United

Pheonix is weird mix of rock and dance music which are both present occasionally. Most of the album is pretty catchy albeit cheesy and a guilty pleasure (I don't think you would show this album to your friends - see songs like "On Fire" especially), so at least there's something to hold your interest. Thomas Mars has a relatively pleasant voice, but he will definitely alienate some people as he's distinctly poppy (as opposed to, say, Nada Surf's singer who is poppy but still manages to be very likable). There are no bad songs here (though they're all forgettable), even if a couple of them are just "alright". There's a hint of 70's disco in some of these songs, especially the beginning of "Embuscade". "Definitive Breaks" is really the only song on the album that MOST people will like. The lyrics are nothing of interest - they're simply an excuse to have vocals. It's not a bad album - if you like the style and singer then you will find that it's simply "good". Pop fans might like this. Slighty recommended.

Highlights include:
"School's Rules"
"Too Young"
"On Fire"
"Definite Breaks"
the rest are pretty decent

Phoenix is the band with a stupid name whose creativity is not further delimited by the stupid title ("United") of this collection of infectious pop songs.

The stand out song here is "Too Young" clocking in at three minutes and nineteen seconds of pure pop bliss with a nearly percussive organ part that drives the back beat and recalls the early work of Steve Nieve in "The Attractions." The lead guitar is a tight funky riff that is nearly lo-fi, while the drum parts themselves are executed on a small kit but are a deceptively intricate combination of a shuffle and disco beat, that serve as an alternate lead. The only instruments tying together these competing forces are a some long slow chime strokes of a steel string acoustic rhythm guitar part and a bass part straight out of the power pop song book.

The vocals on "Too Young" are the standout: pure garage band sounds that cross "The Archies" with a sober Paul Westerberg.

The rest of the album makes for an effective selection of cross genre efforts that show off the band's versatility and taste, but nothing else really matches the standout single here.

When I heard this album I felt violated, but not in a good way... it conjured thoughts of seedy 70's night clubs with tight leather pants being the compulsory dress code...

This album is the greatest thing to emerge in music in the past 5 years. Phoenix is by far THE BEST pop-rock-tronica group out there. Pick up "United" now.

This is definitely one of my favorite albums of all time.
As a dj, I Discovered it like many others trough the single 'If I Ever Feel Better' who was remixed by the big names of French House.
It is the perfect CD to listen at home while having a drink with friends or alone.
If I Ever Feel Better, Too Young and Honeymoon are 80s style melancholic electro-pop masterpiece, while some tracks like 'School Rules'are more on the rock edge.
Funky Squaredance is the secret highlight of the album for me, three songs in one.
I was also very surprised to see that Thomas Bangalter (Daft Punk, Stardust, Roule and Irreversible) was playing keyboards for the band.
A must-buy!