Noir Désir is probably the greatest French alternative rock band. Just listen to the hypnotic riff of Tostaky (Le Continent). They also mixed French and English, like in Aux Sombres Héros de l’Amer and Lost.
Singer Bertrand Cantat - a ‘perfect’ liberal - was not quite the greatest guy on Earth though, as in 2003 in he beat up to death his actress girlfriend in some Lithuanian hotel.