Bankrupt! by Phoenix

Hello, and welcome to yet another album review! On this post, we’ll be tackling Bankrupt! by Phoenix.

Entertainment: A bright sounding opening to the album, using a synth-based instrumental. The lyrics reflect on a former relationship, which becomes a common theme that persists throughout the album.

The Real Thing: A song about an ended relationship, and a yearning to once again feel a similar sensation. The instrumental uses more guitars than the previous track that give the song a harder edge.

S.O.S. in Bel Air: Continuing from the previous song’s theme of relationships, this song is about attempting to resist love stemming from the presence of a woman until eventually giving in. The distinct guitar riffs accompanied by synths makes this song one of the best.

Trying to be Cool: With a slower instrumental and the usage of many synths, this song probably has the nicest atmosphere of all the songs on the record. The theme of the song’s lyrics is made obvious by the title.

Bankrupt!: The first two-thirds of this song are completely instrumental, starting out quietly with layers of synth and piano until gradually building up to the final part of the song. The lyrics don’t begin until the last third of the song and detail the pursuits of the wealthy until it fades out along with the music when the song finishes.

Drakkar Noir: This song’s instrumental bears minor similarities to Trying to be Cool, but stands out by using a different instrumental structure. The lyrical content is another song about wealth, specifically a façade one sets up to appear prosperous while actually possessing no wealth at all.

Chloroform: As Drakkar Noir’s instrumental slows down at the end, it leads directly into the beginning of this song, which transitions into a much slower, almost compressed sounding synth-based tune. The lyrics describe cruel love, and while I normally object to these themes, the smooth instrumental salvages it.

Don’t: Once again, this song tackles a relationship plagued with issues that has become too serious to handle. The instrumental is the song’s strongest asset, as the quick-paced synths and guitars make the song a thrill to listen to.

Bourgeois: The beginning of this song actually contains microphone static from its studio recording. After the song begins, it takes another look into the lifestyles of the rich and famous, lambasting on the minute problems they face.

Oblique City: The final song that experiences many key changes that truly make the song one-of-a-kind, while retaining the familiar synths and guitars. The subject matter delves into consumerism and capitalism, with lyrics questioning these topics.

While many of the songs do sound similar, the great instrumentation prevents it from becoming monotonous. Overall, this album gets an 8/10 rating!