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Phantom Planet - Raise The Dead
| Ew | | Reportedly inspired by the music of cult leaders Charles Manson and David Koresh, songs of spiritual unease fill the fourth album from Phantom Planet, the once-sunny tunesmiths behind ''California,'' that indelible O.C. theme song. Thankfully, this L.A.-based quartet pierces the gloom with winsome melodies and swelling, thunderous choruses. While the downbeat ''Leader'' entrances with Arcade Fire-type flourishes (and a children's chorus), tracks like the riotous ''Do the Panic'' rock to the apocalypse with élan. For all the angst, Raise the Dead is ultimately uplifting....full text |
| | Allmusic | | Phantom Planet discovered the joys of rockin' out on their third, self-titled album, which felt designed to move them as far away from the piano-driven pop of The Guest as they could get. Four years later, they keep the volume turned up on Raise the Dead, also their first album for Fueled by Ramen. Their anthemic, rowdy sound makes a lot more sense on this label than it did on their previous imprints, and Phantom Planet just seem more comfortable all around on Raise the Dead. Their outbursts are more natural here than they were on Phantom Planet, especially on "Raise the Dead," where they feel completely in control of how the song moves from brisk acoustic guitars to a huge swell of strings and guitars. And even if they still don't go near The Guest's wistful ballad territory -- "Quarantine" bares its broken heart with an edge, and "I Don't Mind" is more bouncy than brooding -- Phantom Planet balance their brash side with their pop roots with a lot more flair....full text |
| | Blender | | Armed with a simple piano melody and a charging four-word chorus, Phantom Planet became West Coast bards with their 2002 single “California,” a Golden State love letter that pithily evoked grand Angeleno myths: manifest destiny, beach bliss, seeing that dude from that movie in the Ralph’s checkout line. Playing under the opening credits of The O.C., it was the best-written thing in the show. Their fourth album explores a creepier Cali staple, one that unites Charles Manson and Tom Cruise: the cult. The title track commingles rock uplift and sectist uplift (“I know it’s tough down there,” Alex Greenwald sings with hammy, slurred condescension, “wave your hands and summon the spirits”); “Leader” sneers at a would-be prophet who outfits acolytes with uniforms and uniform beliefs....full text |
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