Chocolat
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Chocolat

Montréal, Quebec, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2006 | INDIE

Montréal, Quebec, Canada | INDIE
Established on Jan, 2006
Band Rock Singer/Songwriter

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Infesctiously danceable (M for Montreal review)"

Fortunately for those attending the evening's band showcase, there were plenty of solid French-speaking bands raring to go. Chocolat, the event's first act (who do sing in French), had the unenviable opening slot before the crowd could properly get their drink on, but managed to win most people over with their scrappiness and charm.

With a forceful swagger that invoked everything from The Stooges to the blues, Chocolat careened through an infectiously danceable with no shortage of soul. Mostly the attention was focused on lead singer/guitarist/harmonica player Jimmy Hunt, who possessed not only the best, most technically-impressive singing voice of the entire festival, but likely also the tightest pants, begging the age-old question "the tighter the pants, the tighter the band?" - Pop Matters.com


"One of the Highlights! (M for Montreal review)"

Chocolat manfully grasp the shitty opening act stick and risk being forgotten by the time number 16 rolls by. Quite simply, they are one of the highlights. Imagine Bob Dylan fronting The Yardbirds in 1964 at The Crawdaddy Club. The drawback – as with many Montreal acts – is their insistence on singing almost exclusively in French, but the quality of Jimmy Hunt’s vocals and Dale MacDonald’s modish guitar, not to mention his snappy black polo neck/suit combo, could transcend the snob element at any Northern Soul club.

Danny Eccleston - www.mojo4music.com - MOJO


"Strong offering (Ep review)"

Chocolat
By Rob Nay

Chocolat’s self-titled EP is a strong offering from the Montreal band that specialise in a hypnotic brand of francophone psychedelic pop. Blasts of organ, high strutting rhythms and off-kilter melodies form the basis for a number of the songs on the disc. “Le Monde est Vert” launches the record with sharp, tuneful hooks, while “Johnny Depp” offers an upbeat, ramshackle tribute to Hollywood’s richest pirate. Despite its brevity, the EP encompasses a range of songwriting. “Aime Moi” conveys more reserved, ballad-like leanings and “Magalie” lurches with highly catchy riffs and a wonderfully inebriated shuffle. With its stoned grooves, infectious tunefulness and solid musical variety, Chocolat’s EP offers consistently engaging listening.
- EXCLAIM


"Over too soon (Ep Review)"

" The mini-album is over too soon so there's only one thing to do : play it again and again! "
Juan Rodriguez, The Gazette, 22 mars 2007
- The Gazette


"Salivating for a full lenght! (Ep review)"

"Like any EP worth its salt, you’ll be salivating for a full-length."
Johnson Cummins, MIRROR, 26 avril 2007
- Montreal MIRROR


"LA revelation (FrancoFolies review)"

Chocolat ne fait surtout pas de la musique sucree ! C'est du gros rock envoye cependant avec subtilite. Ca roule, c'est en place et super efficace, style vieux Dylan enerve, voire Alan Vega, harmonica inclus ! La voix de Jimmy Hunt, le chanteur, est impec, la presence pertinente, on devrait en reparler. LA decouverte du festival !

Serge Beyer, Longueur d'Ondes - 06/08/2007
- Longueur d'Ondes (France)


"Number 4 in Québec (2007)"

http://www.bandeapart.fm/meilleur2007.asp
CHOCOLAT charted no 4 in the years' top 10 of 2007 (on Bande-à-Part right before Arcade Fire and right nex to We Are Wolves). It was the only Ep being featured in the yearly chart.

The Review from Bande-à-Part:
"On en a jamais assez et parce que c'est tellement bon, je vous dirais ici de manger la tablette au complet!!!"
Elodie Gagnon, BANDE-A-PART, 13 mars 2007

- Bande-a-part


"Le nom a retenir"

Parmi les groupes a suivre de pres, Chocolat est le nom a retenir. Ce quintette montrealais surprend avec ses melodies soignees et ses influences tres sixties. Enfin, du rock qui a bon gout!

David Cantin, Le Soleil, 5 janvier 2008 - Le Soleil


"Live up to their addictive namesake!"

"Like Roy Orbison leading The Black Lips, Chocolat live up to their addictive namesake. One song just isn't enough from the francophone group, who should make a splash with their forthcoming full-length debut."

86% Evaluation for the live show

http://www.chartattack.com/DAMN/2008/03/0758.cfm - Chartattack.com


"Over-the-top live beast"

Steve Guimond

Un peu de pop exquisite from these Montréal it-boys, built around the rockabilly soul of the highly regarded and more highly overlooked front-dude Jimmy Hunt (vox, guitar, harmonica), who has surrounded himself with fellow music spaceway travellers from Demon's Claws and Cockroaches. Piano Elegant is the quintet's first album proper, and it rolls with the punches of rock, country and soul, an overall mellow offering given the band's reputation as a fierce, over-the-top live beast. This one gets loud, quiet, dramatic and galactic, just the way we like it.

http://www.hour.ca/music/spin.aspx?iIDDisque=4841 - HOUR (Montreal)


Discography

2007 : Chocolat Ep (Dry and Dead)
2008 : Piano Elegant (Dare to Care Rds/Grosse Boîte)

45s :
Split w/ Cocobeurre (Goodbye Boozy Rds/Italy)
Gabrielle (Radio81 Rds)

Photos

Bio

CHOCOLAT formed in 2006 of Jimi Hunt's one-mand band extravaganza with Demon's Claws' (In the Red Rds) rythm section and Cockroaches unique guitar playing to make the most surprising Ep of 2007 in Montreal. Grabbing attention of indie stations and exctatic crowds across Quebec and Canada, the Chocolat Ep ranked in the top 10 of Bande-a-Part and many college stations. Their shows got noticed in every event they took part of (NXNE, CMW,Pop Montreal, M for Montreal, FMEAT, etc). From then on, the band started draw comparisons with Dylan's electric era or Dutronc's early years. Chocolat was only getting started!

Now, the studio time is over and Chocolat is sending your way Piano Elegant, his first Full-lenght album on Grosse Boite/Dare to Care (Malajube, We Are Wolves, Tricot Machine, etc). This new effort brings Hunt's songwriting and unique voice to new levels. Check out Chocolat, you'll hear from them and their Rock Elegant.

In 2014, Chocolat are back with a new LP, Tss Tss.

Band Members