Album of the Week: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

You’ve heard and loved them all: “Lisztomania,” “1901,” and “Fences.” They’re the first three tracks on Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix — the French band’s fourth album that was officially released at the end of May despite being leaked to the Internet for months — and they’re about as perfect as indie-pop gets: tight, hooky, springy, and like last year’s blog-stars Vampire Weekend, ultimately unthreatening. I think the band realized how precious it all could have been and take an abrupt turn at Track 4, the M83-inspired, radio-unfriendly instrumental “Love Like A Sunset, Part 1.” (And yes, there’s a companion, shorter Part 2.) Then it’s back to the bouncy brilliance of “Lasso” and a reminder that they can pull out their super-cool French alt-pop any time they feel like it. A great album, with the right mix of je ne sais quoi. A-

Phoenix: 1901
from Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
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