Editing Phantom Planet (section)

===''The Guest'' and ''Phantom Planet'' (2002–2004)===
Shortly thereafter Geffen Records folded into [[Universal Music Group|Universal]] as part of a major record industry merger, and within a few years Phantom Planet had signed with [[Epic Records]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} Charlotte Froom, the daughter of producer [[Mitchell Froom]], caught the band's show at a time when the group was looking for a producer to record their second effort. Froom approached her father to produce the group, and after meeting with Phantom Planet, he agreed.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} Froom also brought in engineer [[Tchad Blake]] to work on the record.

''[[The Guest (album)|The Guest]]'' was released in 2002. The group toured for almost 18 months both as a headliner and an opening act, and in late 2002 the band got the opportunity to open for one of their collective idols, Elvis Costello.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} ''The Guest'' got an extra boost when the record's song "[[California (Phantom Planet song)|California]]" was chosen as the theme song for the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox Network]]'s hit TV series ''[[The O.C.]]''. {{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} As a result, the record was reissued in late 2003 with bonus tracks and a new cover.

The band's [[Phantom Planet (album)|eponymous third album]] in 2004 marked a change in both the band's sound and lineup. Ditching their radio-friendly pop rock, the band moved towards a [[garage rock]] sound. Lead singer [[Alex Greenwald]] said it was an intentional choice: "I especially loved bands, like The Beatles, that changed with every single record they made. That's been our plan from the get-go. We want our records to be like experiments. We want to have fun with the music. People can hear when you're not having fun."<ref>September 10, 2004. [http://www.theocshow.com/news/news_38.htm Phantom Planet basks in glow of 'The O.C.'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928120217/http://www.theocshow.com/news/news_38.htm |date=2007-09-28 }}</ref> In the middle of recording the album, founding member and drummer [[Jason Schwartzman]] abruptly left the band to focus on his acting career.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} He was replaced by [[Jeff Conrad]], who helped record the remainder of the album.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} ''Phantom Planet'' was released to mixed reviews from critics. Shortly after the album's release, guitarist [[Jacques Brautbar]] left the band to pursue a career in photography.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} The band performed "Big Brat", the album's first single, on the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]''.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}