Everything You Need to Know About (EYNTKA): Phoenix

I am introducing a new section that will be a recurring one on this blog, Everything You Need to Know About or EYNTKA. This section is intended for all of us that are too busy and ADD in this digital world to build a holistic and all-knowing history and catalog of songs from the best artists out there, but still want to have the highlights and talking points to hang at that hipster cocktail party later tonight. It is like Wikipedia, if Wikipedia was only concerned about you sounding cool. Here's Phoenix.

(Lead singer Thomas Mars at the Wiltern)

History / Trivia:
One of the two guitarists, Laurent Brancowitz, started out in a Beach Boys inspired guitar band with the two electronic geniuses that would later become Daft Punk (both paths worked out pretty well).

Cocktail Party Key Talking Points:
"While "Love Like A Sunset" isn't one of my go-to tracks when I am spinning the album, seeing it performed live showed it to be their most complex and brilliant to date. You know their motivation for the song was sonically recreating the rhythmic experience of the road and lights through a tunnel in between Paris and Versailles. Only took them two years." (This song is absolutely brilliant by the way - check it out: LINK)

Albums / Song Highlights / Cliff Notes Description:
Untitled (2000) - "Too Young" / "If I Ever Feel Better" - Glossy electro-pop
Alphabetical (2004) - "Everything is Everything" / "Run Run Run" (A personal favorite) - stripped down R&B, blues and jazz infused rock.
It's Never Been Like That (2006) - "Napoleon Says" / "Long Distance Call" - crisp electronic infused guitar driven rock: think Johnny Marr meets Strokes meets Air.
Wolfgang Amedeus Phoenix (2009) - Highlights in my Top 10 (and let's be honest this whole album is a highlight - just get it) - this album is pop perfection

Best remixes (If you are listening to and quoting remixes then you have to know alot about the original stuff right??):
Long Distance Call (25 Hours A Day Remix) LINK
1901 (Alan Wilkis Remix) LINK

Upcoming Tour Dates:
LA - Greek Theatre (one of the best venues in LA - soon to have its own write-up on this blog) on 9/16 - GET TICKETS TO THIS IMMEDIATELY
NYC - Rumsey Playfield Central Park on 9/25 ( I am probably going to this one too)
Other cities check out their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/wearephoenix

Enjoy,
MD