When people ask me, “Hey, who is your favorite band?”; I answer the band known as Phoenix almost every time, hoping to spread word of the group’s musical brilliance. Phoenix is a French independent synth-pop band formed in 1999 in Versailles, France. Recently, I was lucky enough to attend one of their concerts at The Warfield in San Francisco where I experienced first-hand the astute showmanship of Thomas Mars, Deck D’Arcy, Thomas Hedlund, and Christian Mazzalai. Now you may wonder, “Well, what’s so different about them?” Phoenix stands out for their ability to entertain and connect to a crowd; the artists consistently diversify their music by collaborating with new artists and including funky new sounds in every song. Now instead of listening to me obsess, discover Phoenix through some of their greatest works, or read about them.
“Too Young”
Featured in Phoenix’s debut album United, the band incorporates various musical instruments into the song to create a harmonious tune. Accompanied by Thomas Mars’ passionate and energetic style, the listener can’t help but get lost in his lyrical brilliance with every line. Graceful yet sudden, the synthesizer paired with the guitar defines Phoenix’s musical technique and highlights the climax of “Too Young”.
“1901”
Appearing in Phoenix’s 2009 album Wolfgang Amadeus at the peak of their popularity, “1901” offers the ultimate experience to fans. The musical journey emulates a blissful dream. Instrumentally, the energy starts the second you press play at which point the guitar strums a rhythmic pattern followed by a blaring synthesizer bassline played by Deck D’Arcy and an explosive drum performance by Swedish drummer Thomas Hedlund. Simply, the song is a work of art.
“If I Ever Feel Better”
Is it Phoenix’s grooviest song? Yes! Smooth and crisp, the track resembles a jazz flow through simplistic yet soft drums. With a main emphasis on the recurring guitar, “If I Ever Feel Better” is a tribute to Christian Mazzalai’s elite guitarist skills.
“After Midnight”
Deriving from their latest album Alpha Zulu, “After Midnight” has an upbeat rhythm following a distinct and catchy synth sound. Thomas Mars’ collaboration with American singer-songwriter Clairo results in a touching lyric soothingly sung with perfect execution and total unison. Without overlooking the structural instrumentation of the song, the rest of the Phoenix band members seemingly understood the task and played impeccably. Altogether, all one needs is a listening device, hit play, and thoroughly enjoy “After Midnight”.
“One Time Too Many”
The only song on this list not including an electric synthesizer and personally one of my favorite songs ever. “One Time Too Many” takes listeners on a journey through a series of complex feelings. With a clean guitar strumming pattern and a captivating voice, this song was made to reflect and to be enjoyed as a treasure.
While I haven’t ever seen the true colors of a rockstar or a popstar behind the curtains, I can listen to Thomas Mars’ genuity and expression whenever I play Phoenix. Music unlocks the door to a variety of emotions and it’s much easier to relate to if an artist pours their heart and soul into songs the way Phoenix does. So the next time you enter your musical world give Phoenix a try.