before I subjected myself to Iron Butterfly which I gave a 2, this gets a 3.

Revival of shit that sucked in the first place. It probably sounds the way she intended it, but I don't like it.

The first half sounded like Pop for English language learners. I liked the French versions better but still not my jam

Electronic Pop is not my thing but if it’s yours this is pretty decent.

3.5/5

I don’t have any history with CATQ. Slightly elevated pop music, it was ok but felt anything but vital. I preferred the second half of the album where it slowed down and the soundscapes became more interesting which seems contrary to most of the reviews I’ve seen. I only half listened to the French side, I don’t think it would alter my opinion.

„Chris“ von Christine and the Queens ist ein kraftvolles, aber nicht durchgehend überzeugendes Album. Mit Themen wie Identität und Selbstermächtigung beeindruckt es konzeptionell, verliert jedoch musikalisch an Tiefe.

I don't like this type of music.

Not my vibe

Queer, Poppy, fun. Quite diverse of an album as well. A general good time, with my favorite being girlfriend

Beautiful voice, but doesn't quite get me going otherwise.

A bit poppy

Given that there's no real substance to these tracks, the singer tries to infuse the thin melodies with some sort of emotion by employing every clichéd vocal mannerism from the handbook of modern pop.

even if i understood what they were saying this one wasn't for me. 1.5

Bit of an 80s sound, a little disco. Not my cup of tea.

Felt like run of the mill contemporary pop to me. Listened to the English half (side 1). Standout was "Doesn't Matter" because some of the synth was kinda cool.

Second album. Pop. Interesting, a double album. Once in English and once in French. Euro Lorde? That's how it feels to me. Crystal clear production. Some decent Synth stuff and samples. It's all a bit generic though and nothing really jumped out at me. The French version is the better one.

Very 80s sounding, I was surprised to see this was released in 2018. First impressions - rather forgettable. Nothing stood out, even the French versions were rather bland. Great for background music though. I can imagine this playing at some wanna be trendy boutique. I'd give it a 2.5 but will bump it up to 3.

Ne razumim poantu uvrštavaja ja ovog, prosjek totalni

Enjoyed this on an early morning chilly fall walk

SO GLAD THIS IS ON THIS LIST, also it's even better in french. Christine just has so much swag and attitude, and the songs and productions are so fun and slick

trans perspectives matter

A slinky, groovy album with surprising depth of emotion that nonetheless kinda peters out in the second half. I wish some of the singles, which really are fantastic, had been saved for the end of the album (or that the whole album had that kind of punch).

I think I might be biased here because I still have such vivid memories of seeing this album being performed live (hilariously, in English by a French artist in Spain) in what might still be one of my favorite concerts I've ever seen. On the other hand, I think the performance wouldn't have been so good if the music didn't demand it. It's an odyssey through remembered 80s and 90s pop/R&B, filtered through contemporary production techniques (e.g. GarageBand loops, which I plainly do not care about) and a very contemporary attitude. Of course, it's hard not to view this album through today’s lens of Rahim's full openness as a trans man, but you could read him in interviews at the time expressing that this album was more 'macho'. It certainly has that attitude and swagger, especially on the sexier tracks like "Girlfriend" or "Damn (what must a woman do)" and in the live performance's pyro and huge cast of dancers. But there's also so much room for tenderness and exploration on this album, especially on perhaps the album's best song "Doesn't matter", which musically builds and builds and builds to a point of no resolution while the lyrics take romantic desperation and turns into something existential. The easiest interpretation is that this is an album about identity, and it is, but I see it more as an album about navigating all kinds of complicated relationships: from the fan adoration of “Comme si" to the potentially homophobic partner of “Feel so good” to the sex worker of “5 dollars”, all transformed into pop music that best expresses Rahim’s most dramatic tendencies while still being reined in enough with deep grooves and great hooks.

Quirky French pop that has a good vibe. The album is really long, so I got a bit fatigued. But if you have friends who are into pop, this might save your sanity when picking a playlist for the night.

A perfectly fine French pop album, but nothing special. The production was quite boring and I didn’t really need to listen to the same songs in both English and French. 2.5 stars.

I was really hoping this would be some kind of glam rock, gender-bending rock and roll powerhouse of an album. It was not.

Nope.....just nope.

Really curious why this is in the list, but hey.

Her voice is great. ★★★

Best Song: Doesn't Matter (fitting track) It sounds like early 90's dance music that I despise. I do not hear much with this I enjoy no matter what language you choose to listen to it. I suppose if I ever feel nostalgic for my time stocking shelves at Nordstroms, I can throw this on and relive a hungover 19-year-old me stocking pantyhose with this kind of music acting as background noise for old, rich people to shop to so they feel like they're hip with the new music and their best years are not behind them. 1/5.

Ok a bit easy listening for me but jolly enough

Fine as background or elevator music but relatively innocuous and not particularly noteworthy.

Kind of fun. Not entirely sure why this is on the list, but some fun songs.

Part dance floor, part art school. Half English, half French, all interesting. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions: - Girlfriend - What’s-her-face - Follarse

Prétentieux.

Not sure what’s important or memorable about it to deserve inclusion on the list

**In-depth Review: *Chris* by Christine and the Queens** Released 21 September 2018 (Because Music) --- ### 1. Core Themes & Lyrical Content - **Gender & Identity**: The entire record is built around Héloïse Letissier’s masculine alter-ego “Chris”. Songs interrogate rigid gender roles (“Girlfriend” rejects the term “girlfriend” in favour of “lover” ) and celebrate pan-sexual desire (“Damn, dis-moi / What must a woman do”) . - **Sex & Power**: Sex-work is referenced without stigma (“5 Dollars”) and sexual appetite is framed as agency, not shame . - **Alienation vs. Euphoria**: “Doesn’t Matter” (fr. “Voleur de soleil”) captures the paralysis of an existential crisis set against compulsively upbeat synths . - **Bilingual Self**: Lyrics exist in parallel French & English versions; Letissier often keeps the emotional “weight” in whichever language it was first written, then mirrors rather than literally translates—creating two related but non-identical texts . --- ### 2. Music & Arrangements - **Retro backbone, modern sheen**: 80s-style Linn-drum pulses, glossy synth-bass and sparkling Juno pads recall Prince, Janet Jackson and early Madonna, but are mixed wider and louder for 2010s pop-radio . - **Funk & G-funk injections**: Dam-Funk plays talk-box guitar on “Damn, dis-moi”, planting the track firmly in West-coast boogie territory . - **Dark counter-currents**: Minor-key chord turns, detuned synth swells and abrupt filter drops (“What’s-Her-Face”) supply the album’s shadow half, preventing pure nostalgia . - **Rhythmic switch-ups**: “Goya ! Soda !” alternates half-time drum-breaks with four-on-the-floor passages, illustrating the push-pull of a consuming relationship . --- ### 3. Production & Sound Design - **Producer team**: Mainly Ash Workman (Metronomy) & Héloïse Letissier, with Cole M.G.N. on several cuts. - **Signature tricks**: – Stacked octave vocals to gender-bend the lead timbre. – Side-chained synth pads that “pump” like club compressors even in mid-tempo songs, keeping dance-floor DNA. – Sudden cinema-style muting (THX-style swell at the top of “Comme si”) to make the stereo field feel cinematic . - **Dual-language mixing**: Identical instrumental stems used for both releases; only the lead-vocal track is re-recorded, so timbre and phrasing shift slightly between French/English editions—an intentional reminder that identity is performance . --- ### 4. Influence & Reception - **Critical snapshot**: Metacritic 84/100 (22 reviews) – “universal acclaim”. - **Cultural footprint**: – “Girlfriend” reached #5 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs and became a pan-European summer 2018 radio staple, pushing non-binary visibility into Top-40 pop. – Multiple “Album of the Year” lists (Pitchfork 7.7, Guardian 5/5, NME 4/5). – Cited in academic gender-studies syllabi (e.g., Sciences-Po Paris 2020 course “Pop & Queer Identity”) as a primary-source text on contemporary francophone queer aesthetics. - **Artist influence**: Dua Lipa’s *Future Nostalgia* team name-checked *Chris* in interviews as proof that retro-funk could still sound “future”; Easy Life and Rina Sawayama borrowed the album’s spoken-word/rap cadences and bilingual switches. --- ### 5. Pros & Cons (verifiable summary) **Pros** ✅ Lyrical bravery – tackles sex, gender and religion with wit and clarity, yet remains hook-driven . ✅ Bilingual execution – two fully realised language versions add scholarly depth without feeling gimmicky . ✅ Sonic detail – crisp, punchy mixes reward headphone listening; live drums & synth-bass sit in perfect balance . ✅ Consistent energy – 11 tracks, 43 min; no filler ballads that overstay their welcome . ✅ Progressive representation – offers a visible, masculine-presenting queer woman on major-label pop channels. **Cons** ❌ Retro reliance – several reviewers note that some cuts (“Comme si on s’aimait”) lean so heavily on 80s templates that they feel derivative rather than innovative . ❌ Mid-album dip – “Follarse” and “Make Some Sense” slow momentum; the former described as “rarely catchy”, the latter “close to an outright ballad” that sags the pacing . ❌ Less surprising if you knew *Chaleur humaine* – while bolder, the fundamental sonic palette (synth-pop + R&B) is evolutionary, not revolutionary . --- ### 6. Verdict *Chris* is a tightly sequenced, intellectually charged pop record that succeeds in making queer theory danceable. Its fusion of vintage drum-machines, glossy modern mixing and bilingual, gender-fluid storytelling has already seeped into mainstream pop production styles. Although a couple of tracks retreat to safe retro pastiche, the album’s emotional and sonic high points (“Girlfriend”, “5 Dollars”, “Damn, dis-moi”, “What’s-Her-Face”) justify the critical praise and cement Christine and the Queens as a pivotal 2010s act.

Every song repeats the chorus at least two times too many. I don’t like these songs enough to listen to them again in French.

This album is vastly better in French. Maybe that's because I don't speak it, which makes it easier to pay attention to the melodies and production. In English, his (Chris aka Rahim Redcar uses he/him pronouns) enunciation and trying to fit English words in can be distracting. Overall, this album is decent but not amazing. It hits me roughly the same as that first CHVRCHES album when it popped up on the list. Catchy, decently produced, unremarkable. The first 2 songs are the best and make you think you're getting something better than you get as the album progresses. I really appreciate Redcar for undergoing such adventurous gender explorations as a public figure. I wish I could hear that adventurousness in his music.

Strong 2,5

I love the retro synth-pop production here, but some of the lyrics are a bit odd (seriously, what is a Goya Soda?), likely due to English. It being their first language. But that’s also kind of charming in a way. The Walker is my favorite track by far.

Verrassend goed. 3.5/5

Un álbum pop mainstream sin mucho para aportar en la experiencia de escucha. No entiendo muy bien cual es la relevancia que tiene como para estar en esta lista, pero bueno. Al menos escuchar la versión en francés le da un toque distintivo a un álbum que es extremadamente genérico. El álbum está bien producido y la interpretación está muy bien, pero no le encuentro nada especial. Tengo entendido que el contenido de las letras hace referencia a cuestiones de género, lo cual le aporta un poco de peso a un estilo tan comercial. Pero no me parece suficiente como para generar mucho impacto con la obra.

Meh

There are singles that I adore from this band. An entire album, especially of this length, outstays its welcome. 3/5

androgynous vocals with a pop sound. on some songs the singer kind of reminds me of a more feminine version of michael jackson. parts of it were interesting, but mostly not for me.

Meh

Did not like a single song.

Listened in both english and french. comme si is pretty good. for me it felt like basic pop nothing super outstanding. French was slightly better than english but maybe because i didn't know what it was saying. English: 7.23/10. French: 7.46/10 Overall: 7.33 3/5

I see why people like it but never quite did it for me

This is what I do this for! Not same old Brit Pop but something different and interesting. Sure, it didnt really grab me and there was no reason to have the English versions alongside the French. It was perfectly fine in French!

we have a new winner of the undeserving pitchforkcore award

Ex girlfriend music (non -derogatory) but also we need to stop the 1975-ification of music

Nope. Giving it two stars, but nope.

This album did nothing for this listener, except provide calm listening background music. Felt like any of these songs and music could be done by just about any other female musical artist. I played through the entire album and have to say I liked the french version better. Anyway, nice voice but felt I've heard all this a million times through the years. 2.5

2.5 French pop music - not so different from our own. In this album’s case, so much so that I couldn’t tell you anything that it does any better or really any differently than the kind of stuff that’s been on American radio rotation within the past ten years or so. I mean, there’s admittedly a bit of an ‘80s flair to it here, but I feel like that’s been the trend in pop music as of lately and by no means limited to this album - unless this did it first? (F***, 2018 was nearly 8 years ago). Either way, regardless of whatever influence this may or may not have had, for me, it was just a serviceable pop album - though clearly Rahim Redcar had many influences of his own while recording this, with Michael Jackson being an artist that came to mind heavily throughout my listening. However, those inspired tracks usually ended up being the ones that I enjoyed more - I mean, it’s kind of hard to go wrong trying to emulate the King of Pop. Goya Soda in particular was probably my favorite of the bunch, but come on, is it not borderline Wanna Be Startin’ Something? I’m sure most are aware, but the version on streaming is actually the same album twice, once in English, once in French. Now, normally I have a harder time attaching myself to songs written in foreign languages, but I actually thought the French version was a bit better. I don’t really have any good reason for that to be honest - I guess it felt like it flowed better and that Rahim was putting a bit more into it with his native tongue. Also, it’s not like there was really a ton of substance in the lyrics anyway besides the occasional agnostic rumination. All in all, pretty mid. Not the worst pop music I’ve heard, but certainly not the best either (certainly better than most of the early 2000s radio play though).

Overall: 4/10 I wanted to like this a lot cause it's nice to see some queer representation, but I found it kind of boring. There's much better pop artists out there. The vocals were nice and I appreciate that there are french and english versions (the french version is better). I'm sure some people will really enjoy this but it's not for me. Fav Song: Doesn't Matter (that's the name of the song, I'm not being rude lol)

Clearly, Christine and the Queens are important for LGBTQ+ visibility. Listening objectively, this is some pretty good Pop music. Not outstanding, but pretty good. It looks like CATQ are very popular internationally, but haven't made the inroads to the U.S. that would make it a must-listen. For something similar (and arguably better), I would suggest Haim's outstanding debut album, "Days Are Gone".

3.5

Pretty good! Liked the first three the best - the album is very my style, but not the best representation of it.

I’ve only heard of Christine and the Queens because he was on MGMT’s “Dancing in Babylon” that came out last year. Loss of Life was my favorite album released in 2024, so even though I don’t know any other songs by C&tQ, I have pretty high hopes for this album. I love electronic pop music, so this album should be right up my alley. I thought this album was fine. When it comes to pop music, I want something that’s dance-y, has hooky melodies, or has some lyrics that are really great to sing along too. While this album was fairly enjoyable to listen to, it didn’t check any of those personal boxes. The arrangements were beautiful at times, but I didn’t find anything about this album’s sound to be particularly memorable. There were some individual parts of this album that I liked, but it was rare that multiple elements really clicked for me. “Comme Si” started off the album on a decent not. It didn’t light my world on fire, but the overall sound was really nice, and the drum machines were excellent, leading me to believe that there was still a good chance I’d enjoy the album overall. The next song, “Girlfriend” was a bit better. I loved the keyboard melody, and the bass and lead guitars filled out the sound nicely. There was quite a bit of good stuff from the guitar underneath the keyboards and synths at times, and there was an interesting rhythm to the vocals. After that though, my interest started to wane a bit. “Doesn’t matter” and “5 dollars” were pretty good, and the bass on “Goya Soda” was excellent, but again, I just wasn’t wowed. Maybe other pop-heads will enjoy this more, but if I want to hear Christine and the Queens, I’m firing up their appearance on MGMT’s album.

This was enjoyable. I didn't expect it to be a double-album with the first one being in English and the second in French.

Sounds like an interesting artist, interesting story/background, but this music does absolutely nothing for me.

2.5 - decent 80s pop

Ok, but a bit too synth-driven.

Never heard of this guy, it wasn't terrible I guess although it went on a bit long and was half French

Way too long

Maybe there's more to this album if I listened more closely to the lyrics, but musically this is a mashup between 2020s dance and 1980s new wave that I found very boring, could hardly wait for this to be over.

I hate how much I enjoyed this album. Great vocals, I honestly didn't mind that it was in french because I like the singers voice so much. Also decent instrumentals. Overall not nearly as bad as I was expecting. Very fun pop-y album. Standout Songs: Comme si on s'aimait Doesn't matter (voleur de soleil) 5 dols Machin-chose L'étranger (voleur d'eau)

Some fun cool michael jackson type beats. But it was hard to understand the singer I felt a lot.

Pretty good sound.

This is a strange addition to the list. It's just generic pop. Nothing particularly good or bad. It happened, then it ended.

Its okay. One of the better 80s contributions.

j'm'attendais à kiffer mais pas tant que ça

Trashy electronica

Pretty great 80s synth sound that works really well with her voice. I was entertained all the way through.

didn't care for it 1/5

What would have been another mid 2010s pop album is elevated by some very impressive synth programming and arrangement. The obvious comparisons are to 80s electro funk and new jack but I think there's a more interesting comparison to be made to Scritti Politti, someone who is very interested in making DIY tracks with strong political statements but entirely aimed at the pop market. Girlfriend has an amazing Bernie Worrell synth right at the end which elevates the clever lyrics. I'm not sure how I feel about throwback kind of albums on here. On the other hand pop has been eating itself for decades so should you really be surprised that contemporary stuff is just updating stuff that's just outside the memories of its consumers? The Walker is a more straight up 2010s electro-ballad which rips off Sia and that Diplo style melancholy pretty hard. 5 Dollars goes back to the 80s with something straight from Peter Gabriel, but also keeps sounding like she's saying Phife Dog??? Goya Soda offers some interest by adding some more syncopated rhythms to the ballads. The bridge where the bassline gets detuned is genius. Damn (What must a woman do?) slowly builds in complexity, really showing off Chris's arrangements and queering James Brown. Feel So Good I think does the best at getting the electro-funk-ballad synthesis right, I think its the leaning on the bass to do a bit more rhythm work than was traditional in this kind of music that does it, it sounds a bit spacey and futurist while still having that hard syncopated edge that electro always needs. Definitely the highlight. Stranger is an interesting experiment but not quite at the same level as the former. He is clearly very talented but ultimately it kind of feels like Chris can't decide what he wants this album to be. Is it a fun Kendrick/Uptown Funk 80's tribute but with better sound design? Or is it a Gotye/Sia ballad 80's tribute thing but with slyer lyrics? If he'd picked one I think it would have been more powerful.

Too much sugar.

Should be able to give zero stars for this trash

It grew on me

not for me !

I should like this. But I did not. Pretty boring if I’m being honest.

Poppy shit, unclear of why it's here. Sounded kind of generic. 2*

Banger

it's an ok pop album

I did t listen to the French version but the English side was filled with adequate pop songs.

I have some passing familiarity with Christine and the Queens, mostly from the Girls soundtrack. I'm not a massive art-pop/synth-pop fan - something about it is slippery in my listening ear, becomes a little mall-like if I'm not listening intently. I acknowledge the huge influence and list of influences, its pillar place in queer history and culture, but the edges are too slick for me to grab onto. Grooveable, for sure. I feel like I'm 7 years too late to this one - 2018 me would have loved this. Interesting to have read Redcar's Wikipedia article - it almost feels like an intrusion to be listening to work that an artist has so completely detached from on an identity level.

How are you going to make a generic 2010s pop album and not even make any of the songs catchy? Without catchy melodies, pop is just completely empty.

5/10 Is this all at the same tempo? Certainly feels like it. Not a crime in itself, but this is a POP album and needs to DO more. It needs to be memorable and toe tapping. Highlights the issue with my scoring. 5/10 means YAWN.

3.5/5

Didn’t like this one.

Slick and enjoyable in the moment, with Goya Soda as a highlight, but overall not very memorable. The songs were nice but didn’t leave a strong impression, and none felt essential enough to listen again.

Liked it more than I thought. Synth Pop fun that had an 80s vibe to it in spots. The walker was a standout.

king princess francesa

Good pop, very clean sounding.

Surprising

I loved „what‘s-her-face“. Can‘t really say anything else, because I had to rush through the album 😬 will listen to it again tho

I dunno man, seems like way too much of this.

Not offensive- but not enjoyable in the least.

Le crap.

No private session used for Spotify and I had no idea what I was getting in to but was a bit concerned when I saw it was a double album. I know I have made my opinions one double albums before, but typically a double album would be much better as a normal album, getting rid of some of the crap. Anyway back to the double album in question, its not my thing, really digital and synth heavy, pretty poppy. The switching from French to English and back was confusing as I wasn't sure if I was mishearing the lyrics or not. All that being said, I didn't mind it, might have rated it higher if it wasn't a double album because it was a bit much.

Man, this is something. Was unfamiliar. There is an emotional wallop to the vocals which also evoke Michael Jackson through their intonations. All of this is backdropped by a minimal electro disco groove. AND THEY DO IT IN ENGLISH AND THEN FRENCH.

Not my vibe, but still had some bops

not bad but didn't finish it

Listened to the English version plus the French only songs. French is overrated, those songs blew. Why do you think Phoenix sings in English? It's songs! With music and lyrics!! We got this but no Bon Iver? "Doesn't matter" is the only song that stands out but I doubt I'd Shazam it if I were out at a bar and it came on. What is it about the MJ impersonation that I hate so much while I love when MJ does it? I guess it's the same issue I had with Kevin Parker's John Lennon impersonation or Foxygen's Mick Jagger one.

I thought I was going insane

Is this AI?

This album is gay, French, and pop, and as with most things that are gay, French, or pop, I think it's good that it exists, but it's not for me. Whether it's in English or French makes no big difference. However, I like the 80s synth retro vibe they've got going.

Chris is good in English, even better in French - softer and more exotic. Modernized electronica with Dido-esque vocals. Doesn’t Matter is top track, but all good! Another good entry on the 1001 Must Hear List as never would have heard this otherwise. (3.75*s) interesting to listen in English and read the lyrics in French.

Christine sounds a bit like a French Madonna but certainly not as good. I def did not need this one from the list. This Frenchy pop does not seem worthy; however, it is not the worst. Quickly moving past this one with a 1.45 star rating.

I didn't think I knew Christine and the Queens but apparently was familiar with Doesn't Matter from this album which I had previously saved. Outside of that song I was surprised how much I dug the rest of this. The electro-pop gave me a sort of amped up Imogen Heap vibes, which is definitely a good thing. The music was catchy enough to keep me hooked for the full playtime. I didn't opt to check out the french version of this album but might circle back to see how it sounds for comparison. Wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. 3.08

CATQ is the way forward.

no

It took me a couple goes to get into this album, but once I did, it was actually really good Fave songs: The Walker, what’s-her-face

Sofrível! Percussão eletrônica e uma pessoa sussurrando. Passo!

Decent pop, but not for me

I had never heard of this but I actually thought it was quite good. You could hear a lot of the classic influences from Michael Jackson, Prince, etc.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would

Is it impressive to release two versions of an album in different languages? Yes, yes it is. But that doesn't necessarily mean that either version is that good. I applaud the effort, even if I didn't like it that much. The french version was better. 2.5/5 Won't listen again

Despite coming out in 2018, this music sounds like the background of a Starbucks in 2008.

Only listened to the french version

7/10

I really enjoy the interesting complex voice, it scratches an itch my eardrum didn't even know it had

Dance music.

There were some good grooves and some good vibes but overall this was a "meh" for me.

Really enjoyed the first half of this album but second half kind of fell off / felt repetitive. Enjoyed a lot of the songs though - best for me were comme si and 5 dollars

Good

Synth pop album that didnt seem very catchy or memorable. Standout song: Doesnt matter

With the sound of a decaffeinated version of Michael Jackson, Chris is the kind of record you would expect to hear at a clothing store. There's nothing wrong with that in principle, sure, but there's a certain lack of edge and risk to the whole thing that makes it fall into that "music that is for everyone, yet for no one" category.

This is a rogue choice. Not awful, some memorable songs. I was initially irritated by how long this was before realising the album is repeated in french. I prefer the french. Also what a terrible album cover

Rock solid pop music

I find this perfectly serviceable pop with nice vocals, good production and nothing to offend. The red trouser wearer in me may suggest this wouldnt be famous without the zeitgeist catching trans ethos, but there is no way to prove it disprove this theory. However, i can definitively state its too long by about 40%

I liked it, would've been 4 stars if it wasn't 1.5 hours long, wtf is wrong with you that you think I want to listen to your poppy music for that long??

Very 80s didnt stand test of time. Very standard long and nothing special. Should be a top 1000 not even close

Bad electro synth. Actually not bad I just don’t care for it. Then most of it is in French, uninspired, and a pointlessly super long album. 2.8. Update: this aged well for me. Couple of songs at a time and it’s not dreck… 4.0

Nope. Just not that interesting.

For an album form 2018 to be included on this list it should be very special. This is not.

I wish I spoke better French. (Any French.) But god do I love their sound. I don't know why I never searched beyond "Tilted", the one song I knew, but I should have.

Not my vibe.

Decent album, very cool to have disc 1 in English and dic 2 in French.

35/1001 Christine and the Queens - Chris Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❎ (not in full) I must admit that after loving their debut Chaleur Humaine, I was kinda disappointed by the 80s tinged singles that were released ahead of this album being released. As such, I didn't actually get around to listening to the album. I understand the need to reinvent your sound, but it wasn't in a way that excited me. On listening to this today, we have two sides - one in English and the other of the same songs in French. Honestly, the French versions work so much better and I wished they'd stuck with one and not the other. Musically, I don't mind it, but never got engaged as much as the debut.

So there I was, weeks and months ago, pounding the desk for more non-English albums. So here I am now, realizing I can’t have my cake and eat it too. It’s not that I didn’t like this album outright, but it just sounds very much like 2018. Maybe that’s of more value to some, but I lived through that time and listened to plenty of pop then - this project doesn’t do a lot to distance itself from the sounds of that time. My picks from this album are the French version of “Doesn’t Matter” for having a great pop chorus, and the English version of “Goya Soda” for sounding like the blueprint for Caroline Polacheks “Desire, I Want To Turn Into You” album (which you should probably just listen to instead of Chris). Not sure if this is a 2 or a 3 stars

Really dull, and this kind of pop has been done so much better than this.

Pretty harmless French pop.

That wasn’t bad. The throwback 80s synth was well used (if a little odd to be on a list with anything from the actual 80s). It sounds better in French

Decided to listen to the French version. It took me a few songs to get into this album - it is pop but not pop built around hooks, if that makes sense - but by the fourth song I was really liking the vibe. Intelligent and interesting. The soundscape is immaculately sculptured and Rahim's vocals are excellent. The production is perhaps a bit too slick in places but I am guessing that's the Japanese City Pop influence (I struggle with JCP, admittedly). An easy 3.

Sometimes I struggle with how to review an album not in my favorite genre, especially this kind of electronica/dance pop because I usually find it very repetitive to the point of boredom. But there's something about this artist and this album that really felt different. I think Chris/Rahim's voice is mesmerizing (Make Some Sense)--even if I didn't understand the French lyrics (Machin-chose). When they were in English, their lyrics were intriguing (Girlfriend, Comme-si). While some of the beats in the tracks were repetitive, others were fun throwback sounds (Follarse, Goya!) or were very creative and really leaned into the dance mode with a rocking hip-hop groove (Damn). Worth a repeat listen or two!

I saw that the album was a double disc, but when I realized it was just English & French versions of each song I was cool with that. I don't get a newer band releasing a 90 minute double disc. You can cut out a few songs and make it a single disc. Anyway, the music was okay. I could tell there was a hint of auto-tune, the singer's voice was not very distinctive otherwise. I liked when they had her voice in the background, it was a bit more ethereal. Having a song called Goya Soda is like doing a song called RC Cola. It feels like you are restricting your audience just a tinge. It was pretty good electronic pop, but it's just not something I could totally get into. I was bopping my head to the first track or two, but the autotune and the sameness kinda took me out of it. Top tracks: "Comme si," "Girlfriend", "Damn (what must a woman do)"

Not a fan of pop, but there's something about this album. The beats remind me of Michael Jackson or Prince in their heydays. Comme si on s'aimait, Doesn't matter, and Fallarse are sublime. And their voice has a mysterious quality to it. Not androgynous but feminine at times (5 dols) and masculine, or at least Bieber-esque, at others (Bruce est dans le brouillard). Les yeux mouilles really shows off their voice. I was happy to listen to the French version of this album immediately followed by the English version, and then listen to it all over again. Though the French versions were generally better. Except Damn, dis-moi - it was just as cheesily bad as Girlfriend. The walker was just as good as La marcheuse, and that was one of the best songs period.

My first reaction to this album was "I bet it will be removed from the next edition." The first couple of tracks were ok - I thought I heard shades of Michael Jackson and figured this would be a 3. But then I found the next few tracks were very catchy (and I no longer heard MJ) and I was enjoying the album. The next thing I knew I was listening to the album on repeat for a while in the background, just enjoying bopping along. Finally got to listen closely and still liked it, but noted that the singing cadence in English was a little off - it sounded more natural in French, although since I don't speak French it could easily be as odd in French and I wouldn't know! I still wouldn't be surprised if it gets pulled - while I like the music, it doesn't sound that original - but I definitely enjoyed listening. Favorite tracks: The Walker, 5 Dollars, Make Some Sense.

Rv/G

Really liked it and has touches of R&B. Great vocals but all in French.

Day564 - if you told me it’s an eighties album that i missed then i’d say it’s better than almost all of kate bush's stuff.

Well, it’s ok - very lush pop, but the production and arrangement is so thick that there is no space for the music to breathe. Not bad, not good.

Interesting concept but poor execution. I feel like a lot of meaning was lost due to bad translations.

like french caroline polacheck

Listened Before? N Well, I don't speak French, so I needed to listen to the English version of this album and I gotta say.... I don't think he has a complete grasp on the language... or it just doesn't translate very well. Either way, the music is enjoyable but the lyrics make no sense in many places. Too bad. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Comme si

Released in 2018 but sounds like an 80's album. Pretty fun listen. This is a high-3 for me.

Fairly clunk 80s-synth pastiche made only a little more interesting because of the artist overt tackling of gender identity issues.

I don't have a lot of faith the writer truly picked this album because it was THE stand out representative of throwback pop by a Euro singer within the past 10 years. I mean, Tove Lo, Lykke Li, and Tove Stryke are right there. So Sad So Sexy even came out the same year. Shit, you want a French singer? Try Angele or Charlotte Gainsbourg. This wasn't bad, it was just mediocre - and there's so much other better throwback pop music out there. But I think the writer was checking a box and so here we are.

It has a good vibe, I liked the instrumentation. It’s catchy, but none of the songs were very memorable. It’s an album I’d put on at a pool party in the summer, but it wouldn’t be a feature. It would just be for the vibes.

Meh. Really not for me. It's not horrible. I don't think it's bad. But I just don't care for this type of music.

Pop music, ok

Confused me. And was very boring

I like one song on this and one other song thats not on this album. The rest feels like daft punk but with more androgyny, pop and sugar.

9/10 Glad something like this gets on the list, a much needed bit of diversity confirmed by the state of the other reviews here. I remember this at the time, was a big fan of Girlfriend. Absolute gem of an album. Leaning heavily into 80s and 90s R&B and pop, wonderful production here. There’s just something about the delivery and lyrics, this is pop with soul. Best: Girlfriend

Not for me.

This is way out of my lane for music I enjoy, but I gave it a try. I only listened to the english songs. I did not enjoy it and found myself skipping almost every song. The only song I listened to all the way through was Girlfriend, as it had some semblence to funk and groove. The rest sounded like boring pop. Add on top that they're French... yeah, no thanks. 1.5/5 = 2 stars because of the Girlfriend song.

1.74

A pop album which is more electronic than melody. 7/10

Pretentious, overly artsy, wannabe 80s synth pop.

I really like this, surprisingly. Some of it feels repetitive, but he has a great voice, and the beats are awesome. Oddly, I liked the French versions better than the English. I'll definitely check out his other stuff.

Um...yeah. Distinctly average pop songs. Might get a bonus 0.1 stars for being partially in French, but it's still Mid.

This really isn't my thing. A second disc of the same album, but in French, REALLY is not my thing

Really enjoyed this. Had no idea what to expect, but it was cool and I added a bunch of songs. Will probably listen to the ones I didn't add again and add more, honestly.

I liked it!

Decent pop. Better than anything Gaga has done

Meh

It's... fine. Pretty generic synth pop. Not deserving of being on this list in my opinion.

Couldn’t even finish this, just didn’t care for it at all

Not my style

Meh, ok but no standouts

First genuine wtf, no thanks

Cool, unconventional sounds!

Pleasant, unremarkable except in how slavishly they capture an 80s R&B flavor in a few songs.

Immediately went for the French version since I don't take in lyrics anyway, c'est super. But, actually, it got very boring and a lot of the tracks toward the end felt like alt takes or bonus tracks.

A French transgender Michael Jackson homage? Sign me up! Honestly, all of the politics aside, this is just 80s nostalgia and not done particularly well at that. This music could be the soundtrack to Stranger Things and no one would know it wasn't actually from the 80s. His accent is just heavy enough to make some lyrics hard to make out. It's always interesting that foreign language artists choose to perform in English. America is just so culturally dominant....Happy 4th of July! And now a song about the existence of God placed in an 80s dance pop song. This album is 90 minutes long! 23 songs! Why, France? What did everyone do to deserve this from you? You give us the Statue of Liberty and think you can just dump the rest of your garbage here? Just realized there's an English album and a French album. So it's half that, reasonable....should I listen to the English version or the French version? I guess the French? They were released at the same time so I'm sticking with the English version since I'm halfway through already. Thank God I looked up the track listing. Even at only 45 minutes this feels like a long album. There's a Kate Bush vibe to What's-her-face so the whole album sounds like someone digging in the crates and coming up with a bunch of 80s albums.

Came out in 2018 but its got some real 80s vibes. But also kinda similar vibes to earlier Charli XCX.

Considering this is one of the latest releases on the list and one of very few post 2010, this albums inclusion on this list is beyond me. Its fine, it's a cleanly produced and written pop album with decent cohesion, but we are really going with this to represent new music worthy of holding up with multiple albums worth of bands performing 'standards'. The metric for this list is an absolute fucking joke. Charli XCX's Pop 2 came out a year before this. SOPHIE had already dropped Product 3 years before this. So much interesting and innovative new pop music had been released prior to this album, yet here we are with a milquetoast safe pop album as the choice to hear before I die and for what reason. Because its well written? It's bland 80s inspired pop exploring themes of gender and vulnerability. of Montreal were doing that shit since 1996 to far greater effect and with a healthy dose of artistic merit. It's fine, it's not bad. But fuck me the 2010's have a million better albums on offer.

Nice vocals, decent production, but ultimately (and I hate using this word in reviews as it feels lazy and utterly unconstructive, but it fits perfectly here) - boring. Just so fucking boring. Genuinely the only interesting thing about this album is that it’s not by an American or English artist - that said I almost flipped my shit when I saw it was a double album only to realise disc 2 is just same again but in French, which in fairness is impressive but would actually likely have enjoyed the album a touch more if it blended both French and English lyrics rather than just recording a 2nd version for us monolingual chuds. Feel like I’ve heard almost every one of these songs 1000 times over on the radio in the last 10 years, and considering I don’t listen to radio by choice, gives you all you need to know about how bland and uninspired the whole thing is. Comme si (6/10) Girlfriend (4/10) The walker (5/10) Doesn’t matter (6/10) 5 dollars (5/10) Goya Soda (6/10) Damn (What Must a Woman Do) (3/10) What’s-Her-Face (5/10) Feels so good (5/10) Make some sense (5/10) The stranger (5/10) 5/10

good for the eighties, not now

So fun. So summery. So Dancy.

4/5. A pretty catchy and danceable album of well-produced and written pop songs. Sometimes it doesn't need to change the game, but rather expand on it, and Rahim does a good job at perfecting that craft. It's simple yet complex, pop music is meant to be this way, and I had a great time listening to this. It's not perfect but it is still really good. Best Song: Doesn't Matter, Comme Si, Goya Soda

This was fun and interesting. I like that it is the same songs in multiple languages.

Very mid and boring pop. 2.5 stars but skew closer to a 2 here.

Eh, this was okay, but a poor choice of backing music to demo a bathroom to. I feel like this didn't impact me significantly, but I did enjoy a few of the songs along the way. So I guess this is 3 territory.

Really nice bubbly electro dance here. The production is clean and not repetitive. Had a chuckle every time the male voice just came in with "Chris". Really high 4 here. I could see myself giving this a 5 after a handful of listens. Really funny to have a terrible French album and then a really good one right after. Get in my ear, Frenchie!

That was a very fun and energetic pop album. Kind of crazy that we got 2 French albums back to back, this one was way better than Serge Gainsbourg. Based solely off the album cover I thought this was going to be some new wave glam shit, but was completely wrong. Lost a little steam at the second half, but all around was good.

Wasn't really into the first song but Girlfriend is catchy as hell. Really reminds me of Michael Jackson. Really really hate Make Some Sense. The production on this was pretty great I gotta say. Not really my favorite type of music but it was a bit better than expected. Low 3.

I can’t stand this… Girlfriend is an okay song. I guess because of the background theme. Otherwise this is not for me

I didn't expect to like this album as much as I did or at all. Made me realise how much I had heard them throughout my childhood (especially tilted give it a listen if you havent already). The album was a mostly welcome blend of overproduced pop and 80s but by 5 songs became rather monotonous in its vibe. A good example of don't judge a book by its first 30 seconds. Was not a fan of their attempt at k-pop as it came across as rather jarring and forced and ruined the mostly fluid concept of the first half.

I listto both the English and French ones. I would say just go French, far less stilted and probably closer to their truth. 3/5 but 1 extra because my name is Chris.

Solid three-and-a-half album. The only thing missing from this album is one "larger-than-life" single.

It was ok

Reviews seem to be a bit harsh on this one and I’m not sure why. This was enjoyable. I’ve always had a soft spot for 80s Synth Pop and this album is very much in that same vein. The release had 2 versions available to stream: an English and a French version. I chose English so I didn’t have to listen to the same album twice in 2 different languages. If I'm still feeling adventurous later today, I may listen to the French version.

Solid pop album with enjoyable songs. I love the synth-pop style that flows through things. This was a pleasant surprise.

Goya Soda is such a Banger!!!

Another poop songs. Not my taste. By the way taste like shit.

I have previously heard of Christine and the Queens, but that was when she was first getting popular, when this album came out. After that, I dont think she was ever on my radar again. It was a nice way to be reintroduced to her music. The band has a good feel musically. Christines singing is good, although not always in styles that I prefer. This was not bad, but also probably not something I would get back to.

Chris is the second full-length album from Christine and the Queens, also known as just "Chris," who is now known as Rahim Claude Redcar. Redcar is a French singer that makes electro-pop. The release includes English and French versions of the songs. The album includes "Girlfriend," which was an international hit. It's a catchy, nu-disco dance track, and was near the top of several of "Best Song of 2018" lists.

01) Comme si - 8,0 02) Girlfriend - 10,0 03) The Walker - 9,0 04) Doesn't Matter - 9,0 05) 5 Dollars - 9,0 06) Goya Soda - 9,0 07) Damn (What Must a Woman Do) - 8,5 08) What's-Her-Face - 8,5 09) Feel So Good - 8,0 10) Make Some Sense - 8,5 11) The Stranger - 8,0 TOTAL: 8,68 (87/100) Current ranking: 83/587

Not my thing at all

Meh

not my vibe

A solid electro-pop album. The fact that there is 2 albums with the same songs but one in English and one in French is really cool. I listened through the English album and then I listened to the songs in order but in alternating languages. A really nice time and easy listening music.

YAS QUEEN

Kind of cool French pop not totally for me

Take some Ace of Base and mix it with Paula Abdul, sprinkle some Michael Jackson on top and then make it French: et voilà! Double albums have a one star penalty. (Je suis désolée, Christine & Queens)

Never heard of this album before today. It's not bad sort of synth pop dance stuff. Nice catchy beats, a lot of the lyrics are in I'm guessing French so I didn't understand it so much. Still an enjoyable listen.

New-ish and something completely different than what I usually listen to? Exicting! I listened to the English version of the album, and I wonder if that was a mistake. The whole album has a bit of an 80s vibe to it and overall sounds very well produced, so this should definitely speak to me! Unfortunately I can absolutely not get over how bad Christine's English pronunciation is. I don't know if it's intentional or not, but it annoys me to death and I can't hear anything other than that throughout the whole album. That is a shame. Going to have to be a 2 for me based on what I said. Could definitely be higher if someone else sang it, but can't stretch it in current state.

Felt like a basic art pop album from 2018. It has some catchy songs like “Comme-si”, “Girlfriend” and “The Stranger”. Everything is fine but nothing is really great. My main gripe with this is the number of similar albums that also were released in 2018. Robyn’s “Honey” is a great album in the same vein. So is Mitski’s “Be the Cowboy”. Both these albums were also released in 2018, have similar direction, and are clearly better albums in my opinion. Still, a newish album that is not somebody who got famous in the 90s is rare for this list. Mid 3.

behind on albums so i didn’t want to finish this. not bas. probably a 3/5.

Doesn't do much for me.

These songs are not bad. But they're also not spectacularly good, especially for the year 2018 when there was much better material on offer. The music here offers little in the way of instrumental/textural variation, virtuosity on any particular instrument (including vocals), or really even creativity in terms of style or ideas. Though 80s-style music doesn't get as much traction these days, it's not like nobody's making it. It just isn't as popular – and justifiably so, being a relic of a bygone era. I feel that praise on account of Chris's distinctly 80s atmosphere is kind of empty. The meat of this album lies not in the style, skill, or creativity of the music, but in the magical, floaty galaxy you're sent to when you close your eyes. Great for when you're tired and don't want anything overly complex or stimulating. In that sense, every individual track is fairly good (except for The stranger – that one is pretty terrible). But if your goal is to find a pot soundtrack, you can definitely do better than this (see: Pink Floyd). "Comme si" is a peppy opener that I'm surprised isn't the most listened-to song here. It must not have been a single. The following track, "Girlfriend", is sonically near-identical to Comme si, but without the nifty melody to back it up. The song "Doesn't matter" has ABBA-like vocal harmony and an awful drumbeat – but something about it still spoke to me. And Goya Soda sounds like it was plucked straight off Thriller, complete with the twangy synth-bass, Dorian mode, and glass-clear vocals. It could well be the best song here. In the song "Damn (what must a woman do)", man really said "damn what must a woman do? more like deh wah mashta poomadoo." 3/5 Key tracks: Comme si, Doesn't matter, Goya Soda

I didn’t know what to think at first, and when I saw it was a “double album” with all the songs in English, then again in French, and it was 90 minutes, I was like, damn. The English version was good. But the French side…way better. Should have just put out the French version! I liked it so much more. And I don’t know why, because lyrics going one ear and out the other.

Not really my jam. Very 80's sounding (this was made in 2018?!). Maybe this was important somewhere or to some one??

Horny French pop

Alright pop, not my thing.

Girlfriend Doesn't Matter

Pretty fun, though I thought it ran really long, which I found grating. It reminded me of things I like about a small number of female pop artists, and I obviously listened to both albums, so didn’t find it that terrible. I could see a few of these tracks making it on to my workout mix.

Ok just boring

HAIM if they were French Favorites: Doesn't Matter, Make Some Sense

I really enjoyed it and would happily have on again. I can't remember thinking a particular song must be the single, but that wasn't a bad thing.

Beautiful clean vocals a solid synth-pop album. I think if I didn't know the work on either side, I would like this even more. I want to listen to this more, though.

The singles are excellent. Drops off slightly for other tracks. Having the same album in both French and English is fine. But makes it a tad exhausting if you listen to both back to back. Would have preferred if they just picked 12 tracks and lived with it I enjoy her sound though. Solid 3/5

Intelligent lyrics for a pop record. Superb voice. Songs are great in French and in English, so actually worth having both.

This album has some very impressive, cheerful singles where Christine is able to get across his incredible force of personality. When it settles into more of a groove it becomes pleasant but less exceptional. Spotify put the English version of the record first for me, I wish it hadn’t because it’s not as good. I can see the ambitious commercial rational of releasing two versions, but I’d rather he selected the version that resonates best with him.

A high 3 for me, love the production style, first half is bangers then it drops off a bit

Clean production. Did not understand most of what she sang. Not too bad

Excellent. Enjoyed it a lot. Just great music. Bit dark in parts but the music and the voice make up for it. Have found more albums and listened to those also.

Great voice. Very emotive. I just don't like synth-pop.

DNF’d 🥲

Spanish HAIM?? As others have said, I am not really sure why this was included on the list. Nothing in this album particularly stands out as noteworthy, and for the most part blends in with its genre of modern pop.

I hadn’t heard of Christine and the Queens before today, but I really quite enjoyed this. It reminded me quite a bit of the poppier Haim and boygenius tracks, being somewhat minimalistic catchy Melodie’s with lovely vocal harmonies over the top. This is an artist I’ll have to look up further, because they’ve definitely left me very intrigued!

An hour and a half of French pop songs, and a bunch of them are just variations of the same song. It could have been worse, but it was frustrating to hear her rapidly switch between French and English with an accent, which led to me not understanding most of the lyrics even when they were in English.

A perfectly fine pop album. Chris really has the vocal chops to elevate this to something better than average, but the songs themselves just kind of wash over me so I’m kind of left with no lasting memory of what I’ve just heard.