Phantom Planet
Phantom Planet (Epic)
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No longer content being known as the power-pop group that gave “The O.C.” its theme song, Phantom Planet hired Flaming Lips production wizard Dave Fridmann to overhaul its sound and sculpt its third album. With percussive volleys, angular guitar crunch, burbly electronics and vocal choruses springing up from every direction, “Phantom Planet” bursts with planned ambition. But by trying to be everyone at once — gothic post-punks, arty experimentalists and attitude-drenched garage rockers — the Los Angeles-based band abandons the bright melodies that made its first two records charming. Despite the sticky hooks on “1st Things 1st” and “Making A Killing,” it’s impossible to overlook the effort’s blatant resemblance to the Strokes, an identity crisis that extends to singer Alex Greenwald pretending he’s Julian Casablancas.