The Ewing Effect also applies to rock bands, apparently.

[triggercut1]

If you read The Sports Guy at all, you've heard him invoke "The Ewing Effect"--the idea being that a team loses a marquee player or players and somehow ends up getting better, first coined after Ewing left the Knicks. A-Rod leaving the Mariners is another example.

I'm set to say that it happens in music, too.

If you've heard of a band called Phantom Planet, it'll be for one or two reasons:

1. The TV series "The OC" used their song "California" as its theme song, and/or

2. Actor/Coppolla scion Jason Schwarzman (Max Fisher in "Rushmore", one of the brothers in "Darjeeling Limited", Talia Shire's kid) is their drummer.

Well. "The OC" is cancelled. Schwarzman left the band two years ago to focus on acting. What do you do if you're a fairly dull, inocuous California guitar pop band not too much more exciting than Maroon 5?

Apparently what you do is put out a record that, slap my ass and call me Ginger, is sure to hit my year-end top 20. The disc is called "Raise The Dead", and it sounds like what you'd get if an American band took a stab at wearing a mid-'90's Radiohead influence right on their sleeves...or, maybe a more melodic version of The Walkmen. In any event, this is an out of left field stunner, a terrific album with nary a dull tune on it.

"Do The Panic" (The obvious infectious single)
"Dropped"

[Turd Ferguson]

Ginger.

[ItsOnlyTheRiver]

Phantom Planet? Green Day? I don't even want to know who Trig is going to pimp next.

[MsFunkay]

that OC song sucked

[triggercut1]

that OC song sucked

I agree. Which is why I'm sort of stunned to find them able to do something light years better than that.

[007]

damn you trigger...damn you

[jhanke]

That panic song sounds great. can't wait to hear the rest

[Indu WangZi]

If this album is in your top 20 of '08...well, then '08 must have been one of the worst musical years in eons...

The OC theme sucks...and the tunes you posted were blah...

[STL JA]

What would Patrick do?

[triggercut1]

Here, try two more. Beware the overt Radioheadness of these two tracks, which I really like but might be almost too derivative for some:

"Demon Daughters"

"Quarantined"

(My webhost is getting grouchy about streaming direct from the server, so you may have to rightclick and save as to hear anything more than 6 seconds of those songs.)

[kjoe]

The panic song had echoes of "let's spend the night together" from 1966? by the stones, and saturday in the park by chicago from the 70's.

I am missing something---I chalk it up to not being properly programmed to listen to post nirvana music.

For what it is worth---the dullness of 2 guitars bass and drums---and no players who seem to have any idea about what instruments were played by Ike turner, eric clapton, John McLaughlin, or even jimi Hendrix puzzles me. The use of horns or piano and other instruments which require a high level of expertise is done by nameless people whose efforts are derided as commercialized over-programming(who plays behind alicia Keyes?).

Nelly impresses me as much as anyone---but I can say I did like the panic thing ok---because it did not sound like creed.

I gotta wonder if any of these guys have ever heard of bb king.

[Indu WangZi]

Here, try two more. Beware the overt Radioheadness of these two tracks, which I really like but might be almost too derivative for some:

"Demon Daughters"

"Quarantined"

(My webhost is getting grouchy about streaming direct from the server, so you may have to rightclick and save as to hear anything more than 6 seconds of those songs.)

I listened...and, not really my cup of tea. I think it stems from the fact that I dont like Radiohead at all...not in the least, which would explain why I dont care for any of the tracks.

Usually, I dig everything you throw out...but, this may be the exception.

[Indu WangZi]

The panic song had echoes of "let's spend the night together" from 1966? by the stones, and saturday in the park by chicago from the 70's.

I am missing something---I chalk it up to not being properly programmed to listen to post nirvana music.

For what it is worth---the dullness of 2 guitars bass and drums---and no players who seem to have any idea about what instruments were played by Ike turner, eric clapton, John McLaughlin, or even jimi Hendrix puzzles me. The use of horns or piano and other instruments which require a high level of expertise is done by nameless people whose efforts are derided as commercialized over-programming(who plays behind alicia Keyes?).

Nelly impresses me as much as anyone---but I can say I did like the panic thing ok---because it did not sound like creed.

I gotta wonder if any of these guys have ever heard of bb king.

My god...a K-Joe post I not only understand but agree with completely. Of course, I could never have written what you did, but you did get across my sentiment.

[i.am.js]

If you've heard of a band called Phantom Planet, it'll be for one or two reasons:

1. The TV series "The OC" used their song "California" as its theme song, and/or

California sample

[backstop]

Schwartzman is running around with a new band...