“J-Boy” starts this album off, and almost immediately this one has a little to much of a chill vibe for me. I dunno, but I’ve always thought of Phoenix as a very youthful and energetic band. Don’t get me wrong, this is a very vast and colorful track, but it’s also sort of sluggish and not really that fun at all. As far as the band’s performance goes, I certainly get what they’re going for, and technically they don’t sound horrible. But c’mon boys, where’s the energy? I feel like they were ripped out of Semi-Retirement and forced to record this track against their will. It’s simply put NOT a Phoenix track for me. However, I do like some of the shimmering synths as well as the very sweet and romantic chorus. Outside of that, what’s even going on here? Even some of the vocal effects towards the end of the track don’t come off nearly as hip as I was hoping they would. Thankfully Phoenix do have some tricks up their sleeves with the album’s title track “Ti Amo”. Right off the bat, this is a HUGE step in the right direction. Here, there’s a seriously decent groove and some really great performances all around. I love the very funky drums, and to be honest the lyrics and vocal performance in general really stick with me. “Ti Amo” for the most part is so much more of a Phoenix track than a lot of the material here. Hell, I can even see myself coming back to this track a few times. It’s shimmering, and it’s of course very pristine sounding, but it’s also seriously fun. But Phoenix on this album have a serious issue with consistency. The very pristine sound continues on “Tuttifrutti”, as well as the band’s usual influences within the realm of Dance and Disco. At it’s core, it even has a seriously good beat to it. You would think by hearing a lot of this that Phoenix easily have the tools to create another great album. But I don’t know, I feel like the magic has worn off big time. The energy that the band once created has all but dried out, to the point where I barely have anything to say about “Tuttifrutti”. So basically this track just sort of comes off as a decent at best IndieTronica song. But there isn’t a single element to it that’s demanding me to come back for a second listen. Not to mention, some of the vocals here are some of the most bored sounding vocals I’ve heard all year from any band. “Fior Di Latte” at the very least is a little something different for Phoenix. But it’s interesting and I can certainly get into it. There are some Dream Pop influences here and there, and as far as a slower track goes this is easily the best thing Phoenix has done recently. “Fior Di Latte” is a slow jam of sorts, but Phoenix seriously nail it. It’s a little over the top and very cheesy, even a little sleazy and sexy at times. But hey, it’s different, and I’m certainly digging it. But trust me, the Cheesiness here is overwhelming, so there’s going to be plenty of people not digging this nearly as much as I am.
Consistency continues to be the seriously big issue for Phoenix. “Lovelife” as soon as it hits, I feel like I’m listening to any given “Just Ok” Synth Pop tune. This is EASILY one of the blandest, lifeless Synth Pop tunes I’ve heard all year. The fact that this is even Phoenix is seriously shocking. The vocals continue to seem so bored, and the lyrics come off seriously lazy. The only thing remotely interesting about this one is the constantly flowing upwards synths, but even those seem to get boring quick. As a matter of fact, “Lovelife” is so bad that I found a completely new appreciation for “Goodbye Soleil”, a track that when I heard this leading up to the album I absolutely hated. But like I said, I can actually appreciate it a lot more hearing it on the album. I actually really don’t mind the slower pace on this one as well as the bouncy beat. Not to mention, the chorus here is one of the more memorable by far. There’s a lot of Das Punk worship going on here, which doesn’t necessarily take anything away from this, but it’s very obvious. I feel like for the most part “Goodbye Soleil” works really nicely. It’s still very sweet and airy, but in a case like this Phoenix at the very least aren’t biting off anything they can’t chew. Then, Phoenix decide to break out the strangely very good “Fleur De Lys”. Instantly it’s apparent that Phoenix certainly does have some life. Like, where was this bite and all of this energy earlier? I obviously dig the much more upbeat vibe to this. But I seriously love the vocals here as well, I feel like this is some of vocalist Thomas Mars’ most engaging vocal work here. Most importantly however, I’m having a blast listening to “Fleur De Lys”. So obviously, it’s not like Phoenix still can’t be the very colorful and explosive Synth Pop act that they’ve been in the past. Not to mention, this track has got me up and dancing, I don’t think I’ve said that once this entire album. So hell yea, “Fleur De Lys” is good. “Role Model” is up next, and that cheesiness is back with a band. While I’m still not completely into the slower vibe of tracks like this, I have to commend Phoenix on this buildup which comes off seriously nice. And while I wouldn’t say “Role Model” is truly horrible, I do still kinda wish the energy of the last two tracks would have carried over. But this still certainly isn’t bad, and I love the very vast sound and the colorful verses.
Phoenix sadly saves one of this album’s worst tracks for the later moments however. “Via Veneto” is absolutely awful, as soon as I hear this opening I literally feel my eyes starting to get heavy. This is beyond boring, with light synth notes that are practically ripped right from lullabies, the softer vocals that accompany them aren’t that much better. The very dreary and dream like atmosphere on this one just misses the mark completely, I can literally think of like 10 other bands who do this sound so much more justice. “Telefono” ends this album off, and on a pretty decent note (Even though that intro is cheesy and so bad that it’s kinda good). The more rock instrumentation here I feel like is so refreshing, since for most of the album it’s been absent. Now, this whole album for the most part has been obsessed with love and romance, but more times than not it hasn’t come off that good. However, “Telefono” actually comes off pretty sweet. The guitars seem to have some serious purpose, and lyrically this one actually comes off as adorable. What a nice change of pace for a finale.
Rating : 6.7/10
Give A Listen To: “Ti Amo”, “Fior Di Latte”, “Goodbye Soleil”, “Fleur De Lys”
Overall Thoughts: Man, I was expecting so much more out of this. Phoenix to me once was all about energy and colorful Synth Pop anthems. However, the material here for the most part is lazy and very bored sounding. There are some really great highlights, that show Phoenix can still really do some wonders. But for the most part, this album is really cheesy, and you can find about 20 bands doing this sound so much more justice.
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