Artist: Phoenix
Album: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009)
Track: “Lisztomania”

I considered Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix an album - much like Merriweather Post Pavilion and a yet-to-be posted album by a group sharing my initials - that should be filed under “no need to post this because it’s on everybody else’s list.” But I rocked the shit out of this and it ended the year near the top of the Official Impala Chart (the amount of times I played an album in my car).

Phoenix has come a long way, maturing well beyond the initial naive, tongue-in-cheek rock that they so charmingly displayed early on. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is absurdly catchy and danceable rock (not dance-rock). I’ve had friends from Chicago and Columbus tell me that they put on an incredible on their current tour. I trust both their musical opinions above almost anybody else’s, so that tells me a lot. My dumbass failed to make the show in Michigan. I digress.

In a brief 36 minutes, Phoenix takes you through the run of rock. “Lisztomania” rises to the top of the album. Also, what the hell does that mean? Is making a Best of 2009 list contributing to Lisztomania (Americanizing it to “List-O-Mania!”)? Franz Liszt is a legendary composer who died 15-years prior to the year referenced in the next song. I digress.

“1901” rocks so hard that it makes me want to drive a Cadillac. Things slow down through “Fences” as they band gets a little more sombre sounding. The two-part “Love Like A Sunset” starts out like an electronic song where a huge beat should eventually kick in but never does. The second part features some major acoustic guitar strummage, like the sun is actually rising.

They get back into rockin’ mode with “Lasso” and maintain a more uptempo sound for the remainder. “Armistice” is reminscent of the “Lisztomania”, a proper way to close this particular album. In fact, it makes the album longer: the album is so short and sweet, that you have no choice but to put it on repeat. The finale leads perfectly into the opener. There’s no loss of momentum or change in atmosphere when you go back to track one.

(Side note: I believe posting this album makes Phoenix the first artist on G’s Albums to be featured twice. For whatever that’s worth.)

Tracklist:

01. Lisztomania
02. 1901
03. Fences
04. Love Like A Sunset Pt. 1
05. Love Like A Sunset Pt. 2
06. Lasso
07. Rome
08. Countdown
09. Girlfriend
10. Armistice