Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix will be out May 25 in Europe and out the 26th in the US on Glassnote. The first single will be "Lisztomania."

1 Lisztomania
2 1901
3 Fences
4 Love Like A Sunset Pt. 1
5 Love Like A Sunset Pt. 2
6 Lasso
7 Rome
8 Countdown
9 Girlfriend
10 Armistice

the cover is retarded

yes, that certainly is a shitty cover. song's ok, though.

yeah it's okay, kinda wish they'd stuck w/ the unobtrusive super-bright guitars of the last album but everyone's all dancey now so what the fuck ever

i still think this is gonna be dope tho

*raises fist*

by unobtrusive i meant unobscured or something

Haven't heard the music, but I like Phoenix. And I like the classical references. A good sign, usually. :)

kinda weird to say 'everyone's all dancey now' like phoenix havent been doing that thing since their first album

The last album was an exception, but also worked less than their first two albums. So better if they go back the the formula of those two.

single is fucking awesome

Yeah, I dunno, the single goes by without doing much of anything to me, but then again I thought Long Distance Call was lacking at first and eventually I grew to love the record from which it sprang forth, so...

I'm sort of disappointed with the "dance rock" farty sonic cliches that turn up in the single, but again, but. but...they seem to have hit upon some magic formula that allows them to get away with all manner of otherwise egregioustuff irregardless of how it initially hits my ears

I wish Sebastien Tellier would be so consistent

The cover artwork is awesome in the same crappy way that the last record's was. That being said, I'll always love the artwork for Alphabetical w/o any reservations or qualifications whatsoever.

i love the title!!

can someone ysi me the single

kinda weird to say 'everyone's all dancey now' like phoenix havent been doing that thing since their first album

― just sayin, Thursday, March 5, 2009 6:06 AM (9 hours ago) Bookmark

yeah but this is way diff than their lounge disco days

yeah yr right. i wish those lounge disco days would return.

s1ocki you can DL the single from http://www.wearephoenix.com/

1901 is killing me softly for a while now

Rally is their finest moment imo

The last album was an exception, but also worked less than their first two albums.

Their last album was the best album of 2006. I am interested in hearing this.

This album will kill

did not expect to be loving 1901 the way i am. the song so good it needed not one but 2 awesome choruses! and it's short. so so good. hope the rest is.

Still looking forward to this; still utterly baffled that they're sharing a label with Riskay.

psyched!

I'm surprised the GREAT track "Twenty-One One Zero" for Cartier LOVE - described earlier as a preview of the new album - isn't on the tracklist:

Of course maybe it's been re-titled?

That is great!

not sure about the artwork but i love the single "1901."

http://www.wearephoenix.com/extras/facebook/wap_facebook.jpg

http://www.buzzgrinder.com/images/album-leak.jpg

LEAKED! PSYCHED!

for the love of god webmail me!!!!!!!!!!!

its fecking awes

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/janetlovesu/you_got_it_dude.jpg

xpost

omg, sendspace almost never works! Thanks man!

Works like a charm for me, nae bother! :)

That "Twenty-One One Zero" track is on the album.

Blown off my socks! Didn't expect anything else, but still. Massive.

Exactly what I expected in a giddy, perfect way.

'Girlfriend' is absolutely glorious

yeah, I'm just there too!

spose it's this album's North?

yes, girlfriend

Seems like it, though Girlfriend sounds even more 'focused', it's crafted in a way that you'd forget it's crafted in the first place! It's musical architecture at it's top, like the most beautiful building you've ever seen yet didn't realize it because well, it's a building. The best things go unnoticed. It's such a long track in Phoenix-terms, yet it seems to fly by in two minutes. Don't know if I'm making sense at all, but this is just so perfect!

someone hook me up? :D

lol cutty i cant see your email address in that email

OH NOES

d/l now, thanks for the heads up ILM!

not finding it :-(

:-) :-) :-)

not finding it too ;)

Does anyone know the correct tracklist? I can't seem to find it (stupid pfork timing out on me)

from the blog i got it off:

01 Lisztomania
02 1901
03 Fences
04 Love Like A Sunset Pt. 1
05 Love Like A Sunset Pt. 2
06 Lasso
07 Rome
08 Countdown
09 Girlfriend
10 Armistice

Ah, I've got a wrong version then (wrong songtitles), but this is so so so great <3

Any chance anyone can point me in the right direction..?

Found it, although the leaked version appears to have the tracklisting mixed up and only has 9 songs on it (unless that Love Like a Sunset track is combined into one)

yeah i think that's what it is

"it's never been like that" was my summer album when it came out. this comes out in may as well. everyone be careful not to listen too many times right now you can enjoy it in the proper season.

hard to resist, though!

this record is fucking awesome. seriously

girlfriend really is that good. it's like proggy ice cream with a hidden pop nougat

def e2-e4 influence

this is the best album, so far, for 2009. not quite sure why it's grabbing me the way it is. it's joyfulness and pop song essence is what i need at this moment. or great music is just great music.

i really don't know Phoenix but i'm now starting to correct that.

what do i have to do to hear now

http://tinyurl.com/c5tb4d

OMG, thanks dude. Even if you made me feel retarded for a split sec, I'm happy to DL this.

50/50 girlfriend becomes an ipod ad. A+++ summer album fo' sho.

thank you x 1,000,000,000,000

I'm not sure I'm feeling the louder, brasher sound they've gone for on this. It reminds me of that Digitalism single from a couple of years ago and not in a good way.

I like them best when they're lush and shiny, his voice sounds a lot worse here than on previous albums.

voice sounds the same to me. i'm not sure if any of the songs are as hooky as their previous singles, but its definitely their most solid album overall.

I only bother to listen to it when this thread gets bumped though, I enjoy it on those occasion though.

the album isn't even out yet, dude

haha! I used to have to save up for weeks to buy CDs when I was in school.

Anyone heard their Kitsune Tabloid mix yet? I'm d/l now and the tracklisting looks ace:

01 Kiss - Love Theme From Kiss 2:23
02 Dirty Projectors - Rise Above 5:00
03 The Red Crayola - Victory Garden 1:50
04 The Impressions - I’ve Been Trying 2:47
05 Chris Bell - I Am The Cosmos 3:45
06 Roxy Music - Pyjamarama 2:52
07 The 13th Floor Elevators - I Had To Tell You 2:27
08 Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Shipbuilding 4:48
09 D’angelo - Send It On 5:57
10 Tangerine Dream - Love On A Real Train 3:55
11 Urge Overkill - Stull (Part 1) 5:25
12 Lo Borges - Aos Baroes 2:32
13 Iggy Pop & James Williamson - Master Charge 4:31
14 Dennis Wilson - Lady (Falling In Love) 2:09
15 Irma Thomas - It’s Raining 2:06
16 Ritchie Valens - In A Turkin Town 2:08
17 Dusty Springfield - I Think It’s Gonna Rain Today 3:15
18 Lou Reed - Street Hassle 10:59

1901 is *blazingly* good. In fact the whole thing seems to be their best yet.

It's terrific, yes. "Twenty-One One Zero" has been transformed into "Love Like A Sunset".

Anyone downloaded the "multitracks" from "1901" off their website? Fun to strip away stuff, or listen to just synths/keys etc. Beautifully constructed song.

It is, yes! Very interesting to break it down into a different set of tracks, and fun to play around with.

I dunno. I find this LP really underwhelming at the moment. It has at least sent me back to United, which is absolutely one of the most entertaining LPs of the decade. It's brimful of brilliant lyrical and musical fun & games, where Wolfgang seems to be a couple of ideas (and ones they've already used!) stretched over an LP.
But as has been pointed out upthread Phoenix are a band for the summertime (It's Never Been Like That didn't make sense until July), so I live in hope.
Incidentally, has anyone pointed out that the "wolfgang" type on the album cover has been nicked from Wolfgang ("who is") Flur's neon sign?

I only got into it's never been like that in september/oct and it had more of a elegiac end-of-the-summer vibe

but yeah, summer is key.

Incidentally, has anyone pointed out that the "wolfgang" type on the album cover has been nicked from Wolfgang ("who is") Flur's neon sign?

Dying to hear Girlfriend, but I can't seem to get Lasso off repeat...

That is if Lasso is the song that starts with the "Who's the boy you like the most" lyric and ends with that gorgeous wall of guitar, synths, drums, etc.

Can't seem to get a proper tracklist on this album.

this should help

http://wearephoenix.com/journal/?p=94

SNL April 4th

Really??

wow

I like them best when they're lush and shiny, his voice sounds a lot worse here than on previous albums.

― McDonaldinho (Matt DC), Wednesday, March 18, 2009 1:21 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark

i had the reservations wrt to lushness at first too but man idk i think this might be better than 'it's never been like that'. i like the bass and guitar on a lot of these songs, they way they just kinda flutter under the vocals and the general brashness of the sound, and on like "fences" and "lasso" they kinda groove in the way "everything is everything" does

The Only Band That Matters, You Poxy Fules.

As with It's Never Been Like That, this album sounds absolutely dynamite as the weather incrementally gets sunnier and sunnier. At first, I liked this, but playing it in the morning only confirms my opinion that Phoenix are a great pop band because their albums are so rich, they only get hookier and deeper with every listen. Repeat!

^^^^^^^I agree 100%....best album of the year, so far. Hooks for miles! Its refreshing to see a pop band craft their songs so carefully, there's really not a wasted note. The sequencing, throwing Love Like A Sunset in the middle, thwarts what could've been saccharine overload. Will this finally lead to some stateside love for them?

SNL April 4th

― billstevejim,

Phoenix is on Saturday Night Live tonight!

Did that sound "live" to anyone else?

ha it sounded "good", i was just thinking how much better it sounded than most but w/e

it was definitely live - those keyboards were mixed way louder than on the recorded version

I guess they're super-professional, as you would have to be as Air's backing band.

yeah i mean they're whole thing is being SUPER clean and pristine

Okay, the fact Phoenix is on SNL is already strange enough. The fact they're getting a *third* segment is ridiculously unexpected.

I first realized they must have a new album coming out when I saw them on SNL last night. Cool, I'd kind of forgotten about these guys. I think their songs were the best I'd seen on SNL in a couple years. Usually I get bored after 30 seconds and fast forward. I'm guessing they impressed so much that they were asked to encore for a third tune at the end. Pretty unprecedented.

WOW, three songs? does anyone know what songs they played and/or have a link? can't believe we have to wait until the end of May for this album.

third song was "too young" maybe? but it was just them playing through the credits, so it was only on air for 90 seconds if even

thanks JOrdan! i love the drumming, hope this is a BIG summer record for these guys.

not to be neg nancy here but a lot of acts play a third song

i don't ever remember seeing it

I watch SNL on a semi-regular basis and don't remember ever seeing a band play three times. I'd like to believe that they really did blow everyone away so much that they were asked to play an encore, but it's much more likely that the show was just running about 90 secs short and they got to play over the credits.
Fucking great performance, though, the only recent SNL performance this good I remember was Bjork with her all-girl horn section when Volta was coming out.
I'm 6 tracks deep listening to the new album first time thru and it's soo good.

Is that 3rd clip streaming anywhere?

U2 got three songs a few years ago, but they're U2. Weird for them to bestow the honor upon lowly little Phoenix.

is the singer still dating S. Coppola? And could that have any impact on the US media to push the band a bit or am i completely oversestimating the influence of hipster royalty?

Coldplay got three performances during their most recent appearance, but again... Coldplay. It was so cool to see Phoenix get three though, and they all sounded great. When the opening credits were on, my wife gave them a dismissive "who???" but by the end of the first song she was asking me when the album was out.

is the singer still dating S. Coppola? And could that have any impact on the US media to push the band a bit or am i completely oversestimating the influence of hipster royalty?

― baaderonixx, Monday, 6 April 2009 12:37 (10 minutes ago)

...but they've been dating for years

Everytime I hear a new Phoenix record, I initially really resent the vocals which always sound a bit whiny and out of place - before letting the stuff grow on me. I'm still at that stage right now (doesn't help seeing what singer looks like for the 1st time)

dude rules

cool, thanks! This is still their best song btw

yeah when i went + saw them that track & if i ever feel better still got the biggest response

cool, thanks! This is still their best song btw

― Plaxico (I know, right?), Monday, April 6, 2009 10:51 AM (3 hours ago) Bookmark

tru fax

when did this band become a BFD?

until i saw everyone salivating on a bunch of msg boards and blogs over waiting for this album to leak, i just thought they were some band on astralwerks whose records never stuck with me.

i think they're a bfd cuz they're clean cut and adult like the shins without sounding like the shins

it's music for ppl who aspire to go hip art showings w/o realizing that they listen to way "cooler" music at actual hip art showings

idk basically im saying i think their image has a lot to do with it even though their music is incredible

found the effect on the vocals really annoying, and keyboardist reminded me of this

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/edwardiii/no_scarves.jpg

god whiney you are a BFD

"no turtlenecks - you're indoors and oh wait a second"

'er indoors and everyone's laughing at you

I'm liking the music and the production on the new one but after a while it seems like the vocals are exactly the same on all their songs

Um...
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705295051/Saturday-Sunday-on-TV.html

lol utah

So are these dudes gonna tour or what?

One date in L.A. on June 28 is the only US date they have listed on their Myspace.

too good to not repost

Saturday Night Live (10:30 p.m., Ch. 30): Seth Rogen hosts; Phoenix — the alleged hip-hop group headed by alleged hip-hopper Joaquin Phoenix — performs.

Everytime I hear a new Phoenix record, I initially really resent the vocals which always sound a bit whiny and out of place - before letting the stuff grow on me.
― baaderonixx, Monday, April 6, 2009 8:53 AM (8 hours ago)

otm

the only thing id heard from this band was a todd edwards remix of if i ever feel better

so first impression of this is that its very um, limp

if i saw 1901 on tv in the pub id not pay much attention to it, sounds like generic 200-something out of the box rock for 2009

some of it reminds me of what i thought pinback should have sounded like when they went hi-fi

the songs are all very well put together, and well recorded but nothing jumps out and grabs my attention, maybe it'll click after a few more listens

some of it reminds me of what i thought pinback should have sounded like when they went hi-fi

Phoenix comes on right before Pinback alphabetically on my [mp3 file listening device] and after recently adding a few new Phoenix songs, the once brilliant sounding Pinback is now like a step down in sound quality, which hadn't occured to me as a possibility.. Regardless "From Nothing To Nowhere" is still in my best tracks of the decade..

>Did that sound "live" to anyone else?

Well, the lead vocal was double-tracked, which is -ahem- always tricky to pull off live, but it sounded pretty live otherwise. Probably played live to a backing track. Sounds good either way.

"sounds like generic 200-something out of the box rock for 2009"

wtf does this phrase even mean?

absolutely nothing

I wonder how big of a sales boost they'll get from SNL. Did anyone notice if they cracked the iTunes Top 100 on Sunday?

The Kitsuné compilation is fucking A btw.

"This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by NBC Universal."

How does anyone benefit from this?

NBC wants you to watch the episode on hulu, with ads

Will it even still be on hulu by next week?

tf is a bfd?

GIRLFRIEND>

oic

BFwow

i like fences

me 2

I actually can't get past the first two songs because they're too good.

So.. friends of mine are calling "Love Like A Sunset" a "buzzkill" that ruins the flow of the album. Is this true, or am I just not hearing it?

You're not hearing it because they're RONG

'Love Like A Sunset' is pretty fantastic.

your friends otm

besides the singles i think "lasso" is the best

probably the song that reminds me most of 'it's never been like that'

http://app.razorplanet.com/acct/40402-2396/images/raising_hands_to_sky.jpg

i think this is quite good, but i can't quite understand why a lot of people are loving this. maybe it's his voice, but there definitely are a few excellent songs

because we like phoenix

i am a fan of the band and enjoy the album, although i'm on the fence with track 4.

Lisztomania is fucking good on first listen.

I didn't realise ILM had such a boner for Phoneix, INBLT is still sitting pretty imo

ILM Top 100 2000-2004: TRACKS

This is where I first heard of Phoenix.. the boner has been several years strong.

it must be sorta sore by now then

Apparently Chicago has a boner for Phoenix. I tried to buy tickets for their June 13 show at Park West this morning and it's sold out already. Granted it's only 1,200 or so capacity, but I really didn't think they had a big enough following to not be able to get tickets a month and a half in advance.

Yeah, that's a fucking brilliant mashup.

oh my word that's amazing. do you know of any other videos that collect classic dancing scenes together like this?

Fucking hell the drumming on Girlfriend lets talk about it for a second why don't we

this album is so good. i don't know any of the names of the tracks due to using a shuffle, but ALL OF THEM are v good.

Woah, the final mix of Girlfriend is quite different.

The album's streaming on Myspace btw if people want to hear it now - http://www.myspace.com/wearephoenix

I got the promo this morning, sounds as expected but that's no bad thing. Not sure about the placing of Love Like Sunset though.

>Woah, the final mix of Girlfriend is quite different.

Yeah, on first listen though I think I prefer the "new" version.

On repeated listens it's not quite as different as i first thought, it's the little fakepout at the start that threw me. Think i do prefer the new one as well though.

Sorry about my long silence, was saving my breath for URB:
http://www.urb.com/reviews/cd/feature.php?ReviewId=1196

"The French Strokes"? I've never heard that frase before (your review is the third result Google comes up with even!). It doesn't make any sense, like, at all.

Otherwise, a nice review. The sound on the new one indeed seems a tad less smooth, a bit more harsh. But it's a very minor change to my ears.

girldfriend is dope

xpost,

That's what I always heard them described as early on.

Of course, the Strokes were much more popular back then.

and many things were a "blank-Strokes"

They do remind me of the Strokes. Both Phoenix and the Strokes are freaking badass. this album is great imho

only the last two albums remind me of the Strokes, but it is the first thought I had upon hearing "It's Never Been Like That"

It's Never Been Like That DEFINITELY reminded me of The Strokes, but a summery, lazing-in-a-French-meadow version.. The new one does too, slightly less so.

Loving the Holy Ghost! remix of Liztomania

I didn't like this album much for a week or two...had to hold back from talking shit upthread.

'Countdown' is prolly my favorite song of 2009.

yeah, i was not blown away at all at first and then before I knew it I loved every song. Def not as immediate as INBLT

Loving the Holy Ghost! remix of Liztomania

― groovypanda, Friday, 22 May 2009 21:42 (Yesterday)

Where can you get that?

found it on the fader website

Cool cheers.

hey this album is good

yes

Awesome.

Really great album. I was a bit disappointed by the previous one, where they tried a bit too hard to be the French Strokes. But this album may be their best yet. They have regained some of the polished sound of the first two albums, but also preserved some of the band feel of the third one. Plus the songs are better than ever, and the washes of electro are also great. A pleasant surprise.

I can't stop listening to Phoenix.

Yeah, I had assumed that It's Never Been Like That was gonna be a peak, but if it was they definitely peaked further with this, or something.

I'm kind of surprised by how much I'm loving this album. Great melodies, which aren't so obvious when you first hear them, but which really stick. I also think the production is incredible. My favorite track at the moment is "1901".

when i play this around people, they keep asking me what it is so they can get a copy.

Le Grand Combat: Air Vs. Daft Punk Vs. Phoenix

no

Bought this yesterday and listened to it as I drove across Dartmoor in blazing sunshine; perfect conditions. Then opened it up on the big hi-fi at home with the windows open and at was glorious there, too. Massive improvement on the last one, which I literally can't listen to beyond a minute because of the hideous compression.

Much less minimalist r'n'b flavoured than Alphabetical, which I guess was kind of Strokes / Spoon meets Timbaland. This is more like... it's not a million miles away from Coldplay, actually, only with better hooks, less boring melodies, and a singer who isn't annoying. Plus it lacks the ego of Coldplay's big, pseudo-profound moments; Phoenix are happy just to play catchy pop/rock songs with meaningless second-language lyrics. This is definitely one of my favourites of 2009 so far.

And yes, the drums through the whole album are wicked fun.

it's so weird that they don't have a full-time drummer. i can't even think of any bands ever that had as many as four core members and none of them drummed.

rock bands, obv

everybody OTM on this. It finally clicked when I listened to it on repeat in my car and then I was blown away a second time when I heard on my hi-fi - amazing production so round and so crisp at the same time (for lack of better words)

god this album makes me happy

phoenix always make me happy. and they always release their albums around this time of year, when it's just warming up. perfect. XD

new album is a real grower. saw them live last night and they were A++

Anyone heard their Kitsune Tabloid mix yet?

Listened to it last night. Pretty stellar, both in terms of song selection and in sequencing.

Yeah, you've got to respect anyone who, having presumably whittled down a tracklist from a whole pile of favourite tunes, thinks fuck it and clears a big chunk at the end for all of Street Hassle.

It's the Urge Overkill inclusion that wins my heart

Oh, and also Dusty's version of I Think It's Gonna Rain Today is one of the greatest songs ever recorded. The string arrangement is possibly even better than the voice, which is saying something.

Kitsune thing is pretty sweet, loads of great things I'd never heard of (Irma Thomas, Lo Borges) and unexpected inclusions (Red Krayola, Dirty Projectors, D'Angelo).

think i mentioned it on another thread but lovin the Fight For Love / 25Hrs A Day mix of Lisztomania

I enjoyed the Tabloid mix more than the album... but I've only heard the album twice so far. Of course, Lizstomania and 1901 are incredible, but I'm just not getting anywhere near the same enjoyment from the rest. Glad to hear it's a grower, braveclub.

ps. Isn't the Alex Metric remix better or at least more catchy than the original Lizstomania?

Just listened to the bonus DVD audio commentary. I don't know if it came with the CD everywhere. Having an audio commentary for all the songs (like for a movie) seems like such a simple idea and yet I had never seen something like it.

Exactly! I picked up my copy at FNAC on holiday in France, and it has a bonus cd and the bonus dvd. I assume we're talking about the same package? It's great to hear the band talk you through it like that. I've embraced this album already since the leak, but the cd sounds so, so great. The break in Lizstomania, when the guitars and drums drop and that beautiful synth kicks in alone is enough to love this album dearly.

Yeah that synth break on Lisztomania is a thing of wonder.

im down with the harpsichordy ish on armistice

loving this. it reminds of a non-miserabilist smiths

man this kitsune comp is such a good rainy day mix.

Having an audio commentary for all the songs (like for a movie) seems like such a simple idea and yet I had never seen something like it.

Pet Shop Boys have one on their latest CD. Maybe it'll be a growing thing. Added content as a further incentive to buy.

I like this album. Wouldn't go further than like atm though.

Air France was/is working on something like that for a special edition of their last EP iirc

i wasn't much into the last album but i'm REALLY into this one. i really like the slinky groove of "fences"

This would be much better if the guy didn't sing so much. As it is, it's just your generic indie rock. The remixes of Liztomania are decent (Metric/Holy Ghost) but it's impossible for me to listen to two of these songs in a row. Way too much singing. If I Ever Feel Better is and will remain the best thing they've done.

how is it generic indie rock? and how would less vocals make it less generic or less indie rock?

Actually, my problem with Phoenix is how feeble this guy's vocals are.

never bothered me, and i am usually annoyed by feeble rock vocals.

like others the guy's thin voice kind of annoyed me in the past but while listening to the first couple of songs of the new album i got used to it. it is ok, it doesn't drive me up the walls like chris martin's voice for example. i really seem to like this album, there is something fresh & breezy about it. it has a positive summer vibe and drives away all those dark clouds which have been piling up above my head in the last couple of months. actually i didn't get very far into the album yet. just to the instrumental "love like a sunset part 1" which is great btw. with or without voice these tracks are fabulous. most of the album (all of it?) can be streamed over at lastfm.

I dropped "Fences" into an amateur DJ set last night, and it went over pretty well.

http://www.wearephoenix.com/banquedefrance/

login: CONCORDE

i've listened to this album a bunch of times now, it's great. i had their first album, i didn't like it all that much at the time, but that one tune of theirs sounded quite nice in the context of the party scene in lost in translation...

what songs/albums should i look for next?

On Letterman tonight - is all this media frenzy actually leading to sales?

Ticket sales, for sure. They sold out their (smallish) club gig in Chicago virtually instantly. I talked to a booker at a slightly bigger club that had bid for them, but apparently the band was worried it wouldn't be able to fill her place. The same booker told me she predicts that within less than a year the group will be playing venues exponentially larger than either hers or the place where Phoenix played.

What's the slightly bigger club? Metro? Because I saw them headline there four years ago, and while the show didn't sell out, the venue was certainly full enough that I would suspect that they'd have no trouble selling it out now. They seem like they're at least at Vic-level.

HoB. My booker friend agrees with me that the Aragon is not that far off.

I'll never forget chatting with Jason Falkner before he gave an 'in-store' at Reckless Records Broadway Chicago in 2001 (he was bass playing for 'Air' on 10000 hz legend tour) - he just effused about these guys then - them and 'Mellow' - it's good pop and there's a place for it - and I'll take Phoenix or Mellow or Tahiti 80 or other mainstream indie french pop over a lot of pop offerings in the States fo' sho' ... I'm kicking myself for not hitting the record / pause button right on my mini-disc of that in-store of his 'cause it was a stellar solo pop performance ...

Do you remember when 21 years was ooooooooooooooold?

21 is old imo

no

Featured on YouTube in celebration of Bastille day. It's kind of a WTF greenscreen thing with pretty terrible sound. This would be a really bad introduction to the band for someone to just stumble upon. Where are the drums coming from??

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TB8Kex57FXg&hl=en&fs=1&";></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TB8Kex57FXg&hl=en&fs=1&"; type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

whoops
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB8Kex57FXg&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eyoutube%2Ecom%2Fuser%2FMusicTuesday&feature=player_profilepage

Remix album coming. Animal Collective of Love Like A Sunset is pretty awesome.

AC *remix* that is. (Psst, it's a hyperlink)

loving the Devendra remix of 'Rome'

Just back from their M/cr show and they absolutely and completely fucking *killed* it. So tight, so stuffed with hits and so much fun. Was totally sold out and one of the broadest age ranges I've ever seen at an "indie" gig - I counted at least half a dozen kids who can't have been more than ten years old, so they must have some crossover appeal that I was previously unaware of.

The band seemed genuinely surprised at being so well received, they even did a little unplugged style encore of Playground Love and then finished with 1901 firing on all cylinders, leading to a full on stage invasion. I think he gets a mention upthread, but the drummer is phenomenal, I've never seen a kit get such a hammering.

Whoa.. "Playground Love."

Bill A: are you Daniel Esq.'s sock?

saw them in glasgow on sunday night and can confirm Bill A/Daniel Esq sock's assessment. absolutely wonderful show.

>Bill A: are you Daniel Esq.'s sock?

Sorry to disappoint, but I've been lurking and posting for the best part of five years...

(mind you, I suppose the super-generic screen name doesn't help)

Yeah, they seem to be pulling "Playground Love" out a lot lately. They were on Sound Opinions this week and played that on-air.

xp Yeah, that was just a joke based on the fact that you italicized your song titles.

ahh, I only italicise when I remember to - half the time my syntax is regrettably sloppy.

italicizing song titles is some savage shit imo

I'm more and more bummed I didn't see them here in SF.

Have been swithering about getting the special edition of the album with all the remixes. Anybody got any feedback on them to help me decide?

x-post

I'm a guilty and repentant savage - this from wiki, on usage:

The titles of works that stand by themselves, such as books or newspapers: "He wrote his thesis on The Scarlet Letter." Works that appear within larger works, such as short stories, poems, or newspaper articles, are not italicized, but merely set off in quotation marks.

I always use them for film titles etc (which is correct it seems) but from now on I'll be a riot of setting off song names in quotes. Along with normal overuse of brackets, dashes and ellipses.

>the special edition of the album with all the remixes

the remixes I've heard have not been particularly stellar. I think there's about ten versions of "Fences" on that too.

Has anybody listened to the 70 minutes film with their favourite music? Their exquisite, eclectic taste is quite impressive. They have got some intersting things to say about the chosen songs.

http://vimeo.com/6943466

Here is the track list:

01-Blue monday people / Curtis Mayfield
02-Can’t let go / Evie Sands
03-Sell your love / Iggy Pop & James Williamson
04-Flash forward / Serge Gainsbourg
05-I’m glad you’re mine / Al Green
06-Don’t turn the light on, leave me alone / CAN
07-Mesopotamia / The B-52’s
08-Ruby don’t take your love to town / Kenny Rogers
09-Slow night, slow long / Kings of Leon
10-Leur plaisir sans moi / Jane Birkin
11-In and out of the shadows / Dion
12-Victory garden / The Red Krayola
13-Escape from New-York main title / John Carpenter
14-We almost lost Detroit / Gil Scott Heron & Brian Jackson
15-Darlin’ / The Beach Boys
16-Peace like a river / Paul Simon
17-A song for you / Gram Parsons
18-The fairest of the seasons / Nico
19-Who was that masked man / Van Morrison
20-La smortina / Coro della SAT
+
21-City lights / Phoenix

Peace Like A River!

So glad I got around to listening to this before the end of the year. More albums need to be 10 songs, 36 minutes, and all good.

otm.

This is a top pop record.

when will they break out of the pop ghetto?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mZ1zV1l2KQ

don't wanna derail - but this just blew my mind

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5vrtZKvxWM

well that "lisztomania" video is about the most heart warming thing i've seen IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD

someone get my pazz & jop ballot on the phone

You want to recall your vote?

love how the kids are emoting

they've been on ilm before. great bunch. i think they did heartbeats too.

awww >3

can't find the heartbeats one on youtube - anybody got a link?

Something kind of pretty about how they don't quite hit the the notes as highly as the guy in Phoenix.

that was great, thanks for posting.

Free Phoenix live album download

^ legit offer on the Guardian website today, dunno what it's like

do you have to be UK/europe to download?

Dunno, it didn't say so I guess not?

yeah i could get it, so i no

Does this direct link work? http://wearephoenix.com/observer/ (Trying to save interested parties from having to register to receive the Guardian's spam)

that works - ta!

if anyone fancies making a remix, have at it.

"listzomania," vocals and all, sounds like an of montreal outtake circa sundlandic twins

haha

of Montreal isn't the band i think of while listening to that song. maybe i heard it too many times to think of anyone else but Phoenix.

Maybe what makes the difference is that Phoenix are doing it right.

Can't stand the wimpy vocals.

The vocals bit may be a bit Of Montreal. But surely, the production on Phoenix albums is considerably smoother than on anything by Of Montreal.

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Picked this up recently. Really think it's quite good. I finally feel old enough that I can let go of whatever baggage I would have had about a band/record like this at one point.

Out of curiosity, what baggage would that have been?

I think a few years ago I would have found this record too whiny/schmindie/of its moment. I don't know though, I'm kind of drunk tbh.

Whiny? Schmindie? It's a straight-up, play it in the car in summer, pop record?

I didn't realize how much "1901" and "Litstzomania" are played on the radio. I'm still not sick of them, but I try to put on my headphones so my Official Summer Album '09 doesn't get tarnished.

should have included "when they come on the radio at work every other hour"

There are some really great little pop details in their songs. Like I love the way in the chorus of Lisztomania the chords are in 1st inversion instead of without the root on the bottom even though there's no bass going -- it's a small thing, but more staid arrangers would just play the chords with the root on the bottom.

Also ballsy to have hit single go right into another hit single.

The DVD that comes with this is great. It's video of the band recording the album accompanied by the actual music, different to your usual 'making of' documentary.

I think my DVD was the vinyl playing with them talking over it (kind of like a commentary track). Very cool and I wished more people did that

Phoenix comments
Zdar comments

I still think "Lisztomania" is probably their best song. But I must say -- hearing Mars sing live w/o the doubletrack really has taken a bit of the shine off these guys for me.

Phoenix have some nice high points, but I burned out on them really fast. The guy only really has one or two melodies (like Neko Case does) and he flogs them pretty hard. Still nice to hear in little chunks.

Anyone into Phoenix like Field Music? They're like a mathier version of Phoenix, all clean and shiny but with a bit more intricacy and depth. I sometimes get the two bands mixed up momentarily when they come up on shuffle.

I've started to think this album is perfect.

Anyone into Phoenix like Field Music? They're like a mathier version of Phoenix, all clean and shiny but with a bit more intricacy and depth. I sometimes get the two bands mixed up momentarily when they come up on shuffle.

― relentlessly ugly frat hedonist retard anthems I have loved (staggerlee), Sunday, 20 March 2011 02:49 (1 week ago)

Is that the Sunderland based Field Music who used to be in Futureheads? I haven't heard any recent stuff but I wouldn't say their 2007 Tones of Town album sounded particularly like Phoenix.

Yeah, the same. And the bands aren't particularly similar, but there's something about them that causes me to mistake one for the other sometimes; they hit the same button in my brain, the one that likes glossy and somewhat cerebral and emotionally detached guitar-pop.

Great album.
Marvelous pop music.
I love the bloke's whiny voice.

Their earlier albums haven't grabbed me yet

'Countdown' reminds me of VU's 'Heroin'tune wise . I think it's the drone element.

totally get how cornball i am/sound, but despite not paying a lot of attention to their lyrics, that "do you remember when 21 years was old?" line in that song kills me everytime.

hurting you should hear the album before this one

Album before this one is my fave for sure. It's some version of 1978 as relayed by That Seventies Show and Daft Punk's Homework.

Also this is one band where I LIKE the sameyness of the melodies -- it gives the album a sense of recurring motifs.

totally get how cornball i am/sound, but despite not paying a lot of attention to their lyrics, that "do you remember when 21 years was old?" line in that song kills me everytime.

OTM - altho I think it's the band/music that makes the line would work - they really do know how to capture that bittersweet feeling of squeezing the last drops of youth - ie. the last days of summer

btw I picked up Field Music - Tones of Town on rec from this thread and I really like it, although I think it scratches a slightly different itch than Phoenix.

This album (WAP) has so many goddamn hooks I can't take it -- many songs have two or three. I walk around singing stuff from this record all day -- "When the lights are cutting out, and I come down in your room," "DIE AND SUCCEEEEEEEEEEEED!" etc.

http://www.offtheradarmusic.com/2011/04/edwin-van-cleef-lisztomania-phoenix.html

Great cover of Lisztomania for download here. Fantastico!

Any news of the new album?

I thought it was supposed to be coming out this year but it's now October and still haven't heard anything.

Bankrupt, then:

http://www.wearephoenix.com/

http://sickmouthy.com/2013/04/30/phoenix-alphabetical-2004-wolfgang-amadeus-phoenix-2009/

New album incoming?

https://www.facebook.com/wearephoenix/

Listening to this tonight, because, well. Such a good album. Love Like a Sunset!

My children now love this album, meaning there are at least like 10 things we can listen to that we all enjoy

You mean the ten songs on this album?

Olympic ceremony made me put this on today after 10 years of not hearing it. Still bangs so hard. Had forgotten all the weird atonal synth bits sprinkled all over.

Was surprised to hear all the (gen z) athletes singing along to 1901. Are kids listening to this?

was pretty happy that "Funky Squaredance" was part of an Olympic closing ceremony.

When they were touring last year with Beck, there was a guy who took some amazing footage at Hartford, CT. (Very front of the crowd, center of stage, with 1080p60 HDR.) He got all of Beck's set and most of Phoenix's - he's since taken down Phoenix's, but I streamed it on my TV and stereo, and it both looked and sounded amazing. Almost everything he captured was from Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. For the last number, Mars casually jumped into the crowd and sang the whole song as he walked around them. (Guy's really tall - he towered over everybody.) Made me wish I had seen them - IIRC, the tour had lots of cheap tickets on Stubhub.

I got to high five him at the Toronto show for that tour! My kids got to hear about it several times during the olympics performance

I saw that tour last year in LA. My 10yo son is deeply into Phoenix and it was his first “real” concert. It was so fun. Hilariously it was at the Forum, which is right next door to SoFi Stadium where Taylor Swift was playing on the same night.

Mars did the same thing in LA, walking through the crowd for the last song. The whole set was most of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, maybe half the songs from their newest album, and the rest essentially their greatest hits from the other albums. It was great.

Saw them on then Wolfgang tour and Mars was already doing the jumping into the crowd thing

I feel bemused that I'd never actually noticed that Gordon Tracks is Thomas Mars.