Sporting a sprinkle of Asian pop flair that bears resemblance to Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” Phoenix divulges its poppier side on “Bankrupt!”

While the record is covered in synths and bouncy melodies, veteran Phoenix fans shouldn’t fear — the album definitely beckons back to 2009’s “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix,” the record that brought the band to stardom.

One of the band’s crowning achievements, vocalist’s Thomas Mars’s high-pitched croon, is especially showcased on the album, and at a much higher volume than on early Phoenix recordings.

Because of this, as well as clearer enunciation from Mars, lyrics on the album are easier to understand than in previous Phoenix tracks. A logical progression, “Bankrupt!” surely does not disappoint and should be marked as one of the better albums of 2013 so far.