United (Phoenix album)


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". 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." 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."

Commercial performance

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

Track listing

;US/iTunes bonus track

Personnel

Phoenix
  • Laurent Brancowitz
  • Christian Mazzalai
  • Deck d'Arcy
  • Thomas Mars Jr.
Additional musicians
  • Rob – clavinet
  • Cubain – percussion
  • Sandrine Longuet – harp
  • Jean-Philippe Dary – clavinet
  • Julia and Oliza – backing vocals
  • Camille Baz Baz – Hammond organ
  • Hugo Ferran – saxophone, string and horn arrangement
  • Andrew Crocker – trumpet
  • Thomas Bangalter – Yamaha CS-60 synthesizer
  • Paddy Sherlock – trombone
  • P. Nadal – strings conductor
  • Marlon - drums
  • Eddie Efira – pedal steel
  • Bryce de la Menardière – Epinette
  • The Love Choral Society – screams
  • Morgan – Hammond organ and Wurlitzer
  • Pedro Winter – Rapman synthesizer
  • Noe Efira – lead guitar
  • The Arcysian Vocal Ensemble – vocals
  • The Hector Berliz Choir – vocals
  • Jean-Claude Soubeyrand – conductor
  • Junior Carrera – guitar
Production and design
  • Phoenix – production, mixing
  • Stephane Briat aka Alf – production, recording, mixing
  • Alex Firla – production, recording
  • Philippe Zdar – mixing
  • Jean-Paul Gonnod – mixing
  • Julian Delfaud – mixing
  • Mike March – mastering
  • Alexandre Courtès – cover design
  • Félix Lahrer – cover photograph

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