Phantom Planet/ The Guest Combo Pack

Phantom Planet | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 6, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000159F0A
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #97,301 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. The Happy Ending

2. Badd Business

3. Big Brat

4. 1st Things 1st

5. Making A Killing

6. You're Not Welcome Here

7. By The Bed

8. Knowitall

9. Jabberjaw

10. After Hours

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. California- Tchad Blake Mix

2. Always On My Mind

3. Lonely Day

4. One Ray Of Sunlight

5. Anthem

6. In Our Darkest Hour

7. Turn Smile Shift Repeat

8. Hey Now Girl

9. Nobody's Fault

10. All Over Again

See all 19 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hey now, boys..., March 18, 2004

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Phantom Planet/ The Guest Combo Pack (Audio CD)

Thanks to the popular "O.C." TV show, powerpop/alt-rock group Phantom Planet is getting more exposure than ever before, coinciding with the release of their latest album. Here debut album "The Guest" and the self-titled "Phantom Planet" are collected together... though you'd never think they were the same band.

"The Guest" is a collection of sunny, catchy powerpop. Hit single "California," Radiohead-like "Turn Smile Shift Repeat" and the plaintive "Wishing Well" are a few of the standouts in this album. But most of it is just the mind of a pensive adolescent male, with crushes, longings for faraway oases of fun, and overwrought emotions.

"Phantom Planet" is an entirely different kind of music: garage rock. Gone is the sunniness and fun: in its place is an edgier rock, grittier and faster and harder. The energetic "Big Brat," complicated "Knowitall" and "The Happy Ending" are among the best tracks, showing promise for the future. It has the sound of a band of New York cynics -- watch out, Phantom Planet is all grown up.

It's pretty clear that Phantom Planet has stepped away from its roots. The original pop shifts away in favor of Strokesian alt-rock. Even the vocals change from overwrought to flat (a bit of a Julian Casablancas thing). "Phantom Planet" is not bad, but (like "The Guest") neither is it amazing. Rather the self-titled album is just entertaining rock, as "Guest" is entertaining pop.

The "Phantom Planet/The Guest" combo pack is a good way to get into both sides of Phantom Planet, both rock and pop. A nice diversion.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EVOLUTION + A WORK IN PROGRESS..., January 12, 2004

By 

Larry Davis (NYC/Long Island, NY, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Phantom Planet/ The Guest Combo Pack (Audio CD)

Here is a cool idea, package PP's new album together with the reissued "The Guest" for a limited time only. I am pretty sure this is a limited edition 2CD set.

First off, Phantom Planet's new self-titled release. Before I heard anything, I read an ace review in Newsday, where this record was called the record the Strokes should have released instead of "Room On Fire". That, plus I read this new record is much more aggressive than "The Guest". As a fan, I purchased this set when I heard about this combo pack, as I wanted to hear the new record for myself, AND I needed the reissued "The Guest" as well (the 4th time it's been reissued??!!??), for the bonus tracks and new artwork, so BAM, together in one package!!

My take...for newcomers, they might come off as the best new band they have heard. For us who have been following Phantom Planet since "Phantom Planet Is Missing", this new record will shock you, it shocked me!! Mainly, its more aggressive sound, feedback, extra-loud drums, and the tunes being somewhat buried under the noise. Now, I LOVE noise, feedback is cool, I love My Bloody Valentine and the Jesus and Mary Chain as much as other hipsters, but I also love POP, POWERPOP, bright guitars, melodies and hooks, and hallelujah choruses. At first, listening to the new PP disc, I thought, UGH, where are the tunes?? AND, at first, Alex sounded JUST like Julian from the Strokes, his tones and vocal inflections. What it took was getting used to their new attack. Once that was outta the way, the tunes revealed themselves, and they are mighty impressive, as well as interesting and original, and the Strokes comparisons fell by the wayside. Now, I can say, the more you play this CD, the better it gets, and I can say, it's the first great record of 2004, bar none. A fave tune is "After Hours", sorta like FOW's "Stacy's Mom", but with more grime and edge. "1st Things First" is also really cool, and I really dig the opening volley of songs: "The Happy Ending", "Badd Business" and "Big Brat". Really, the whole album is cool, diverse and totallty rocking. It took a while, but I really love it now. Brilliant really, turning noise into gold.

As for the 2nd disc?? It's "The Guest", expanded, so if you have the old version, sell it and get this combo pack, as you will have the new version AND the new album, 2 burds with 1 stone, so to speak. I love the extra tracks, espesh the London version of "Always On My Mind", produced by Youth from Killing Joke, louder and a tad rawer but still bright and catchy like prime Squeeze and Elvis Costello and XTC...

All in all, Phantom Planet is very cool and interesting, taking all these side roads, and expanding their powerpop reach while never losing site of their roots. All those people who are trashing it for being too different?? They aren't listening and relistening, and looking beneath the noise. Plus it's GOOD to be different, to evolve and explore; it's boring to make the same record, namely "The Guest", over and over. As long as they never lose their pop instincts, I'll be happy if they make some more side turns...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outta' This World, April 17, 2005

By 

Willie James "Willie J" (St.Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Phantom Planet/ The Guest Combo Pack (Audio CD)

I bought the 'Phantom Planet/The Guest' combo-pak with some reservations. For starters, I had never heard any of their songs, i got it because it was a duel-disc album for $11 at Vintage Vinyl and I thought the cover art was cool. Now i'm someone who listens to any and everything that gets me going; country, rap, jazz, r&b, rock, trip hop you name it. I am someone whose addicted to music, so it's only fitting i become a musician. So, as a guy going to school studying music i have a certain appreciation for those who are able to make one great album, let alone two great albums. On the first disc it starts off with that kinda post-punk, new wave energy...be forwarned it is very loud, so if your one who plays their music in headphones...you may want to keep your hearing and have it at a reasonable listening level...i can't beleive i'm saying this i sound like my grandmother...anyway,Phantom Planet has become one of those bands i want to hear more from. On disc one they have a song i usually vibe and write my own lyrics to called "Mr.KnowItAll".
What i do is wait until the middle of the night when i can't sleep because my day kept me wired and listen to the album and write. And, everytime i write the album puts me in the mind of the movies. The concept, friends (all there own) who have a get together. Two make love, and the next day lay in bed hoping they didn't wake the other going to brush their teeth for that morning kiss. I'm saying you all have got to get this album. That may not be the albums concept, but it's definetly going to give you that...feeling to just...be. Congratulations Phantom Planet, you all have made something really beautiful here, and no matter what it meant while you were writing it, to me it's something i don't mind the rest of my friends and family clowning me for listening to "white music"...you guys gave me a rainbow in a puddle of water along the curb...and i really needed it cause my writing was suffering.
Now, i don't want people to go have all these expectations about this album. Because it meant something to me don't expect it for you, expect to enjoy a listening experience for you and you only...love Willie James.