This record is one of the most important records in Gainsbourg's discography. It shows him desperate, inspired by the reigns of the departed woman, of the lost sex provider, and the poetic femme fatale, all recalled by a lunatic, alcoholic poet who struggles with his pain in a majestic monologue of illness and madness. I am an not an english (excellent) speaker, but, as the Melody Maker magazine rates, I rate this record BLOODY ESSENTIAL, I mean it, please, I really mean it... Sergio Coddou copoval@cmet.net

Gaisnbourg was to French music what Miles Davis was to Jazz: A multi-talented artist, poet, song-writter, composer, innovator, talent recruiter, stage star, drug-addict, semi-shy, semi-bitter, semi-provocative, man of minority. He started with traditional Jazz and French music. He explored, created, and fusioned many styles, most of them excellent. Without him, French music would be missing several major facets of its modern scene.

This album is a key contribution in at least three ways: 1)It's his most accomplished story-album, where he walks the listener through his relationship with a frivolous lover. (structured a bit like a rock-opera). 2) the poetry is incredible beautiful and erotic 3)it uses "broken rhymes", one of Gainsbourg's inventions.

WARNING: If you think you can appreciate this album or artist by listening to a 20 sec. clip, than you probably won't like it. If you speak French, like Baudelaire, Verlaine, Chopin,(which Gainsbourg often recomposes in pop-style), edonism, and dislike puritans, P.C. people and you can sit still and experience an album for 45 mns, then you'll probably end up enthoused by this masterpiece.