alphabetical

phoenix

astralwerks, 2004

Mood—Positive, bouncy.

Sample: "Everything Is Everything"

Thoughts— I've become a huge Phoenix fan over the last five years, and they've got a new album coming out May 2009, but these reviews aren't really about looking at the band as a whole. They are album reviews, and I want to keep them as specific to my feelings about the individual album as possible. So, with that...

I picked up Alphabetical thanks to the listening stations at Virgin. Oh, how I miss that store. My typical listening station strategy is to listen to a bit of the first three tracks. If they are intriquing, I buy the album. That's exactly what happened here.

"Everything Is Everything" is one of the best opening tracks ever. I hope that was a deliberate choice, becuase it's genius. There's no way to hear that song and remain unmoved.

Phoenix seems to have a very clear idea of how they want to sound, and every song on the album reinforices that idea. They are a solid band. Nothing feels out of place on Alphabetical, and every song feels important. Typically I can throw away a few tracks here and there from any given album, but I'd be hard pressed to name a track on this disk that could be done without.

The album is upbeat but feels mostly mid-tempo. They don't take it too far down or up in terms of tempo. Tracks like "Love For Granted" and "If It's Not With You" are laid back and maybe even a touch syrupy, while "Anybody" and "Run Run Run" give more attention to the beat.

Great covernsational lyrics, very smooth vocals on every track.

I love the instrumentation on this album. Often guitar is used in a very simple way, layered into a song for texture rather than as the primary chord-maker. I always enjoy it when the guitar doesn't dominate an album.

After five years, Alphabetical is still a go-to album for exceedingly fun listening.

Recommended? Most definitely.

Link—wearephoenix.com

Tracklist
1. Everything Is Everything
2. Run Run Run
3. I'm An Actor
4. Love For Granted
5. Victim Of The Crime
6. (You Can Blame It On) Anybody
7. Congratulations
8. If It's Not With You
9. Holdin' On Together
10. Alphabetical