Latest Release
- 20 SEPT 2024
- 1 Song
- Nightcall - Single · 2024
- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix · 2009
- United · 2000
- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix · 2009
- Alpha Zulu · 2022
- Alpha Zulu - Single · 2022
- Alphabetical · 2004
- United · 2000
- It's Never Been Like That (Deluxe Version) · 2006
- It's Never Been Like That (Deluxe Version) · 2006
Essential Albums
- At 37 minutes, Phoenix’s breakthrough fourth album has a typically brisk running time. However—with sprawling electro two-parter “Love Like a Sunset” blazing at its centre—it still manages to cover a dizzying amount of ground. From the pulsing uplift of “Lisztomania” (inspired by a Hungarian piano virtuoso) to the crisp, ping-ponging synths on “Rome”, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix packs big, complicated ideas. But, crucially, it never forgets to cloak them in similarly gigantic choruses.
- Lean, ebullient and sparky, the debut from French quartet Phoenix stylishly transported the cool of New York’s early-Noughties rock revival to Paris. Yes, there are intriguing sonic detours—distorted electro medley “Funky Squaredance”, say—but United’s peaks cleave to a formula of garage-forged urgency. “Party Time” brings thrashy riffs to the soiree and “Too Young” (propelled by frontman Thomas Mars’ tumbling English lyrics) still deserves its spot at the indie anthem top table.
Albums
Artist Playlists
- Deft punks blur lines of French indie rock and electronic pop.
- Rock's bad boys mingle with house music's biggest heroes.
- Listen to the hits performed on their blockbuster tour.
- “We're hoping that we will be able to go back to work.”
More To Hear
- Beck and Thomas Mars discuss their collaboration on “Odyssey.”
- Shining a light on Phoenix, plus other French artists.
- Ezra and the Phoenix frontman talk Starbucks and US indie rock.
- A celebration of two musical greats.
More To See
About Phoenix
Living up to their mythic name, Phoenix emerged as a bright, shiny beacon of guitar-pop pleasure amid an otherwise serious-minded era for alternative rock. Indeed, the quartet—who formed in 1997 in Versailles, France—had much less kinship with any grunge, punk or garage contemporaries than with vanguard ‘70s pop acts like Electric Light Orchestra and 10cc. Likewise, the Gallic cool and youthful energy of early standouts like “Too Young” and “If I Ever Feel Better” pointed to Phoenix’s affinity with friends in the French scene like Daft Punk and Air: the guys from Daft Punk were in Darlin’, a pre-helmets band, with Phoenix guitarist/keyboardist Laurent Brancowitz, while Air enlisted Phoenix frontman Thomas Mars to sing on their score for The Virgin Suicides, a film directed by Mars’ future wife Sofia Coppola. After finding success in Europe with albums like 2004’s winsome Alphabetical, Phoenix broke through in the U.S. with 2009’s Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, an irresistible collection of songs that brimmed with melody and melancholy yet matched the heady rush of EDM bangers, too. On 2017’s Ti Amo, Phoenix again showed their ability to add a rare effervescence to guitar-driven indie pop by embracing Italo disco and a more electronic sound without losing their breezy appeal.
- ORIGIN
- Paris, France
- FORMED
- 1999
- GENRE
- Alternative