“Long Distance Call”
from the album It’s Never Been Like That
2006
iTunes
It took Phoenix nearly four years to follow up their debut, so it comes as a very pleasant and extremely welcome surprise that the French rock foursome already finished the successor to 2004’s Alphabetical. The new album arrives in May, and while lead single “Long Distance Call” retains the immaculate pop aesthetic of their first two records, it’s toughened up a bit with slightly ragged rock guitar parts on the chorus contrasting with smooth keyboards on the verses. Of course, “ragged” for Phoenix is a bit like brand new designer clothing that’s meant to seem old and worn.
~ Matthew Perpetua, fluxblog.org