I’m Only Doing Just Fine

Phoenix “Long Distance Call” – It took Phoenix nearly four years to follow up their debut, so it comes as a very pleasant and extremely welcome surprise that they’ve already finished the successor to Alphabetical, which many of you may remember was one of my favorite albums from 2004 and remains one of my favorite records from this decade. “Long Distance Call” retains the immaculate pop aesthetic of their first two records, but it’s toughened up a bit with slightly ragged rock guitar parts on the chorus contrasting with smooth keyboards on the verses. Of course, “ragged” for Phoenix is a bit like brand new designer clothing that’s meant to seem old and worn. (Click here for the official Phoenix website.)

Barbara Morgenstern “The Operator” – There’s a keyboard refrain in this song that I swear reminds me of some fragment of a Sonic Youth song, and though I’m fairly certain it’s from Daydream Nation, I just can’t place it. (The part in question is just before the first shift into a faster tempo, about 30 seconds into the track.) Even if I’m wrong, there is a certain Daydream Nation-ness to this track, which I suppose is not something said of guitar-free synthpop songs sung mostly in German. It’s all in the lovely arpreggios and structural shifts, and in how it evokes a web of conflicting feelings that nearly translates into a disaffected emotional neutrality. (Click here to buy it from Juno.)