When a song is catchy, so catchy that it drains my brain of useful knowledge and leaves you a melody-mumbling zombie, it usually doesn't last long. I quickly tire of it. I like the album, I like the songs, I wear them out and I move on.
When a song isn't catchy, when it doesn't grab me, I can return to it later. Suddenly, the experience is different and I find something to love, and I learn to love it forever.
Now the pop rock group Phantom Planet's The Guest? It's just a big freak.
I thought the album was painfully catchy; pretty much the first seven tracks are eminently hummable, singable and playable with chords on your acoustic guitar. Needless to say, I burned out quickly on it. Then, just a few days after pulling it out of rotation in my morning CD stack, I found myself jonesing for track 1, The OC theme song "California." Then I'd need to jump to track 4 for the vocal harmonies and laid-back bass beat of "Lonely Day." Now it's been weeks of listening to it every morning, and I need to listen to the ode to catchy, not-too-fast songs on track 5, "Anthem." Then the band rocks out again on track 6 with "In Our Darkest Hour."
Criminy, I like the album so much I think my little head's gonna' pop off. I listen to a lot of music, and I have to be honest: I don't understand how these songs are so catchy. I can catch the 1980s rock, the 1990s rock, the Beatles influences … I even imagine some Electric-Light-Orchestra-meets-the-Carpenters influence on track 11, "The Wishing Well."
It's not right. It's just not RIGHT to have so many great songs one after another.
It's really upsetting me.
If you want to help, get yourself a copy. It comes bundled with Phantom Planet's latest album, Phantom Planet. I'd let you know if that album's just as good, but I can't move on until I've exhausted The Guest.
Phantom Planet Phantom Planet/The Guest
