Phantom Planet

"Phantom Planet"

Sony Records

Grade: B-

After its 2002 hit song "California" appeared on the "Orange County" soundtrack and, more recently, became the theme song for the new television show "The O.C.," Phantom Planet's self-titled record shows listeners that, although their sound has changed a little, they are headed for stardom.

The album has moved away from the pop happy sound of their second album "Guest" to more of an edgy tone.

Dave Fridmann was the producer for Phantom Planet's third studio album.

Fridmann has also produced for The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Mogwai and Longwave.

Phantom Planet wanted to escape the craziness of Los Angeles and picked Fredonia, NY, an Amish town in the middle of nowhere, to record its album.

The band completed the album in only six weeks after an exhausting 18-month tour.

The first single off the record, "Big Brat," mixes a fast-paced rhythm with lead singer Alexander Greenwald's sing-speak vocals to make a catchy up-beat song.

Some might compare Phantom Planet to such bands as The Strokes and Rooney.

Phantom Planet's sound, however, is definitely much more original.

The first few songs like "The Happy Ending" and "Badd Business," opens the disc with an upbeat start, but the problem toward the end of the album, some of the songs blend into each other.

Jeff Conrad starts to sound like a first-timer banging away on the drums.

This album would be best used as background music when cruising around town on a sunny day with friends.

-- By Jordan Marshall, Staff Writer