Phantom Planet - Raise The Dead

Phantom Planet
Raise The Dead
(Fueled By Ramen)

Ten years and a handful of albums later, Phantom Planet, is making a strong comeback. But did they ever leave? Not really. Their new album, Raise the Dead, is definitely resurrecting old Phantom Planet fans. Raise the Dead is far from the Phantom Planet I remember listening to as a teenager. It’s more rock and less clean cut, with heavier guitars and bass lines and more howling from lead singer Alex Greenwald.

Phantom Planet’s The Guest, was good for a different reason. It is a lot slower and ‘cleaner,’ and by cleaner I mean everything kind of fit a little bubblegum pop formula within this facade of a rock band. Phantom Planet broke all the rules on this new one. I was reluctant to give Raise The Dead a good listen but the album’s first saving grace was “Demon Daughters”, which is as far away from Phantom Planet’s old sound as you can get and features one sweet bass line. There’s progression of energy which builds throughout the song, leaving the audience feeling fulfilled after its completion. Everything that comes after it is as equally amazing. There’s a lot of variety in this album and the songs all fit together nicely without sounding the same. Raise the Dead features some quick paced, toe-tapping, get up and dance songs such as “Dropped” to slower, more mature The Guest-like songs such as “Quarantine.” Standouts also include “Geronimo”, “Do the Panic” and “Leave Yourself for Somebody Else.”— Mai Huynh

ON TOUR w/ Panic @ the Disco, Motion City Soundtrack & The Hush Sound

May 23 2008 - Congress Theatre - Chicago, IL
May 24 2008 - Congress Theatre - Chicago, IL
May 25 2008 - Eagles Ballroom - Milwaukee, WI
May 27 2008 - Myth - Minneapolis, MN
May 28 2008 - Val Air Ballroom - Des Moines, IA
May 30 2008 - The Pageant - St. Louis, MO
May 31 2008 - Westfair Amphitheatre - Omaha, NE
Jun 1 2008 - Uptown Theatre - Kansas City, MO
Jun 3 2008 - Fillmore Auditorium - Denver, CO
Jun 4 2008 - Salt Air Theatre - Salt Lake City, UT
Jun 6 2008 - PNE Forum - Vancouver, BC
Jun 7 2008 - Paramount Theatre - Seattle, WA
Jun 8 2008 - Portland Exposition Center - Portland, OR
Jun 10 2008 - Grand Sierra Resort - Reno, NV
Jun 13 2008 - The Pearl - Las Vegas, NV
Jun 14 2008 - Honda Center - Anaheim, CA

MySpace