Hey Pearl Jam, Phoenix see your Target tie-in and raise you one Wal-Mart endorsement that also pimps Axe hair products. Watch at walmart.com. Apparently Axe has a product called Phoenix? Quelle coincidence (that’s French for LOL).
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Why, Phoenix, why did you do this? Sigh… Another great band tainted by bad hairspray and the evil empire.
Don’t worry, no one will remember this two weeks from now.
Can anyone explain all the hoopla about Phoenix to me? I mean, their music is pleasant enough, but I don’t see how they are any different from a dozen other bands. Again, I’m not dogging their music, but why do so many people seem to worship them like they’re so revolutionary and amazing?
Eh, whatever. They’re definitely risking over-saturation with 1901, but it’s still one of the best songs of the year.
I do think it’s funny that walmart/axe managed to eek 7:37 minutes looping just one song. Do they know Phoenix actually came out with a whole album?
sounds like you’re dogging it, which you have every right to but it’s really funny that you’re trying your darnedest pretend that your not.
Me? Worship is a strong term — they are in my top 25 favs of the moment but their optimistic catchy tunes help me feel like the recession my personal economy is in isn’t quite so bad.
Phoenix are now officially endorsed by Wal Mart, Axe Body Spray, and Animal Collective.
Thom Yorke is in a band with Flea.
Hell has apparently frozen over.
I’m pretty sure Axe Phoenix has existed for years.
1901 is on a cadillac commercial, too
Maybe if I start using Axe Phoenix, I’ll be as cool as them.
I think some people may be missing the point.
The point of this for a band like Phoenix is to broaden their fanbase to kids who normally wouldn’t hear this band and couldn’t give a fuck about indie rock or indie cred.
We can debate this issue as much as you like, but obviously Phoenix want to be a huge huge band. No one signs on for a masturbatory celebration of product placement like this ad is without expecting to gain a hell of a lot. And we’re not only talking the short term monetary gain, but in the long term too.
I’ve been a long time fan but this isn’t going to dissuade me from enjoying this band.
Yes it’s unfortunate, but it is good to see a band that wants it all, who isn’t a shlock rock band, and is using the opportunities given to do just that.
you raise a pretty good point. honestly, i don’t see what difference there is here from all of stereogum’s favorite bands jumping on the twilight bandwagon for the new moon soundtrack. these are great opportunities for these bands to get out there, to appeal to a larger audience with music that we consider great. you’re afraid of losing your indie cred because hot topic’s going to start blasting bon iver? what’s indie cred? who cares? these guys deserve the attention they’re getting.
phoenix isn’t going to start making terrible music now that they’ve garnered commercial appeal. what’s creating the commercial appeal for these groups is the part where they’re making genuinely great music. and that’s a very, very good thing. the more people that listen to this music – the less i hear about lady gaga and taylor swift and miley cyrus and nickelback and everything that’s come out of the american idol enterprise save “since u been gone” – the more faith i have in humankind.
and, yeah, i get it. wal-mart?! BOO!!! HISS!! it’s not like these guys are shopping at wal-mart or wearing axe body spray. they’re just taking their money and thanking their lucky stars.
All this extraneous shit doesn’t change the fact that the album is extremely solid.
Title’s misleading. Click and watch the damn thing, this is basically an interview sponsored by Wal-mart (the no. 1 record seller in the United States) and Axe (who tend to do clever things when it comes to pleasing their crowd ? young guys who want to know what’s cool out there).
Get used to this type of thing; it’s the 00′s equivalent of being on a TV show.
good then we only have to deal with it for 3 more months
i’m phoenix’s manager and wanted to let you all this advert was something neither the band or i approved.
we did not get paid for it and have asked for it to be removed.
best,
simon white (coalition mgt)
ps
excuse poor grammar, just got off an 11 hour flight. when the band did the interview we had no idea it was going to be loaded with product placement for hairspray. we would not have agreed thad we known in advance.
shens . . . .
Simon White… you manage Bloc Party too, right?
correct
bloc party, phoenix, holy ghost
so why’s it still up then? i’m pretty sure that rather than posting in a comment on stereogum you would’ve just called the production company and asked them to take it down.
you are not who you say you are, sir.
Why is the drummer staring off to the left and looking generally pissed-off and out of it?
Thank you. I mean, really it sounds like the only reason anyone has an issue with this is cause the content lives on walmart.com – if it didn’t, nobody would be bitching. So uhhhh probably just try to deal with it.
Great I´m on a deodorant website. Deodorant is definitely the future for music.
The real question isn’t why does Axe endorse Phoenix but rather, does Phoenix really endorse Axe? Because if they do I won’t be getting within a 50 yard radius of them, being sure to stay up-wind.
What?? According to wikipedia, Axe has released the Phoenix scent in 2000… this is not news and it’s not related to the band.
To be honest, I am more bothered by the Cadillac commercial than the Wal-Mart thing…
I couldn’t care less which bands endorse which products. These people have to make a living and if you recall, no one buys records anymore.
If you demand artists have artistic cred you have to buy their records. No calling foul unless you own 3 or more of their albums, or I’m calling you a poseur.