Phoenix Masters New Soft-Rock Sound with Best Album

Phoenix, the meticulous French band, has released their third album, marking a significant shift towards a softer rock sound. The group, known for collaborations with Air, has embraced dulcet tones and the world of soft rock.

Their production is crisp, and singer Thomas Mars' vocals are distinctive, contributing to two standout singles. Previous albums struggled to maintain a consistent sound throughout their entirety.

The new album, It's Never Been Like That, attempts to address this by mimicking the looser styles of American bands, particularly The Strokes. This results in messy, naturalistic guitar playing, a stark contrast to their usual robotic aesthetic.

While the attempt at a costume change fails to completely transform them, it creates an engaging dynamic that makes this their best album. Phoenix's meticulous nature remains, utilizing the slapdash guitar as a deliberate sonic tool.

This interplay between seemingly lazy strumming and precise arrangements redefines elements of the garage-rock revival. The band draws connections between classic indie hits and artists like Tom Petty.

They replace studied ennui with a breezy joie de vivre, preventing the pop essence from being diluted. The album features two showstopper tracks: "Long Distance Call" and "Courtesy Laughs." "Long Distance Call" embodies the disconnect between their older material and new image. "Courtesy Laughs" is highlighted by its simple chord progression and metronome rhythm. Mars' vocals are crucial, maintaining a conversational volume and hitting marks with ease.

At under 40 minutes, the album is a sprint, though some instrumental tracks are considered over-long. Overall, Phoenix carves out a niche in the new soft-rock genre, demonstrating its compatibility with indie tropes.