Lejeune

“They’ve managed to synthesize everything that’s non-cheesy about ‘80s music and make it their own...from the exquisitely layered production to an overall sound that splits the difference between mid-period versions of Roxy Music and the Smiths (with a bit of Lloyd Cole thrown in), this is music that sounds like it came from an era before people knew what grunge was...the band subtly shifts within its pop landscape.”
-- David Malitz, The Washington Post
“[Singer Sam Bishop] and the band have a quiter sense of drama: like such 80s British bands like Joy Division, Lejeune constructs a minimalist theatrical dialog between the vocals and the stately guitar and keyboard riffs.”
-- NPR / WAMU
“This isn’t simple, guitar-based indie rock; it’s something bigger, and the quintet does a fine job pulling off the complicated sound.”
-- Washington Post Nightlife Agenda
"In this age of iTunes and digital singles, For Club And Country is the rare album that is not about the individual tracks. Yes, there are plenty of radio ready songs, but they are merely pieces to a much larger puzzle. It’s a cohesive album that is enjoyable from the opening notes of "Your Serene Saturday Night" through the fade out of "Good Times." In between, exists an album full of jangly guitar, enough riffs to write a textbook and some of the most intelligent lyrics that DC has ever produced."
-- Instrumental Analysis
“Fans of R.E.M. and classic new wave pop should check out For Club and Country. The album is well produced and the songs carefully crafted to subtly vary from track to track.”
-- DCStyleMag.com
“While the sound of this band falls within the sprawling indie genre, Lejeune’s confident displays separate them easily from those who are merely well dressed and in possession of a Smiths record or two.”
-- On Tap Magazine
"Grand rock anthems that are bested only by chorus-laden pop tunes make for an intriguing listen alongside whatever road trip you’ve just embarked on. Great cinema sounds, my friends!"
-- Smother.net
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Washington, DC’s Lejeune writes and performs romantic pop rock about the usual: Japanese nightclubs, dormroom affairs, street violence, and magical thinking. The seasoned ensemble has honed its robust and velvety sound, finding inspiration in ‘60s torch singers, spaghetti-western soundtracks, and new wave pop.
The quintet’s sophomore effort, For Club and Country , was recorded at Richmond’s Sound of Music Studios in late 2006 with noted producer Alan Weatherhead (Cracker, Nina Persson, Sparklehorse), and captures Lejeune’s big live sound in intimate detail.
Comprised of equal measures twang and rock, with a touch of new wave, Lejeune’s literate songs range from the concise pop of “Bizarre Histrionics” to the epic balladry of “I Am in Your Corner,” visiting many unexpected places in between.
The LP’s opening track, “Your Serene Saturday Night,”---featuring dark verses, wide-open choruses of measured optimism, deep bass tones, crisp acoustic guitars, booming, cavernous drums and “deep fried” electric guitar work---evokes the sounds and themes of the entire album in just four minutes.
For Club and Country’s 11 songs are a document of Lejeune’s many transformations since the 2004 release of their eponymous album. The 2006 addition of J. Forté’s keyboard and backing vocals belies a larger theme of broader strokes on a grander canvas. Matthew Richardson’s distinctive lead guitar is still leading the charge while Sam Bishop’s arresting lyrics and assertive vocals traverse more adventurous territory. Alternately revealing and narrative, these songs are the atlas advising a new expedition for Lejeune.
Lejeune formed in 2003, and released their self-titled, 8-song debut the following year.
In additional to SNOCAP, Lejeune’s music is available for purchase through the following:
CDBaby
iTunes
and