Phantom Planet: Raise the Dead

The Indie Review

By Sean Duregger
May 17, 2008

Artist: Phantom Planet
Album: Raise the Dead
Label: Fueled by Ramen

Rating:

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With 3 Major Label full length releases under their belts, Phantom Planet finds themselves on pseudo-Indie label Fueled by Ramen for their most recent release. Known for consistently strong albums, Phantom Planet have outdone themselves with this new installment, Raise the Dead.

Combining the raw Rock approach of their last Self Titled album, and the poppiness of The Guest and Phantom Planet is Missing, Raise the Dead hit all the right marks and feels both familiar and fresh. Phantom Planet have shown that they can mature without changing their sound dramatically.

Musically, most every song is a gem here. There seems to be a lot of thought and care to produce an album with as little filler as possible. Each song has it’s strong points and makes Raise the Dead will be the first Phantom Planet album to get repeat visits from me. Alex Greenwald’s vocals have never been better and he shows more range and diversity than ever before. Jeff Conrad shows that Jason Schwartzman is a better actor than drummer. The drums on this album are head and shoulders above all previous albums (Jeff replaced Jason halfway through recording the Self Titled album). Sam Farrar and Darren Robinson both deliver on the bass, guitar and also contribute with some great background vocals.

If you’ve shrugged Phantom Planet off in the past, Raise the Dead gives you a reason to check them out. Phantom Planet have not only showed staying power with this being their 4th studio album, but they’ve also shown us they have a lot great tunes left in them.

Stand Out Tracks:

“Raise The Dead”

“Do The Panic”

“Dropped”