PHANTOM PLANET
Phantom Planet (Epic)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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As the band picture indicates in the booklet, there are multiple personalities at work here. Phantom Planet used to be a straight ahead pop outfit, but here they branch out in all directions. Choppy guitars, drum machines and a vitriolic Mark E. Smith style vocal, a Cure-ish synthesized love goth piece, a crackly, White Stripes bare bones rock piece, and on it goes. Phantom Planet sure know how to play the field, as there is something here to appease any radio format. Very clever indeed, but a wank is still a wank. The boys need get past smirking at the industry, find their own direction and focus their obvious talents on something more tangible.

© 2004 - John Sekerka