Review: Phoenix - Bankrupt!
With Bankrupt!, Phoenix have crafted and cleared in on their unique, signature sound.
I first caught the Parisian indie pop band in 2009 when they released Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix and was astonished by the breezy, alt-pop melodies and crisp, snapping drums.
“Entertainment”, the opening anthem on their fifth studio album, is excellent and carries forward their sophisticated tone. What a great start to the album!
The album artwork for Bankrupt! was revealed in February 2013, four years after the release of Wolfgang. The burst of color and texture make this Phoenix’s best artwork yet.
One song that really stood out to me on Bankrupt! was the title track. It is the longest on the album, at just short of seven minutes.
“The Real Thing”, “S.O.S. in Bel Air”, and “Trying to Be Cool” (tracks 2, 3, and 4, respectively) blend so smoothly, and then there’s “Bankrupt!”, which just glistens.
That track couldn’t have been done without 2009’s gorgeous “Love Like a Sunset”. It is a key example of maturity and growth for the band’s sound.
Vocalist Thomas Mars makes the album warm and approachable for fans of alternative, pop, and electronic music. With symmetry, the rest of Bankrupt!’s songs are just as good as the first 5.
“Oblique City” ends on an upbeat, hopeful tone.
I plan on seeing Phoenix at the Lollapalooza music festival on August 4 and am eager to see how this superb record compares to their live performance.
Grade: B
Hear “Entertainment”:
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Stream Bankrupt! now on iTunes for a limited time.