• Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Jan 6, 2004
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 15
  2. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. What Phantom Planet lack in stripped-down hooks they make up for with a full-bodied guitar attack and big, bloodletting choruses.
  2. This willfully noisy, messy album is ultimately just as contrived as the band's glossier sound was, and the shift from The Guest's winsome pop -- which was also a shift from their debut's heavily Weezer-influenced sound -- makes it difficult to get a grip on the band.
  3. Alternative Press
    60
    Phantom Planet are shooting for something a bit less sunny here than their last outing. [Mar 2004, p.106]
  4. Blender
    60
    [Several songs] sound way too much like Strokes castoffs, a situation little helped by... Fridmann's unusually heavy-handed production. [Mar 2004, p.125]
  5. Mojo
    40
    The whole affair comes off like a desperate bit of trend trawling. [Feb 2004, p.99]
  6. Q Magazine
    40
    This is as cynical a mish-mash of popular trends as you can imagine. [May 2004, p.106]
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 14
  2. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. SeamusS
    Jan 25, 2006
    10
    One of the few albums in recent years I can honestly call an inspired Masterpiece. No pretention, heavy, tight, brilliant
  2. amyt
    Sep 12, 2004
    10
    i think its amazing. their albums are always always fantastic
  3. JebJ
    Apr 14, 2004
    9
    it takes a couple listens to grow on you, but once it does it's like a new appendage you can't do without. although the Strokes it takes a couple listens to grow on you, but once it does it's like a new appendage you can't do without. although the Strokes comparisons are perhaps inevitable, it's worth nothing that the stylistic shift between this album and the previous one shows a range and depth that wasn't evident between the 2 strokes albums. Phantom Planet have their own magpie sound, and the songs stand on their own merits. great lyrics, muscular rhythm section, fluid guitars, just an all around kick ass album Full Review »