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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Alphabetical

Generally favorable reviews
Based on 16 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 11 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Source / Astralwerks
Release Date: 27 July 2004
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Indie, Electronic
Summary
This is the second album for the French synth-rock outfit, who attracted some international acclaim with their 2000 debut 'United.'
Also By This Artist: It's Never Been Like That Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Also On The Web: Astralwerks Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Filter
Despite the '80s tag and influences worn plainly on sleeves, Phoenix always come across strangely earnest and never cheesy. [#11, p.98]
Stylus Magazine
Its airily liquid, peculiarly French dance-pop is crafted to be almost entirely unmemorable at first, but upon familiarity grow into a wonderfully subtle, hook-laden album of continent-hopping (sub)urban pop which makes an ideological virtue of its superficiality.
Read Full Review >Drowned In Sound
The most sophisicated, deliciously out of step pop album of 2004.
Read Full Review >Tiny Mix Tapes
Somehow they straddle the line between fluff and absolutely essential hipness that few attempt, and even fewer succeed at.
Read Full Review >Alternative Press
Unbelievably catchy hipster synth-rock. [Sep 2004, p.136]
Uncut
Like Bread produced by The Neptunes. [Jul 2004, p.110]
New Musical Express
As airbrushed as an Athena poster, 'Alphabetical' is nonetheless an emotional experience. [19 Jun 2004, p.57]
Dot Music
Full of heat haze lethargy and sun scorched sing-alongs, its a resolutely romantic vision of the all American singer-songwriter as viewed through unmistakably French eyes.
Read Full Review >Playlouder
Chock full of songs that are lounging rather than strictly loungey, cosmpolitan-sounding in a wearing-aviator-shades alongside a large-haired lovely kind of way and blessed with harmonies that fall narrowly on the breezy side of melancholia.
Read Full Review >Blender
These songs create a series of vivid but minimal soundscapes. [Sep 2004, p.140]
Pitchfork
There's something admirable about a record that proves it's possible to remove grit from adult contemporary pop.
Read Full Review >Spin
Imagine if N.E.R.D... were from France and used to make house music before going soft rock. [Aug 2004, p.108]
Splendid
There are some bands who were just meant to be great pop acts -- pop in the George Michael sense, pop in the Fleetwood Mac sense. Phoenix make music that your mom would like, and it's not a bad thing.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
Phoenix has created an album that is easy to enjoy whilst listening, but desperately hard to love, and impossible to remember.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club)
Tasty bait for those who like their pop glitzy and expensive, Alphabetical is the kind of album that proves perfect when it's playing and hard to recall when it's not.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 7.0 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
andrew e gave it a0:
this is absolutely horrendous music, the least challenging thing ive heard in years. if you like maroon 5 then youll love this crap.
matt a gave it an8:
A few weak spots (I'm An Actor, anyone? Can anyone honestly say that this track is good?), but for the most part it is great indie/electronic. Several songs sound like singles just waiting to be discovered. Recommended.
Phoebe O gave it a10:
I adore this album...and this band...this weekend I am seeing them in concert in Philly! I'm so excited!!
Nathan Z gave it a10:
Easily in top 10 albums of 2004, it grows and grows....also an act that must be seen live as they are outstanding, "Popmatters" comment was overly subjective and obviously written by some pretentious cretin as the same as "All music Guide!!!!"
greg r gave it a 10:
simple, catchy, poetic, french..
Decepticon Pom gave it a 7:
Bought on impulse as a 2-for-1 double pack with their first album (currently available in Australia), this is a refreshingly warm, lush pop album. Not quite as dynamic as United but very much worth a try. Give it a shot! (Who else prefers to sing "Hocus pocus" instead of "Hopeless hopeless" in 'Everything Is Everything'? - I surely can't be alone!).
Shabar oscar de la gave it a 9:
An album full of contrast. At first it sounds like FM pop but after a few listening you start understanding the sophistication of the musical landscape. Run Run Run , an Hip Hop beat mixes with more jazz and folk influences. Favorite track by far is the poetically induced "I am an actor". Great bootleg remixes available as well. Alphabetical is a natural following to UNITED. Chic materialism yes. But that is maybe more sub pop than a lot of wanna be cool pretentious indie bands.
