United (Phoenix album) explained

United
Type:	studio
Artist:	Phoenix
Cover:	PhoenixUnitedalbumcover.jpg
Released:	8 June 2000
Recorded:	1999–2000
Studio:	Studio Gan Studio 2 Studio PlusXXX
Genre:	Indie pop
Length:	38:48
Next Title:	Alphabetical
Next Year:	2004

United is the debut studio album by French indie pop band Phoenix, released in 2000. Singles released from the album include "Too Young", "If I Ever Feel Better" and "Party Time".

Critical reception

United received generally positive reviews from critics. Catherine Bromley of The List gave the album a perfect score, praising the album's diverse sound over the sound of "the Gallic house propagated by their contemporaries".^[1] Pitchfork gave the album an 8.6 out of 10, calling it "one of the most confoundingly brilliant debuts of the year, the type of album that thwarts expectations while affirming music's overwhelming capacity to amaze."^[2] Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic called it "an uncanny yet earnest showcase of what makes pop/rock pop without the gaudy trendiness that now makes the 1980s seem so distasteful."^[3]

Commercial performance

According to Virgin France, as of April 2004, the album has shipped 150,000 units worldwide.^[4]

Track listing

US/iTunes bonus track

Personnel

Phoenix

• Laurent Brancowitz
• Christian Mazzalai
• Deck d'Arcy
• Thomas Mars Jr.

Additional musicians

• Rob – clavinet ("School's Rules", "Too Young", "If I Ever Feel Better", "Embuscade")
• Cubain – percussion ("Too Young", "Honeymoon", "On Fire", "Embuscade")
• Sandrine Longuet – harp ("Honeymoon")
• Jean-Philippe Dary – clavinet ("On Fire")
• Julia and Oliza – backing vocals ("On Fire")
• Camille Baz Baz – Hammond organ ("On Fire")
• Hugo Ferran – saxophone ("On Fire", "Embuscade", "Definitive Breaks"), string and horn arrangement ("Embuscade", "Summer Days")
• Andrew Crocker – trumpet ("On Fire", "Embuscade")
• Thomas Bangalter – Yamaha CS-60 synthesizer ("Embuscade")
• Paddy Sherlock – trombone ("Embuscade")
• P. Nadal – strings conductor ("Embuscade", "Summer Days")

• Marlon - drums ("Summer Days", "Funky Squaredance Part One")
• Eddie Efira – pedal steel ("Summer Days", "Funky Squaredance Part One")
• Bryce de la Menardière – Epinette ("Funky Squaredance Part One")
• The Love Choral Society – screams ("Funky Squaredance Part Two")
• Morgan – Hammond organ and Wurlitzer ("Funky Squaredance Part Two")
• Pedro Winter – Rapman synthesizer ("Funky Squaredance Part Two")
• Noe Efira – lead guitar ("Funky Squaredance Part Three")
• The Arcysian Vocal Ensemble – vocals ("Funky Squaredance Part Three")
• The Hector Berliz Choir – vocals ("Funky Squaredance Part Three")
• Jean-Claude Soubeyrand – conductor ("Funky Squaredance Part Three)
• Junior Carrera – guitar ("Definitive Breaks")

Production and design

• Phoenix – production, mixing ("Definitive Breaks")
• Stephane Briat aka Alf – production, recording, mixing ("Embuscade")
• Alex Firla – production, recording
• Philippe Zdar – mixing (all tracks except "Embuscade", "Party Time", and "Definitive Breaks")
• Jean-Paul Gonnod – mixing ("Too Young")
• Julian Delfaud – mixing ("Party Time", "Definitive Breaks")
• Mike March – mastering
• Alexandre Courtès – cover design
• Félix Lahrer – cover photograph

Charts

Year!scope="col"

Chart	Peak position
2001
2004

Notes and References

1. Bromley . Catherine . 8 June 2000 . Phoenix: United (Source) . . 388 . 56 . 25 June 2017.
2. Web site: Murray . S. . Phoenix: United . https://web.archive.org/web/20060511153553/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/p/phoenix/united.shtml . 11 May 2006 . 10 April 2016 . Pitchfork.
3. Web site: Birchmeier . Jason . United – Phoenix . 10 April 2016 . AllMusic.
4. Web site: French Phoenix Rises. Billboard. James. Martin. 24 April 2004. 17 December 2018.