French Kicks

A blend of post-punk aggression and mod melodies and harmonies, the French Kicks originally featured guitarists/vocalists Matt Stinchcomb and Josh Wise, bassist Jamie Krents, and drummer/vocalist Nick Stumpf. Washington, D.C. natives Krents, Stumpf, and Stinchcomb began playing together in their early teens, inspired by their hometown's renowned hardcore scene; upon moving to Brooklyn after college, the trio met Wise and became a quartet. Officially christened the French Kicks in 1998, the group released their self-titled debut EP on My Pal God the following year.The Young Lawyer EP arrived in early 2001, and a year later the group toured with the Vue and labelmates the Walkmen before releasing their full-length debut, One Time Bells. Trial of the Century followed in spring 2004, featuring vocalist Stumpf, by then on keyboards, and new drummer Aaron Thurston. The following year, the band began writing songs for their third album, and all but founding member Matt Stinchcomb amicably left the group before the start of recording. In early 2006, the French Kicks reunited with Trial of the Century producer Doug Boehm in L.A. to record. With the addition of guitarist Kush El Amin, Two Thousand arrived that summer. Swimming appeared in 2008 and continued the smooth pop direction of Two Thousand (amazon.com).

The French Kicks - 1999



1. Arena
2. White
3. Take In Water
4. So Many Cakes

Good Music!

Young Lawyer - 2000



1. Young Lawyer
2. Living Room Is Empty
3. The 88
4. Call Our Hands
5. Destro
6. Piano

Good Music!

One Time Bells - 2002



1. Wrong Side
2. When You Heard You
3. Down Now
4. Crying Just For Show
5. Close To Modern
6. 1985
7. Right In Time
8. Trying Whining
9. One Time Bells
10. Where We went
11. Sunday Night Is Fair

Good Music!

Trail of the Century - 2004



1. One More Time
2. Don't Thank Me
3. The Trial Of The Century
4. Oh Fine
5. The Falls
6. Was It a Crime
7. Following Waves
8. You Could Not Decide
9. Yes, I Guess
10. Only So Long
11. Better Time

Good Music!

Two Thousand - 2006



1. So Far We Are
2. Also Ran
3. Cloche
4. Knee High
5. Keep It Amazed
6. No Mean Time
7. Basement: DC
8. England Just Will Not Let You Recover
9. Hey I Wait I
10. Go On

Good Music!

Swimming - 2008



1. Abandon
2. Over The World
3. Carried Away
4. New Man
5. Said So What
6. Atlanta
7. Love In The Ruins
8. With The Fishes
9. The Way You Arrive
10. All Our Weekends
11. Sex Tourists
12. This Could Go Wrong

Good Music!