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CD review: Phoenix
Phoenix
‘Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix’
(V2)
B
Say this for French alternative rock quartet Phoenix — they certainly are confident. “Lisztomania,” the opening song and first single off their fourth album, has a title and lyrics that allude to the mania that once accompanied public performances by 19th-century Hungarian pianist Franz Liszt. Whether Phoenix deserves the throngs of screaming fans that besieged Liszt’s concerts is up for debate, but “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” makes a convincing argument. Bubbly and effervescent, it’s an album short on substance but long on charm. The aforementioned opener, a bouncy number tailor-made for high school dance parties, perfectly encapsulates the album’s appeal. The similarly peppy “1901” and “Fences” keep the momentum going, but the album nearly derails entirely with the two-part “Love Like A Sunset,” a largely instrumental bit of sub-Sigur Ros meandering. Although the back half never quite recaptures the energy, even with winning tracks such as “Rome” and ‘“Armistice,” “Wolfgang” still packs enough delights to make it Phoenix’s best yet. Those looking for a pleasant slice of summertime pop to listen to poolside could do much worse.
Phoenix plays the Austin City Limits Music Festival on Oct. 2.
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