After an album that dove headfirst into the pop mainstream and came up feeling a little empty,
Phantogram return to form on 2020's
Ceremony. Fueled by personal tragedy (the suicide of vocalist
Sarah Barthel's sister) and a desire to break through the darkness they found themselves buried in, the album has an uplifting, empowering feeling. The songs hit like punches from a heavyweight, with solid rhythms, majestic samples, and fully packed arrangements combining to make swirling backgrounds for
Barthel to swoop over like a superhero. Her vocals are somehow more dramatic and powerful than before, and where some of the lyrics on their previous album
Three didn't always ring true, here almost everything feels ripped from her soul and splattered across the speakers.
Barthel sings like her life depends on it, and the big-sounding, emotionally super-sized songs like "In a Spiral" and "Dear God" work as impressive slabs of modern pop and also as an emotional release. The verses pummel and the choruses soar; by the end it's easy to feel a little wrung out in a satisfying way. Paired with these stadium-ready songs are a handful that trade swagger for slink -- "Mister Impossible" rides a booming trip-hop beat and adds nice vocal effects, "Let Me Down" melds dream and synth pop with a side of belted-out soul -- and heartfelt ballads like the title track that pare back the wall of sound in favor of a more considered, less bombastic approach that suits them well. No matter the mood and variation on their sound,
Phantogram prove to be strong at crafting memorable modern pop with some weirdness around the edges, this time with some real emotion behind the glittering facade. It's definitely a step back in the right direction after the last album's stumble and stacks up to be their most consistent and enjoyable record to date. ~ Tim Sendra