Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That

While it’s a bit of a sad fact, your chances of becoming popular are pretty limited if you don’t sing in English. Sure your home country may embrace you but reaching an international audience is a lot harder. English, it seems, is becoming the universal language. The music industry is directly targeting the lazy, uni-lingual Westerners and I couldn’t be happier about it. Phoenix, whilst being French, have, luckily for us, opted to sing in English. For their music really is something of a treat and would really be lacking something if we couldn’t understand it. For those who deal in genres, I would have to put their sound somewhere between alternative and infectious pop.

Consolation Prizes – The beauty of singing is that it transcends accents. Sure you get the British bands who’ll drop the occasional slur that makes them so…charming, but most of the time, nationality seems to make no difference. This is definitely evident here, Phoenix don’t even sound remotely French. Right from the offset you know what you’re in for. It’s the kind of song that won’t sit still.

Long Distance Calls – While the intros to these two songs might be remarkably alike, they each go their own way. This one has a much slower feel to it but stays true the immediate and catchy formula that makes them so successful.