Raise The Dead
Atlantic - Atlantic
Phantom Planet
Release date: 2008-04-15
Audio CD
Indie Rock, Pop, Pop/Rock Music, Rock, Rock/Pop
1. Raise the Dead
2. Dropped
3. Leader
4. Do the Panic
5. Quarantined
6. Ship Lost At Sea
7. Demon Daughters
8. Geronimo
9. Too Much Too Often
10. Confess
11. Leave Yourself for Somebody Else
12. I Don t Mind
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Raise The Dead
Date undefinedThis rock band has two prior releases: a self-titled release in 2004 and The Guest in 2002, both bringing you alternative power pop rock that sounded like most of the bands in that genre and time. Now they bring you Raise the Dead. It's in the same vein of rock as they have done with their prior releases. They rock with their certain style of pop-post punk infused songs like "Dropped" (a la The Jam) and "You Can Be My Ship" that adds horns. So if you take the Jam mixed with the Clash, then add some songs that change style slightly you have this record, which is why I was more fond of this release, than their others
The title track Raise the Dead has a nice intro of acoustic guitars giving a more moody vibe with the percussions, then comes together in a big way with Alex Greenwald singing with full force. Then you have "Quarantine" a more mellow type of a song and "Leader" which is a favorite on the album, due to it's more deep, thought provoking lyrics. So if you weren't a fan in the past, they were okay, you might want to check this release out because they do put out way more substantial tracks.
Raise The Dead
Date undefinedThis would be a great album for many bands but it is simply mediocre for Phantom Planet. After a four year wait I was expecting a truly phenomenal album in line with those previously released (even the self titled effort is brilliant in it's own ways) but Raise the Dead is simply adequate in every sense of the word....for Phantom Planet.
Don't get me wrong, there are some great songs on here---The title track, I Don't Mind, and Ship Lost at Sea are all excellent songs but they just don't hold a flame to the other albums.
Buy this album if you're looking for a great alt/pop/grunge/rock amalgam album. But if you are a die-hard Phantom Planet fan it will ultimately come as a disappointment. They had the right idea by trying to combined the dark sound of the Self Titled album with the pop sensibility of their earlier works...could've been an amazing result, but it just didn't come out quite right.
Here's to hoping they stick around to get it right.
Raise The Dead
Date undefinedThis Los Angeles based gang's been around about 10 years now, and Raise The Dead is their 4th album, but the first I've heard by them. So if you're new to PP then this review is a good summary of what you're likely to find. There are 12 tracks here on R.T.D. which, at times, echo early material by the Strokes, with disaffected vocals and grungy guitars. However the sound is a bit fuller than the garage-sound of the Strokes. That said, singer Alex Greenwald's attempts to emote Thom Yorke of Radiohead seem to fall short.
Let's start off on a good note though. The feel good "Do The Panic" has a very catchy, finger snapping rhythm. They even include the finger snapping! It's a nice catchy song and shows the fun side of Phantom Planet. I mean, how often do you hear "Bop Bop Sha-doobey" in modern rock?!
On the chorus of "Quarantine" vocalist Greenwald sounds quite a bit like Thom Yorke. But the moderate pace and unnecessary background "oooos" and "ahhhhs" of this song clue you into the fact that they have a ways to go before they can draw that same feeling out of you. A minimalist version of this song would have yielded a better result.
The slower parts of "Demon Daughters" and again, the feeling of "Quarantine" really show the band is trying to draw on those more emotional aspects of music, but somehow it just doesn't translate. It's as if you're looking at a painting through a slightly opaque piece of glass. I think with better production these songs would resonate much more. They just don't feel deep, which leaves you feeling "just ok" about them.
A couple of songs worth highlighting - "Do The Panic" (see above). Also "Too Much Too Often" has a very nice driving bass guitar which steadies out this quirky rock song. They pull the elements together very well on this track and it resonates more than most other tracks. These are the 2 to start out with if you're new to the band.
Overall, and perhaps its due to line-up changes since their last album (most notably departure of actor Jason Schwartzman) "Raise The Dead" doesn't quite hit that sweet spot. They have a fun, college rock sound. But mixed with less than stellar composition & production the album's ability to reach its potential is definitely hampered. It's an enjoyable listen right up to the last song, but I gotta rate this one an average 3 stars.
-thanks for reading!-
