Music Mondays: Phoenix

To be honest, I don't remember the first time I heard Phoenix's music, I just know that I've always liked it. Their songs are a constant ascension into musical bliss. I am a sucker for epic build ups and they have a shit ton of them. But that's not all. I like the fact that their sound is ever evolving. If you listen to their first album "United", they have more of a Disco sound.
"If I Ever Feel Better" is a perfect example of this.
 
Their next album "Alphabetical" is nearly an R&B album, but still manages to mix in some of their familiar disco sounds as well. I listened to this CD for about a solid 3 weeks when I first discovered it. My favorites are "Everything is Everything", "Run Run Run" and "Love for Granted".

"It's Never Been Like That" was more of a transition to the organic style of electric music that they are now known for. Think Avatar meets Star Wars. They have these beautiful, very natural sounding guitar strings mixed with light synth sounds that somehow go perfectly together and make for an amazing experience.
If I had to pick three favorites from this album they would be "Consolation Prizes", "Long Distance Call", and "Sometimes in the Fall".

My favorite album though, would definitely be "Wolfgang Amadeus", which also happens to be their most recent album. In my opinion, Phoenix really came into their own with this album. I think that the truely great artists in music are able to take all of the sounds that influence them and culminate them into their own unique sound that is damn near impossible to duplicate. I can honestly say that I have never heard another band that makes music like what I have heard from this album. Every song is a constant build up, you don't know exactly where it's going to peak but you never want the ride to end. I love every song on this album and I listen to it at least once a week. It's very hard for me to pick favorites from this album because I feel like listening to tracks individually, without listening to the album as a whole first, ruins the experience of the piece as a whole. But if I must pick favorites I suppose I would pick "Rome", "Countdown", "Girlfriend", and "Armistice". I picked four I know.


What I love about this band is the unorthodox approach they have for making music.
The lead singer has an amazing range of pitches that he can sing, from albums like "United" where he sings more disco and funky type songs to  "Wolfgang Amadeus" where he sings more airy and free-flowing type songs, he's able to do both with no problem.
The production they have is incredible as well. The sounds and styles that they're able to experiment with and to be able to hit the nail on the head every time without missing is impeccable. There are very few bands that could accomplish this feat with such ease.
I always appreciate artists that are willing to take artistic risks. Willing to re-invent themselves as opposed to remaking the same sound over and over. I love the fact that they made "United" and said, "oh, that worked out quite well", and "BOOM!" they blow it up and start on a new sound to conquer. To me, that is what's missing from most music today. Everyone wants to stick with what's making them money and no one wants to grow. I'll stop here before I get too crazy, but Phoenix definitely has my respect and I will definitely be seeing them live before I die.
  Now that I've killed you with my commentary, here's a little background on Phoenix from our friends over at Wikipedia.




Vocalist Thomas Mars, bassist Deck d'Arcy, and guitarist Chris Mazzalai started as a garage band based out of Mars' house in the suburbs of Paris. In 1995, Laurent Brancowitz, Mazzalai's older brother, permanently joined the band on guitar after the end of the short-lived band Darlin' he formed with Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (who together became Daft Punk). The group got their touring start on the French bar circuit doing Hank Williams and Prince covers. Two years later the band took on the name Phoenix and pressed 500 copies of a single on their own label, Ghettoblaster. Shortly after, they were signed to the Paris-based Source Records. Phoenix became well acquainted with labelmates Air when they acted as their backing band on several U.K. TV appearances.^[2] They were the backing band for a remix of Air's "Kelly Watch the Stars" single. They currently hold a very close friendship with the members of Daft Punk, who in some ocassions perform together as the New Wave french band, AIR.
Here are a few miscellaneous videos that I found interesting.


These two are videos that give a little insight into how each song was developed. I like the backstory and I thought it was cool to hear the stories that go into making such incredible music.








These videos are live in-studio performances that I like a lot. I wish I could get these on a CD.










I hope I was able to introduce you to something new that you'll enjoy. And if you were already a fan I hope I was able to re-enlighten you with some of your favorite material. Enjoy.