Phantom Planet (album)

Phantom Planet
Studio album by Phantom Planet
Released January 6, 2004
Recorded Tarbox Road Studios, Cassadga, NY[1]
Genre Alternative rock, garage rock revival
Length 35:32
Label Epic
Producer Dave Fridmann
Phantom Planet chronology
The Guest
(2002)		 Phantom Planet
(2004)		 Limited Edition Tour EP
(2007)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
Rolling Stone[3]
Pitchfork Media(7.3/10)[4]
Spin Magazine(6/10)[5]

Phantom Planet is the third album by the rock band Phantom Planet, released on January 6, 2004. The album marked a startling change in the band's sound, shifting from radio-friendly pop rock to garage rock, comparable to the sound of The Strokes.[6] Produced by Dave Fridmann (Weezer, MGMT). It is the first album to feature current drummer Jeff Conrad (ex-Big City Rock). It has been credited with earning the band's first significant fan base, as well as some minor commercial success.

During the recording of the album, drummer and co-founder Jason Schwartzman left the band to pursue his acting career.[6]

The song "By the Bed" is about Alex's grandmother, and what she told him on her deathbed.

The song "Jabberjaw" deals with anger and frustration.

Alex Greenwald commented on this song in Nylon magazine:

“ There are references to this one girl- that's what "Jabberjaw" is about. She wouldn't stop complaining about how a guest spot on a TV show was going to ruin her and how she didn't want to turn out like me- credibility ruined by being in a Gap commercial. It infuriated me. And I drove home livid and wrote an angry song about it.[7] ”

The music video for album's single, "Big Brat," had significant airplay beginning in December 2003. It cuts between scenes of an urban performance of the song to the band shooting a low budget zombie film in the relative location.

The actual zombie film being shot was used as an alternate music video for the song available to fans on the band's website.

Recording and production

The new album is Phantom Planet's first without drummer Jason Schwartzman, who announced midway through the sessions that he was leaving to pursue acting full-time. "He finally made the adult decision between the two sides of him," Greenwald says of his friend, with whom he co-founded the group at age thirteen. "It was a little strange at first, but there's no bad blood. We're still best friends." Schwartzman, the star of several films, including Rushmore, The Darjeeling Limited, Funny People, and television shows like Bored to Death, can be heard on half the album's tracks, while the rest feature new drummer Jeff Conrad.[6][8]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Alex Greenwald, except "You're Not Welcome Here" composed by Greenwald and Jason Schwartzman. 

No. Title Length
1. "The Happy Ending"   3:20
2. "Badd Business"   2:18
3. "Big Brat"   3:21
4. "1st Things 1st"   2:53
5. "Making A Killing"   2:43
6. "You're Not Welcome Here"   3:30
7. "By the Bed"   3:41
8. "Knowitall"   4:03
9. "Jabberjaw"   3:16
10. "After Hours"   2:46
11. "The Meantime"   3:43
Total length:
 35:32
Japanese Bonus Track
No. Title Length
12. "The Living Dead" (originally appeared on Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse soundtrack) 3:26
13. "Stiffs (Live)"   2:23

Personnel

Credits for Phantom Planet adapted from Discogs.[9]

Musicians

Phantom Planet
Additional musicians
  • Dean Keller – saxophone on "Big Brat" and "You're Not Welcome Here"
  • Bill Racine – additional saxophone on "Big Brat"

Production

  • Dave Fridmann – producer
  • Rob Bronco – artwork
  • Skullhead & Clark, Brandy Flower – artwork
  • Mike Myerburg – photography

References

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