Nostalgic Album Review -Phantom Planet - The Guest

Jason Schwartzman is a great actor, but people may forget that he used to be the drummer for Phantom Planet. Here is the review for "The Guest," which you may recognize a song called "California," which appeared as the theme song for the tv show, "The O.C."

“Let’s hope these guys don’t run away and become famous actors. Oh, I think one may have already done that.”

After being together for six years and they are still only in the younger 20s, these guys have definitely gone through their awkward stage of life together. They have a great sense of quality songwriting that rivals elder bands in the business, but for some reason, they were dropped from their first label after their first album didn’t do as expected. Luckily for you, the guys bounced back in a big way and released their first album on Epic Records entitled, “The Guest.”

“The Guest” is extensive with the amount of quality songs it withholds. “California” was the first single that was released. It’s an anthem-type song that includes a piano interlude, but what really completes the song is the drumming. Usually the listener’s ears don’t guide towards that area too often, it was refreshing to hear that.

Another “anthem-like” tune would be the song, “Anthem.” Which is a song about how the whole world needs a song, but I think it deals with the songwriter’s struggles with attempting to write a song that will have mass appeal and meaning to everyone, which is almost impossible. It’s almost an anthem to any struggle songwriter trying to save the world with their guitar.

For a change of pace, there’s the tune, “Turn Smile Shift Repeat.” It’s a jingle that more or less sounds like it could have been a song on Radiohead’s Amnesiac. Their use of loops along with the eerie vocals is a change of their usual style. It’s risky, but seems like a nice addition to the album. Other additions that deserve merit are “Hey Now Girl,” “Nobody’s Fault,” and “Lonely Day.”

It doesn’t seem like Phantom Planet will be searching for another record label after this album. It looks as if they have a winner on their hands. Let’s hope that the drummer and lead singer don’t leave the group to further their acting careers. We’ll all be saying “Awwww…..Fudge!,” if that ever happens.