Phantom Planet

Reviewed by:
David Peisner

If Phantom Planet were annoyed at being better known for their drummer, Rushmore star Jason Schwartzman, than their music, those days are over. For starters, Schwartzman’s jumped ship to be a movie star; more importantly, the band has made an album of jittery, buzzing garage rock that should garner attention on its merits. Granted, ditching the sturdy, Weezer-ish power-pop of 2002’s The Guest for a striking clatter of noisy, jagged guitars and throbbing new-wave rhythms is bound to invite charges of Strokes envy, but there are far worse things to be accused of. Frontman Alex Greenwald gets his Julian Casablancas on early, slurring through the pulsing, messy opener, “The Happy Ending,” in an ecstatic mumble. A sinewy bass line slinks around beneath “Badd Business,” expanding the “Watching the Detectives”–era Elvis Costello vibe that was hinted at on the band’s first album. Even if they’re not exactly their own men yet, they seem confidently on their way.

Share