French Kicks seem like one of those bands that, for reasons beyond their control, never got the widespread acclaim they should have. They do garage rock like the Strokes, and get as dark and post-punky as Interpol, as this video for the ruminative "Abandon" proves. The clip is as dark as the song, with various people, apparently feeling abandoned, getting together to drown out their sorrows at a party.

French Kicks' Swimming is out now via Vagrant. [Stereogum]