Album- Wolfgang
Amadeus Phoenix
Artist- Phoenix
My friend got me on to this cool alternative band from
France that have been around for a while but haven’t really had that much
success, with this fourth studio album bringing them more mainstream attention
but still not quite at the level that they perhaps deserve. Here are my thoughts:
Track 1- Lisztomania
The opening track is a light pop number that has that dance
around and be silly feel to it, right from the start with the gentle electro
beat and all the way to the synth beats of the songs end which have a real
ethereal quality to them. The drum and guitar elements of the track have a real
steady that rhythm that give a bouncy energy to the track, with the chorus
section of the song featuring that let go and have fun kind of sound, which
really comes to the fore through the contrast of the choruses beginning in
which the drums stop for a moment, and then they are unleashed in the second
half. The vocal gives that kind of old school vibe of being rebellious, most
prominently within the final verse in which the lyrics are all about how “it’s
time to show it off”. And whilst you may not know what Lisztomania actually
means, the lyrical quality of the track brings to life that fun and frivolity
that is embodied within the songs overall sound.
4/5
Track 2- 1901
This track follow in the same kind of vein as the previous
track in that it has a light and fresh feel to it but it’s just a little bit
more mellow, although that is not to say that this a chilled out song. The
lyrics have that sense of creating a life that is all about having fun and just
an overall great time, which makes sense as the song is according to lead
singer Thomas Mars “a fantasy about Paris in 1901”. The beat feels similar to
the last track but has that steady pace and immediately grabs you from the
beginning, and the sound on this track feels a little bit more contained, which
is nice as it gives a smooth flavour to the song.
4/5
Track 3- Fences
Fences is a more chilled out affair that feels kind of
spaced out and has an opening song to a romantic comedy essence to it in my opinion.
The track offers a nice change of pace in that lyrically it’s a less frenetic
affair and simply speaks about the metaphor of fences in the road with regards
to a relationship. And the synth beat and drum bass creates for a subdued sound
that gives a nice rhythm to the track, and the more chilled out sound is really
helped by the relaxed, high pitched
vocal performance.
3.5/5
Track 4- Love Like A
Sunset Part 1
The nice three beat synth production, then being layered
with a car revving reminiscent beat, and then bringing in cool acoustic guitar.
Then the beat get more powerful and then stops to give a fear inducing broken old
radio kind of sound that builds and just keeps going. This is the strangest
track on the record that has no lyrics and feels like a bunch of sound. But if
you listen to the intricacies of the track it is quite good, and whilst long it
does match well with the second half.
3/5
Track 5- Love Like A
Sunset Part 2
This track picks up exactly where the last track ended but
features sweet love lyrics and a more powerful sound with greater natural
instruments like guitar within the production. And the way the track builds and
builds until the simple line “you’re like a sunset” is so beautiful and pure it
immediately captures you, with the way the track just lightly progresses lower
in sound at the end and having that very acoustic feel is really nice and lets
the line settle in your mind. It’s just a shame it only lasts for just under
two minutes, but then again that’s also the beauty of it.
4/5
Track 6- Lasso
Less of an electro pop feel to this song and more of a
traditional production drive, with fast paced drum beats and toms which give a
nice energy to the track. But lyrically the track is metaphorical but less
interesting than the other songs previously on the record, and the vocals don’t
really give that power to the track that is perhaps needed, especially in terms
of the final chorus which is highly underwhelming. A bop your head along kind
of number that you can just skip as it’s just missing that something needed to
grab your attention.
2.5/5
Track 7- Rome
The building of this track is definitely one of its strength
and gives it a sense of power that the previous track lacked. Whilst the chorus
could do with a little work the lyrics are nice storytelling and have a cute
feel to them and invoke some epic style imagery. The vocal gives a nice
softness to the track that suits the message of the song. But the best thing
about the song definitely has to be the use of drums and synths, with the band
creating a number where they know exactly when to hold back sonically and when
to unleash the force of their sound, with the clattering end being a welcome
finish.
3.5/5
Track 8- Countdown
This track features a powerful bass line and has an epic
melancholic but energetic energy to it. Synth production is here minimal with a
more stereotypical drum and bass sound that may not sound too much like other
songs on the record but is really refreshing and gives a great vibe to the
track. The great thing about the track is the diverging patterns of simple, mid
tempo vocals and production with up tempo and powerfully energetic moments, and
this is also really helped by the relationship playing out lyrics that are
poetic and nice, with a sense of honesty to them. It has an energy of you can
immerse yourself in the music to it, and is nice in not having really any kind
of concrete hook.
3.5/5
Track 9- Girlfriend
The opening of the track almost feels like it is a
continuation of the previous track, and it has that same kind of energy and
feel to it sonically and vocally, but the lyrical quality has a pace changing,
lost in thought edge to it that is a little different to the previous track,
and the continual beats within the production are more propulsive and the hook
is easily identifiable. The only issue with this is that it kind of just fades
out at the end and is that bit anti climatic, and it’s not like you’re
expecting a huge big finish, just a better one that’s on offer.
3/5
Track 10- Armistice
The final track is a fast paced up tempo number that feels
very much like the other tracks on the album in all respects and so is just a
nice unassuming end to the album and shows that the band knows at this point
not to let the music drag on.
3/5
Final Review
Phoenix are definitely one of the leading example of
alternative feeling blending together with pop sensibilities and so have that
great sound that feels highly modern and greater than much of the work produced
by other artists in today’s world. And the album is a cohesive body of material
that is full of great synth driven numbers and energising tracks that are just
a great listen. One day Phoenix will definitely have mega mainstream success.
8/10
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