Review: Bankrupt! By Phoenix
By Dara Block
I remember when I first discovered the French band Phoenix in Sofia Coppola's 2003 film, Lost In Translation, it was the song "Too Young" and I thought to myself who is this band and why can't I get this unique electronic pop melody out of my head.... As we all know Sofia Coppola has a gift for incorporating interesting music in her films and it was because of her that I started to take notice of them. Sofia Coppola even had Phoenix appear in her 2006 film Marie Antoinette and they also contributed to the score for her 2010 film Somewhere. Their songs "Love Like a Sunset (Part 1)" and "Love Like a Sunset (Part 2)" go so perfect with the quiet mood of the film. And if you didn't know, Sofia Coppola is married to the lead singer Thomas Mars, so naturally these two were meant for each other.
Phoenix has had so much success in the past couple of years especially with their 2009 album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which won them a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album and which also catapulted them into rock stars.
I must admit I was a bit hesitant about their latest album Bankrupt! just because when a band gets extremely popular they sometimes tend to lose their edge, but I am glad that Phoenix exceeded my expectations and kept to their electronic pop-rock roots and created one of my favorite albums of the summer.
Before I discuss the actual album, let's take a moment to appreciate the Bankrupt! album cover. The image was designed by Ben Garvie and depicts a peach next to a peach slice, with a pink flower surrounded by two green leaves. I love the overall simplicity of this cover, especially the way the fruit contrasts with that gray background. Its quirky, cute, and there is something kind of Sofia Coppola about it. I also love how the inside features thousands of bronze coins, which I assume goes with the whole Bankrupt! theme. Nowadays, I know people aren't buying albums like they used to, but I think this one is a unique piece of art. All Phoenix and Sofia Coppola admirers should definitely pick this one up... now, let's get back to the music!
The album starts off with the energetic single "Entertainment." The song is twangy, with a blend of synth pop, and has that Phoenix sound we all know and love. When I listen to this song it kind of reminds me of that Siouxsie and the Banshees song "Hong Kong Garden," which was also featured in Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette. I wonder if Sofia Coppola contributed with the inspiration for that track? Either way, I love the deep drums and obscure piano rhythms of this song…. very Siouxsie Sioux!
Other key songs on the album include "S.O.S in Bel Air," which is uplifting, catchy, and has a vibrant rock sound that is so synonymous with Phoenix. Another interesting track on the album is "Trying to be Cool." This song is a captivating blend of high pitched synth sounds and stylized vocals. Personally, I think this might be my favorite song of the summer and I think their latest video makes this song even more stellar... do check this one out, it is the perfect summer dance song and such a pop gem, what Phoenix does best!
While most of the songs are entertaining to listen to, "Bankrupt!" might be their most unpredictable, yet innovative track, on the album. The first part of the song is filled with elaborate, layered instrumentals and after two minutes the song shifts into a unique synthesized sound creating a feeling of uneasiness. Slowly, the song creeps back into something heavenly and profound. When Thomas Mars starts vocalizing he almost sounds like a blend of Pink Floyd mixed in with a modern David Bowie. It is by far the calmest song on the album, but it might be the key track that makes this album so special.
My last two favorite songs on the album include "Drakkar Noir" and "Chloroform." Both of these tracks correspond so perfectly together and it has that electronic rock feeling that is just so appealing and so perfect to drive to. I don't know why, but I could easily see "Chloroform" being used in a Sofia Coppola film... it has that kind of cinematic mood and feeling that is so her style!
Overall, Bankrupt! doesn't disappoint and I love all the energy and excitement that Phoenix conveys with this album. Thomas Mars said it best when he recently talked about Bankrupt!, he said that "his lyrics are not necessarily meant to convey a coherent message, but rather a way of trying to get the listener to feel something. " I think Thomas Mars is absolutely right and I feel that Bankrupt! succeeds on all levels... certainly pick this one up if you haven't already. I always love an album that makes me feel like dancing while driving and this one definitely does just that!
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Phoenix images courtesy of Phoenix and via pigeonsandplanes.com et al.