Alphabetical [LP]

by Phoenix

Overview

Alphabetical is Phoenix's second album, trailing their debut by nearly four years. It's much less of a mishmash than its predecessor, basing itself around the group's soft, cunningly arranged pop that occasionally reaches beyond '70s AM and '80s sophisti-pop to slip in discreet traces of hip-hop. During their time away, Phoenix became much more proficient as synthesists; certain moments on 2000's United seemed to signal, "Here's where we declare our love of country music," or "Here's the song where we try to sound exactly like Todd Rundgren." This issue has been fixed; the seams that bind their inspirations are now less visible. They're also much better songwriters now, but the lack of variation -- in tempo and in sound -- nearly wipes out the positives by leaving the album with a sluggishness. It's particularly troublesome if you're not in a very specific mood (not simply laid-back, but a kind of laid-back) and want to stay there for the duration of the listen. The album would've benefited from a song or two with the vigor of United's "Too Young" and "If I Ever Feel Better" to break up the monotony; and tracks three through 11 are nowhere near the high level of tracks one and two, making the album drag all the more as it plays out. If not a qualified across-the-board improvement, Alphabetical is at least a good record by a group with plenty of unrealized potential. Perhaps they should stick to singles. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	02/17/2015
Label:	Astralwerks
UPC:	0724359863511
Rank:	41401

Tracks

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't Blame It On) Anybody
7. Congratulations
8. If It's Not with You
9. Holdin' On Together
10. Alphabetical
11. The Diary of Alphabetical

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Phoenix   Primary Artist
Pino Palladino   Bass
Deck d'Arcy   Bass,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Thomas Mars   Vocals
Christian Mazzalai   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Laurent Brancowitz   Guitar,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Alex Locascio   Drums,Percussion
Ivan Beck   Guitar (Acoustic)
Jim Mery   Keyboards
Jean-Max Mery   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Phoenix   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
Tony Hoffer   Audio Production,Mixing,Producer
Deck d'Arcy   Group Member
Thomas Mars   Group Member
Brian "Big Bass" Gardner   Mastering
Christian Mazzalai   Group Member
Laurent Brancowitz   Group Member
Julien Delfaud   Assistant Engineer
Philippe Ascoli   A&R
Jan Ghazi   A&R
Catharine David   Artwork
Hedi Slimane   Artwork,Photography
Kevin Dean   Assistant Engineer