There are countless bands who have indulged in orchestral arrangements in their day, and while sometimes they can make a song sound even brighter and more gorgeous, sometimes they just leave you scratching your head. Why, again, did Metallica record with an orchestra? Nevermind, it’s not important. New York City’s Frances is one such band whose six members make every song sound like the work of thirty, but in their case, it most definitely works. With debut album All the While, Frances pieces together an elegant and sophisticated creation, with strings, keyboards, xylophones, and various other exciting little bits of sound coming tog ether to make a unique and delightful pop style. The leadoff title track is an enormous and majestic introduction to the band’s modus operandi, while the slightly scaled back “The Brain” is a lovely bit of pop glee. What sets Frances apart from other chamber pop groups, however, is their dramatic flair. You can hear a little Broadway in these songs, and while I wouldn’t ordinarily be championing such a thing, in their case it most certainly works.
--Jeff Terich [October 20, 2008]
