Review #21: Phoenix

Note: Here's another Courtney review...a Futureheads review from moi is in the works.

Phoenix-It's Never Been Like That
(Astralwerks)
6 out of 10



Picture links to Phoenix's website

It’s as if it’s human nature: people are attracted to songs that aren’t always of the highest standards. Just look at all the artists that are popular in the music world today. Emo bands where every song sounds the same and is about the same thing. Pop princesses that can neither write a song for the life of them, nor hold a note without a good engineer by their side. People are sucked in by music like this because it sounds nice. Typically the people who listen to such music aren’t looking for a strong musical performance, just something that makes them happy. This is why Phoenix’s recent release, It’s Never Been Like That, is somewhat of a letdown based on standards set by their contemporaries.
The band, originally formed in the mid 90’s, started from humble beginnings, at first playing to small drunken crowds and releasing singles on their private label, Ghettoblaster. Ten years later Phoenix had signed with Astralwerks, and released two albums, including 2005’s album, Alphabetical, which gained them a growing following of fans, and proving they had serious potential as musicians. In 2006 Phoenix released their third studio album, It’s Never Been Like That, which is filled with so many twists and turns, it is hard for one to know exactly what to think about it.
Upon a first listen, one most likely will find It’s Never Been Like That to be fun and refreshing. It has a certain tone to it. It’s peppy, with a good deal of energy. It’s simply easy and enjoyable music, and seems to be one of the finest gems of the year; however, upon a closer listen, the album seems to have lost its charm. What was once enjoyable and peppy has faded into something a bit lackluster and at most mediocre in sound.
Musically, this album was highly disappointing. There’s nothing special about any of it. Throughout most of the songs the same guitar riff is played over and over again, only fluctuating chords between the different songs. Not to mention many of the guitar parts are played with the grace and talent of a 13 year old boy trying to play “Stairway to Heaven” for the first time. It would be easy to forgive such shoddy guitar instrumentation, if only it wasn’t featured on every single song. The guitar riffs are so monotonous and boring that one actually gets excited when he hears actual attempts at plucking during songs such as “North” and “Second to None.” For the record, all the flaws in musicality cannot be blamed on the guitar. Nearly every song featured the same, very simple, very amateur drum part, which was only enjoyable during the first track, but then became dull once “Consolation Prizes” and “Rally” struck up. It’s safe to say that these musical compositions would not survive without the use of lyrics to differentiate each song.
Lyrics, for most artists, are a form of expression; apparently this never came across to the boys of Phoenix. To sum up the lyrics, they are there because they have to be. Yes, they make the songs interesting, but it’s very hard to understand a single word that is being sung. Every word is muddled under the shoddy guitar and drum parts. It’s obvious that they were written without thought or purpose, they just needed to be there or the songs would fail. When one actually goes to look at the lyrics one will find tracks filled with nonsense. There are very few tracks that make sense. Some come off as having possible sexual and racy undertones such as “Napoleon Says”, but it’s hard to say on account of most of the song being jibber jabber. The one song that was easy to understand was “Long Distance Call”, which is a song that is easily loveable. It’s most likely about a man who’s confused, he doesn’t exactly know what direction his life is going, but he’s fed up with waiting. All this is accompanied by some of the finer and more energetic instrumentations of the album. It gives off an intense feeling with throbbing guitars and thrashing symbols; it makes the listener want to jump around. It’s one of the more impressive tracks, and the finest choice for the album’s first single.
It’s Never Been Like That is an album filled with repetitive guitars and drums, accompanied by the same old uncreative lyrics; however, something finally changes by the last song. “Second to None” is the song that proves that Phoenix have the potential of becoming fine musical composers if they work really hard at it. The song has a superb and shocking opening, followed by muffled lyrics, which are carried out by a good range of strong vocals. The instrumentation is far better than the other tracks and almost has a new age vibe to it, in the end the music all swells together for one final climax and ends in a messy manner (while still keeping it consistent). Overall it was the most unique and inspired track on the album. It’s not a track one would usually choose for a closer, but in this case it was probably most appropriate to show off their best work.
To a music aficionado, this album would come nowhere near up to par. There’s absolutely nothing about it that makes it stand out as a great work of musical art. It’s simple, repetitive, and sloppy, but with all seriousness put aside, It’s Never Been Like That can be one kick ass album. The best advice one can give is just to sit back, relax, and don’t think when listening to it. Thinking will only disturb and ruin the fact that this album is one of the most simple pleasures of the year.

KEY TRACKS: “Long Distance Call”, “Napoleon Says”, “Second to None”

-Courtney Coulombe, Useless Opinions Contributor