By Shelby Clemons, Staff Writer
Though the extent of my Phoenix knowledge is “1901,” “Lisztomania” and a handful of other songs, I can’t help but be jealous of the people who got to dance around to this band at Coachella. The French band released its fifth studio album, Bankrupt!, four years after its breakthrough album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which cemented the band in the hearts of every hipster. Bankrupt! isn’t bad, nor is it anything too special.
This album seems distinctly Phoenix: full of synths, dance-y rhythms and plenty of shimmery melodies. Many times Phoenix is praised for doing what the French don’t do; emerge as a hit pop band that sings in impeccable English. Often mentioned with another French band, Daft Punk, the quartet must be doing something right to become such a hit here in the U.S. of A.
Enough about crossing French barriers; let’s talk music. Oddly enough, I can’t recall hearing a single song off of this album until listening to it on iTunes. Maybe I’m just not paying attention, but the album’s single “Entertainment” is new to me. That said, it’s a great song that’s both mellow and synth-y enough to jump around to. The title track is a hypnotic instrumental (at least from the minute-long iTunes preview) that’s nearly seven minutes long. “Don’t” and “Chloroform” are two other great songs that pack the same punch as “Entertainment” with their smooth beats.
Bankrupt! isn’t a huge leap into new territory for Phoenix, but it’s hip and so like them, so fans shouldn’t care one bit. Merci, Phoenix, for always being so catchy and giving us something to dance to.
Courtesy of thisisalbatross.com