Released January 6, 2004 Label Epic | Length 35:32 Producer Dave Fridmann | |
Recorded Tarbox Road Studios, Cassadga, NY Genre Alternative rock, garage rock | ||
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. 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.
Contents
During the recording of the album, drummer and co-founder Jason Schwartzman left the band to pursue his acting career.
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:
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.
Track listing
All tracks written by Alex Greenwald, except "You're Not Welcome Here" composed by Greenwald and Jason Schwartzman.
Personnel
Credits for Phantom Planet adapted from Discogs.