It's fitting that many American fans learned of the band through the Lost in Translation soundtrack, as Wolfgang evokes that film's dazed sensuality and sense of fleeting pleasure. The first single, 1901, is driven by a thick, shimmering Moog and Thomas Mars' collar-loosening yelps, and Lasso and Countdown are especially scintillating rockers.

Yet after a good number of frothy tracks like Girlfriend and a long instrumental doodle, Phoenix's pleasures become akin to eating a tin of cake frosting: It's a worthy and delicious Friday-night endeavor, but expect a touch of a toothache in the morning.

-- AUGUST BROWN

Los Angeles Times

PAT METHENY/GARY BURTON

Quartet Live!

Concord

*** ½

Guitarist Pat Metheny got his start as a 19-year-old in vibraphonist Gary Burton's quartet in the early 1970s. Here the pair reprise the lightning of that historic collaboration with bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Antonio Sanchez.

The result, which also reprises a 1968 live quartet recording Burton made with guitarist Larry Coryell, is full of clean sounds linked to some strong grooves. It was caught live at Yoshi's, the jazz emporium in Oakland, Calif.

The composing credits alone give clues to the depth of this music. Carla Bley wrote two tunes, including the haunting Olhos de Gato, which prompts Metheny to trigger an inspiring climax. Keith Jarrett's Coral gives majestic chords for Burton to investigate, while Metheny's Missouri Uncompromised seems to have some Spanish tinge.

The set is full of interconnections. The vibraphonist's salty and rocking Walter L pays tribute to country guitarist Walter L. ''Hank'' Garland, who gave the self-taught Burton his own start at age 17. Walter L also happened to be the first tune played by Burton with a young Metheny. The latter takes a booming pass here through its blues changes.

Little darts of flame seem to jump from Metheny's guitar on Swallow's Falling Grace, the first tune the bassist wrote for Burton's quartet. Swallow also was a veteran of the 1968 set.

-- KARL STARK

The Philadelphia Inquirer

MANDY MOORE

Amanda Leigh

Storefront Recordings

**

When onetime teenage icon Mandy Moore released her fifth album, Wild Hope, in 2007, it marked the first time she had cowritten an entire album. With heavy folk and singer-songwriter elements, it was a noticeable departure from her earlier radio-ready pop tunes.

She also cowrote her latest album, Amanda Leigh, and it takes another step away from the preteen MTV limelight and delves further into alt-rock territory. Whether she is performing a Decemberists-inspired orchestral-pop number or belting out lively melodies lifted from the 1940s Broadway stage, there is a compelling earnestness, even innocence, to Moore's vocals.

Yet, while songs are well-written and orchestrated, Amanda Leigh lacks anything truly stunning or groundbreaking to bring Moore to the forefront of her new genre.

-- KATHERINE

SILKAITIS

The Philadelphia Inquirer

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