“Lisztomania (Live on Saturday Night Live)” – Phoenix
(Words/music: Phoenix, available on Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, V2 Records. Available 26 May 2009)

Listen to “Lisztomania” on The Hype Machine

A lot of times we talk about songs as binary oppositions – they are either this or that – and too often this creates a limited discussion.  I think this is a byproduct of trying to write about music for people who haven’t heard it and require these convenient labels in order to decide whether something merits a listen.  This works fine when a song conveniently fits into a box or withstands an either/or test.  However, many truly great songs transcend convenient description, begging to be listened to and enjoyed.

“Lisztomania” demands attention, with the secret to its charm being the rare pop song that sounds meticulously arranged yet still maintains the groove of a looser, sloppier song. Sure, that repetitive guitar riff runs through the songs like its pulse, but it’s a series of tiny embellishments that make the song feel looser.  A few of these elements – the way that the different keyboard parts enter the song and cut out, the way Thomas Mars repeats certain words and syllables, or the way the tom-tom notes in the first verse seem to drop out of nowhere  - make the song seem like a series of happy accidents.  However, every note is intentional and functional, building to create the net effect with only the necessary parts.  In particular, I marvel at the efficient drumming – by keeping the drumming in the verse to the snare, bass drum, and the tom fills, the song feels faster when it’s added in to the chorus even though the tempo remains the same.  Phoenix pulls off all of these tricks with grace and skill, whether it’s dropping the beat right at the start of the chorus or adeptly shifting from one second to the next.

Most importantly, “Lisztomania” radiates fun – it’s hard to listen to the song and not tap along as a minimum.  Only rarely do we get a pop song that’s meticulously arranged, insanely catchy, and feels like it’s being played by a band that’s having fun.  There’s no doubt how comfortable Phoenix is as a band, even when playing to (perhaps) their biggest television audience yet.  I’ve watched this video at least a dozen times and every time I’m amazed at two things.  First, I’m impressed that they can nail a song that relies on precision without sounding entirely stiff.  Additionally, I’m drawn in by the way many of the band members move their feet – they’re bouncing around the stage with an unbridled, natural joy to be performing, and I have to think that this fun translates into their song.  They should have fun too, because they’ve created one of the finest songs of 2009.

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