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June 19, 2009

Phoenix Play "1901" For Alexa Chung, David Letterman

thumbnail icon: Phoenix Play "1901" For Alexa Chung, David Letterman

If you listened to the radio this month, maybe you heard a stripped-down performance of "1901." Phoenix played it on French radio, American radio, Canadian radio, satellite radio ... those are just some of the radios. Sometimes they play "1901" on TV shows like SNL too. Just yesterday the synthrock quartet returned to NY for a Music Hall Of Williamsburg gig, and squeezed in appearances with MTV's Twitter-happy talk show host Alexa Chung and that schmuck David Letterman. Someone give these guys a day off already.

Phoenix - "1901" (MP3)

Tonight they'll perform "1901" at Terminal 5, and probably on the subway over to Terminal 5. If you go, look for this table:

Posted at 10:14 AM by Scott in ,
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18 Comments

Well, one can't say it isn't "good"...Jonathan Richman requested that the air conditioning not be turned on...he started mumbling something about onions at the Middle East once...I just smiled with warmth and nodded...

Posted by: Rick Springfield at 06/19/09 10:59 AM  | Reply
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LOL he threw the mic at just the right time that sounded rly cool

Posted by: erikaspanis at 06/19/09 11:42 AM  | Reply
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Wait! You are saying that the footage from the drummer were not sped up in post-production? o_o

I really, really like this song but I don't feel the same way about the other songs I've heard from that album.

Posted by: d33r profile link at 06/19/09 11:50 AM  | Reply
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Give it another listen. The first two songs are immediately accessible, the others are growers. This is probably my favorite album of the year thus far.

Posted by: Stephen B profile link  in reply to d33r's comment at 06/19/09 12:42 PM  | Reply
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Countdown is really good.

Posted by: I PEE GOLD profile link  in reply to d33r's comment at 06/19/09 1:19 PM  | Reply
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The drummer is nuts! These guys are great.

Posted by: Nick Rock  in reply to d33r's comment at 06/24/09 11:37 AM  | Reply
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Hey! Thanks for the videos! Great, great band!
Could you please upload their interview with Alexa? It's difficult to find a video interview with them! Thank you!!

Posted by: Lau* profile link at 06/19/09 12:31 PM  | Reply
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They sold out in mpls. Stop rubbing it in, gum :(

It's impossible to tell whether the minneapolis hipsters will jump on something or not

Posted by: Frojo at 06/19/09 1:18 PM  | Reply
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SOFIA COPPOLA IS PAYING MUSIC CRITICS TO HYPE THIS BAND, BEWARE

Posted by: WARNING at 06/19/09 3:46 PM  | Reply
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Pretty sure they don't need music critic hype when they're blowing people away with their TV performances. If that's the case, Sofia is wasting her money.

Posted by: Stephen B  in reply to WARNING's comment at 06/19/09 4:54 PM  | Reply
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Anyone else feel that Letterman performance was mostly (or entirely) canned? I like the song, but can't they play it live?

Posted by: Ryan at 06/19/09 11:37 PM  | Reply
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That sounded so pristine. I am assuming he uses an effect that thickens his voice like a really quick tape delay. But who is playing the synth lines. I don't think I saw that keyboard player with a synth. I would think with 6 people they could manage to play all the parts live.

Posted by: erikl profile link at 06/20/09 2:08 PM  | Reply
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the first time i heard phoenix i liked them, but it gets old fast. i think its that "pristine" quality about them i don't like because i like live music.

Posted by: d@ve at 06/21/09 9:31 AM  | Reply
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Try "Love Like a Sunset Parts 1 and 2." It's really just one extended song. Very good mood. They have a mix compilation where they pick some of their favorite songs for a mixtape called Kitsune Tabloid by Phoenix. On this mix they pick a Vangelis composition (the subway scene from Risky Business) as an inspiration. This minimalism influence is definitely heard on "part 1." I think the album is very strong. Already has some high play counts for me. Is this the truest indicator on whether you really like something?

Posted by: bg at 06/21/09 7:09 PM  | Reply
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correction- That's Tangerine Dream not Vangelis. Sorry about the double post.

Posted by: bg at 06/21/09 7:24 PM  | Reply
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What are those vip pass looking things?

Posted by: Jeffreymejiametal at 06/21/09 10:04 PM  | Reply
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Best album of the year so far.

Posted by: Dragland at 06/24/09 12:24 PM  | Reply
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Great band, great album. I agree Love Like Sunset is a killer and it grows on you very much.

Drummer was not "speeded up", also they DO have a keys player who plays the synth parts.

Sheesh, is everyone so dumbed down that you cant recognise a bunch of guys playing a well arranged and well written song live and playing it well?

Love it.

Posted by: sodium at 07/05/09 9:10 PM  | Reply
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