Phantom Planet (album)


Phantom Planet is the self-titled third studio album by the American rock band Phantom Planet, released on January 6, 2004. The album marked a 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, it is their first album to feature drummer Jeff Conrad.
During the recording of the album, drummer and co-founder Jason Schwartzman left the band to pursue his acting career.
The music video for album's single, "Big Brat" 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 album was 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 said 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.

Songs

The song "By the Bed" is about Alex's grandmother, and what she told him on her deathbed, and the song "Jabberjaw" deals with anger and frustration.
Alex Greenwald commented on "Jabberjaw" in Nylon magazine:

Personnel

Musicians

Phantom Planet
Additional musicians
  • Dean Keller – saxophone on "Big Brat" and "You're Not Welcome Here"
  • Bill Racine – additional saxophone on "Big Brat"

Production

  • Dave Fridmann – producer
  • Rob Bronco – artwork
  • Skullhead & Clark, Brandy Flower – artwork
  • Mike Myerburg – photography