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indie-snob>+!#
phantom planet @ the metro (11-5-03)
with ben lee |
 I saw Phantom Planet almost two years ago now at the Metro, when the obsessed girls got there at noontime on the sweltering hot August day. They brought peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the others who were there early (like me); they printed out stickers and passed them around in line (with a pair of scissors to cut the desired one out). It was all so ridiculous. As the band peered out of their tour bus, the girls were all ready to spring forth. Did I mention I was the third guy in line? This time seemed little different. I got there maybe fifteen minutes before doors opened (the pleasures of homework on concert nights), but, again, found myself to be at least one of ten guys in line, and got in way ahead of any other girl in line. (In fact, the girl who stood next to me got there two hours before.) The stage was set in a giant background of what would become their album art for their self-titled second full-length. In a way, I was slightly surprised with such peculiar artwork. However, I had not anticipated such a new sound. Ben Lee is lovely pop music, there is no doubt about that, and for me it's nice to see singer/songwriters like that using new instruments (e.g. a drum machine). However, Ben's actual use of his drum machine was shotty at best. He'd be singing and strumming along, hit the foot pedal to turn the drum machine on for a several-second interval, and then hit it off. While there's something unique about that in today's world of popular acoustic guitar players, by no means can I consider it to be a successful implement in his music. Sure, electronics keep me interested, and Ben's brand of low-offense pop rock sure doesn't cut it too well on its own. But hey, at least he's cute with a good voice and an Australian accent. Really, what else CAN we ask for? The music? Pffffft! Grade: C There was a time when every member of Phantom Planet wore Levi's, or as they call them in the biz, Freevi's. Oh, wait, that time hasn't yet passed. The cute Planet boys stepped out, each in their own personalized style of denim and witty t-shirts. You can tell they've been allowed to get popular. You can imagine my reaction when I heard the initial sound of the modified Phantom Planet. What happened to the pop sensibility? Has it just been disguised as severely Strokes-influenced mediocrity? I mean, it was all about the melody before, and now…? I have no clear answer for the new Phantom Planet. It's different. At first I hated it. While they did switch back and forth between old and new, I found myself extremely turned off by the new material. I enjoyed it, I must admit, but it was unsettling. At the same time, though, it was dirty and fun, and… well… different. And while I initially took it to just be extremely derivative of the Strokes and other such bands (so perhaps I should really be saying Television and the Velvet Underground, since they started it), now I find it to actually be original. I can barely say WHY it is, but listen to "Big Brat," and perhaps you will understand. To me, the old songs will reign supreme in my idea of the ideal live show, merely because I have such fond memories and the songs are so lovely. The band seemed as enthusiastic and as solid as ever, and while popularity may have severely damaged the California pretty boys of Rooney, I can not say the same for this band. I do love "Always On My Mind," "Nobody's Fault" and "California," all of which were on the set, along with current favorites like "Know It All" and "Big Brat." I'm not sure how their monitors were set up, but from where I was, the guitar was an excessively over-powering voice in their music, which made me not so happy with the overall sound. However, I do think they're an excellent live band. Grade: B+ |