Phoenix – United (Rhino/Parlophone)

Their first album on vinyl

United is the debut album from French indie-pop icons, Phoenix.  Rhino reissued the album on crystal clear vinyl for Record Store Day.  

The LP opens with the funky drums and distorted guitars of  the instrumental, “School’s Out,” before giving way to the dreamy hit, “Too Young” – the cascading verses pull you in, and then the shimmering chorus hits you.  This is a phenomenal single that sounds both reminiscent and fresh at the same time. Next, “Honeymoon” is surprisingly slow and soulful.  Things return to the funk with “If I Ever Feel Better,” which has a Daft Punk feel.  

“Party Time” kinda makes no sense.  Phoenix may have punk roots, but this noisy track lacks melody and really halts the momentum of this otherwise pretty cohesive album.  “On Fire” is better – a piece of mid tempo funk with some singable backup vocals.  That segues directly into the moody instrumental, “Embuscade.” 

“Summer Days” is the most underrated track here – the repetitive guitar line and mood is hypnotic.  “Funky Squaredance Pt. 1/2/3 Medley” is uh, strange.  Heavily autotuned vocals, faux steel guitar and honky tonk piano begin the nine minute piece, then we hear a crowd and we get a pretty cool instrumental.  Next, singing “funky square-dance” and a searing, heavy metal guitar, which is odd.  Things finally gel and finally sound like Phoenix near the end, but they quickly devolve.  The album closes with the sax-led “Definitive Breaks.”

United shows a band capable of dizzying heights but they only reach them a few times.  It’s uneven, but still a fun listen.  —Tony Peters