The King of France – The King of France

Brooklyn indie-pop outfit offers some hook-filled decrees

Don’t write off the King of France as just another hipster Brooklyn band fronted by a warbly-voiced singer. Vocalist Steve Salad is a veteran of Minneapolis’ defunct Deformo, and drummer Michael Azzerad is the author of—among other rock-crit books—This Band Could Be Your Life. Wearing scuffed and skewed crowns, they incorporate unexpected elements into their music, like the glorious Frankie Valli falsetto arcs on “Watch Out for the Man,” the Lee Hazlewood vocal exchange on opener “Mexico,” and the dramatic guitar intro on standout “The Beast.” If it loses a little steam as it progresses, The King of France still rules.