Jaws dropped when Phoenix performed on Saturday Night Live earlier this year. Part of the surprise was the fact that these cult French soft-rockers were on national TV, but the big shock came when this cult French soft-rock band positively nailed it with their impeccable performances of “1901” and “Lisztomania”.
The SNL appearance created a surge of hype for the group’s fourth album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which delivers plenty of their patented class and polish. “1901” and “Lisztomania” still soar and transfix. “Fences” recalls the sleek electronics of Daft Punk and Air, and the two-parts of “Love like a Sunset” (part II) find the band in krautrock space-out territory. “Lasso” provides the shortest song and builds to a fine britpop resolution. Plus, it rhymes “so pretty” and “diplomacy”.
I blurbed Phoenix on tuneage. It’s a fine album, although the first half will get more attention than the second half. That final guitar portion of this song is what made me pick it.
