...and we're not digging it. The greatly-anticipated new album from the French vocaliser is a disappointment: too much self-consciousness, not enough songwriting, and some graceless slagging of other singers. What a pity.

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They're the Dublin folk-rockers who've been touring around France this last month as support to Kill The Young, that's who! They'll be back in Dublin very soon for a few shows: until then you can watch them playing on a balcony above Dame Street.

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Prix de lark: Yet another big French festival on the first weekend of July - this time, at a famous old racetrack in Paris. Visiting acts include Vampire Weekend, The Gossip and (appropriately) Foals, while the local favourites include Cocoon, Rhesus, Vitalic, Yael Naim, Laurent Garnier and Yelle.

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In our new series, we show you the best of Paris via music videos made here. First, the most famous Paris landmark of all, in the video for Duran Duran's 'A View To A Kill'.

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Bell IV: The eastern French city of Belfort, historically a battle-ground, is today home to one of the country's biggest music festivals. The likes of CSS, dEUS, Vampire Weekend, The Gossip and loads more will be there on 4-6 July. French acts on the bill include Camille, Sebastien Tellier and prochaine-grande-chose The Dø: watch the video for 'On My Shoulders'.

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In the first of our 2008 holiday brochure series, a three-day festival right in the centre of a small northern French town. Check out the impressive first night: Chemical Brothers, Underworld, Justice and Boys Noize! Also appearing: Radiohead, Mika, The Wombats and Sigur Ros - "and more"!

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Another CLUAS-approved album by the Riviera shoegazer, who's be in Dublin later this month. At the Andrew's Lane Theatre! Next thing, they'll be blowing up the Pillar.

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France's greatest ever pop star would have been 80 today. We look back on the life of Serge Gainsbourg - and find a topical song for today's Irish political revelation.

The U-Bends: You can have their album online for free. Spend a penny in France this summer, though, and you'll be helping Radiohead stage a unique eco-friendly concert powered by converted biomass - in other words, chemically-treated sewage. Mmmmm.

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The bells! The bells! Our fellow 'Soundings'-lovers will be supporting Nada Surf on their upcoming European tour, starting with three April concerts in France.

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Welcome to the world of Mylène Farmer, the reclusive Quebec singer and 'French Madonna' who's France's biggest female pop star. Her music is bland and forgettable but she does her best to make up for it (banned videos, explicit lyrics, deranged fans). Here's a song you won't be hearing on Irish radio anytime soon: a not-too-bad single called 'F*** Them All'. All this smut and swearing is really unlike us, you know.

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Photos and other visual work by the iconic US rocker feature in a new exhibition at the Fondation Cartier in Paris. Smith will also perform at the centre as part of a concert series to complement the stuff on the walls - Kevin Shields will make a contribution.

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My lovely horse: Your blogger loves Paris in the springtime (and all year round), but we're also dreaming of the French countryside. Here's the song that's making us dream: 'Paris De Loin' by Poney Express.

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The French electronica legend is performing his classic 'Oxygène' album at the National Concert Hall in Dublin tonight and tomorrow night. Here's a video for a piece of music you should recognise.

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The annual alt-music get-together takes place in this week. French acts appearing in Austin include Digitalism and Herman Dune [Are you sure about this? - Ed.]. Okay, so the Frenchness of many of the Gallic contingent is questionable. Ironically, one of the genuine French acts playing in Texas is The Rodeo - watch 'I'm Rude'.

Victoire huge-o: Justice, Yael Naim, Feist (!) and Vanessa Paradis were among the winners at France's annual music award show. But look: there's Daft Punk! In the audience! Nominated for a prize! And wearing rubber headgear! What'll they say and do if they win? You can watch for yourself - along with a fantastic live performance from Keren Ann.

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Tough times in Paris for some of our compatriots. Unperturbed by the bad vibes, up pops a Waterford singer-songer for a support slot in the French capital this Sunday. Here's Declan de Barra singing 'Throw Your Arms Around Me on Irish television.

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The ultra-hip but slightly bizarre Parisian electro idol has really gone and done it - he's just been announced as France's entry for Eurovision 2008. But can he possibly beat 'la dinde irlandaise'?

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The celebrated French video-maker has to date made three promos for Irish acts. His work for Energy Orchard and Hothouse Flowers can be put down to on-the-job training, perhaps. However, here's a fairly impressive video for Sinead O'Connor's 'Fire On Babylon'.

A bout de souffle: Marking a decade since their much-loved debut album, Air will release a deluxe edition of 'Moon Safari' on 31 March. It still sounds wonderful - take a trip to the moon (and 1998) with the video for 'Sexy Boy'.

It goes "WAAAAOOOOUUUW, WAH-WAOUW-WOW, WOW-WOW-WAOUH, WAH-WAOUH..." and you pull your best rock-god air-guitar poses. Watch Gary Moore and Phil Lynott, real-deal rock gods, perform their famous duet live in the 1980s.

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The best of times: A new series of concerts sees acts from the UK capital playing in the French capital, and vice versa. Could the same concept work for an Irish city?

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The French electro DJ/remixer is one of the first names revealed from the annual Trinners shindig. Watch the dog-heavy video for 'Poney Part 1'.

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...not seen at all in Paris by your blogger. We're sorry we missed his appearance in the French capital last weekend, especially since we hear the RSAG live show is very impressive. You can find out for yourself if you're heading to the Childline Rocks concert on 28 February.

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The award-winning French singer/strange-sound-maker is back! At last! Two new songs from her forthcoming 'Music Hole' album are now available on her website. To prepare you for an eventual Irish concert (you hope), watch her performing her biggest hit a capella. Shy and quiet she isn't.

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