PHOENIX

WOLFGANG AMADEUS PHOENIX

In 2009, when Phoenix played Wolfgang's "Love Like a Sunset" live, singer Thomas Mars would lie onstage, spread his arms, and bask in his bandmates' radiant surge. With that gesture, he mirrored the album's ecumenical genius and its embrace by everyone from auto-makers to indie flaneurs. Urgent guitar pop and buoyant melodies cohabited brilliantly with Euro-disco propulsion and Mars' enticing lyrical pastiche. Cool was good. Warm was great. Together, they were irresistible. DAVID MARCHESE

READ THE FULL REVIEW >>