POP: Phantom Planet (5/6)
By Saby Reyes-Kulkarni on Apr. 30th, 2008
You can call Phantom Planet pop - there really isn't anything else you could call the band - but that label really does a disservice to the L.A. outfit's uniqueness. Yes, the sound contains bounce, bop, and polish in spades, not to mention hooks galore. But it also sparkles with a fresh, unidentifiable 
flavor that rearranges your taste buds. Phantom Planet has a knack for striding grooves that recall the daring energy of early Elvis Costello and the Attractions. When a vaguely ska-like thump emerges, it's nearly impossible to resist, and resurrects New Wave as something vital and modern. Likewise, the band's take on jangly pop overflows with hidden surprises. Frontman Alex Greenwald turns tunelessness into art, and when he sings "you can toss it into that pit / of emptiness you're pregnant with," the music brings jaded L.A. to life without losing energy or making you feel dirty.
flavor that rearranges your taste buds. Phantom Planet has a knack for striding grooves that recall the daring energy of early Elvis Costello and the Attractions. When a vaguely ska-like thump emerges, it's nearly impossible to resist, and resurrects New Wave as something vital and modern. Likewise, the band's take on jangly pop overflows with hidden surprises. Frontman Alex Greenwald turns tunelessness into art, and when he sings "you can toss it into that pit / of emptiness you're pregnant with," the music brings jaded L.A. to life without losing energy or making you feel dirty. Phantom Planet
w/Panic at the Disco, Motion City Soundtrack, The Hush Sound
Gordon Field House, RIT
7 p.m. | $30 | 475-4121
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