Phoenix

Wow....Who knew these French electronic dance boys had this good of a pop rock record in them? You couldn't have guessed from their previous two decent but unfocused albums (United and Alphabetical) They hinted at brilliance with a couple of great singles on each, but It's Never Been Like That is a great leap forward. This is the first "summer" album of 2006. Roll down the windows and cruise the strip. You don't need anywhere to go, just 37 minutes of sunshine.

No mere studio Cheap Trick, each track keeps one-upping the previous track with a ten song, two-sided album feel. Just when you think you have a favorite song, like "Consolation Prizes," "Rally" or "Long Distance Call," the record culminates in the one-two finishing punch of "Sometimes in a Fall" and "Second to None." It's all sugary sweet and might not be your favorite flavor come fall, but it'll be hard to find ten more cool tunesicles for your summer loving.

The production is slicker than oil, but it works in part to the frenetic pacing and the vocals, which have a one-take feel and feature plenty of grunts and yelps. Like a summer blockbuster, if we analyzed it too closely we'd be sure to find some plot holes. Just go along for the ride. - Jeff Kamin

After avoiding the sophomore slump with relative ease, Phoenix return with their third release stripped of the post-disco house sound that helped to define them, focusing more on the songwriting side of things than any sort of dancefloor-focused groove. In fact, it takes until the fourth song, "Long Distance Call," for anything resembling a dancefloor beat to appear, and when it does it feels like an epilogue to the wonderful "If I Ever Feel Better" off the group's debut record. The band has definitely learned a thing or two through its evolution, placing more of an emphasis on guitar than before (Laurent Brancowitz and Christian Mazzalai sound as if they've been in the woodshed studying the chops of Johnny Marr and the twin-guitar attack of the Strokes' last few records), and their performances sound more confident than ever. Gone are the sluggish country-infused downtempo numbers, replaced with a more even-keeled track sequencing and tempo throughout -- almost as if they've been able to focus on the things that make the band so engaging to begin with, monopolize on them, and move forward in a refreshing and vibrant direction. ~ Rob Theakston, All Music Guide