I think this is an excellent instrumental track, as far as instrumental tracks go. The track has an impressive buildup to a B minor ending, but the instruments fall and fade first, with the engine noises malfunctioning into silence. More synth effects layer on as the instruments crescendo. The motif takes center stage, with an impressive guitar line. The future motif returns, and the drums enter. The engine returns, with a much more tonal sound, like an electric amp. The synths escalate, until everything stops for a split second.
Finally, the electric guitars enter, playing motifs from other tracks on the album such as Armistice, which will come back later. A xylophone repeats a pedal tone, as the synths and guitar switch moods with chords. The synth melody augments, and an acoustic guitar enters, with a darker sound appearing. It begins with a high pitched synth melody, with other synth effects, resembling a soft engine, or a vehicle speeding by. 1901 is a great sounding track, but is undeniably puzzling as well. What I’ve found, is that there is a common theme with this album – where many songs’ composition carries the track, while the lyrics remain enigmatic. It’s odd – with this track being one of the best sounding and popular tracks according to many, you would think the lyrics would support the positive sentiments. This is a fantasy about Paris.“ Other than the viewpoints of band members, the lyrics really don’t have any other hints within them. Paris in 1901 was better than what it is now. “The peace and prosperity in Paris allowed the arts to flourish, and many masterpieces of literature, music, theater, and visual art gained recognition.” Phoenix, being made up of French members has a strong attachment to the region. According to Genius, the song is about the flourishing of 19th to 20th century Paris. When it comes to the lyrics, it’s a bit ambiguous. Lisztomania is a cute and joyful hit, and possibly one of the most approachable songs on the album.Īnother track released to high praise, 1901 is another indie rock track with touches of synths. A video of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her college friends dancing to the song even went viral recently, as an attempt to smear her term in Congress backfired. At its peak, the song reached #4 on Billboard’s US Alternative chart. The chorus encapsulates this feeling very well, and how corrupted love is a byproduct of these unhealthy social norms. While Mars prefers the sense of respect that came from the classical period, it is attached to several societal norms and expectations that are seen as burdens in the modern day. During performances, fans held their applause until the end, and the scene was much more “high-class”. Lead singer Thomas Mars sings about how conflicted he is. During Beatlemania, The Beatles actually had to stop touring due to the amount of disruptive screaming during performances, suggesting that fans only liked the band because of their status as an icon, as opposed to their actual music. In The Virtuoso Liszt, it is explained that classical composer Franz Liszt had his own period of mania, yet it was much more controlled. “Lisztomania” is a witty reference to “Beatlemania,” a craze in the 1960 revolving around British rock band, The Beatles. Kicking off the album with one of its greatest hits, Lisztomania is an upbeat indie rock track with a very interesting metaphor.
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