Hey now, boys

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... even 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.



Funnily enough, just as the "O.C." snagged "California" for its soundtrack, the sound of Phantom Planet changed completely. Jason Schwartzmann (of "Rushmore" fame) departed from the band, and this radical change heralded a whole new sound -- and only time will tell what is ahead.



It's pretty clear that Phantom Planet has stepped away from its roots. The original powerpop 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 the hard-edged rock and sunny pop. A nice diversion.