Customer Reviews

Heroes & Villains

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Imagine being lost in a wilderness your entire life and finally you see the light. Paloalto is that light. I was very disappointed with rock music from America and only thought the really good bands that were still alive could be counted on one hand. Then a friend recommended me a song of their's called "going going gone". If love at first sight exists in music then that was what happened to me. I listened to that song more than 50 times in a row(not kidding). Later, I bought the album and found out that paloalto were not a band with just one amazing song and the rest just fillers. "Heroes and Villains" is in top 3 of best American albums ever in my opinion. It's one of my favourite albums of all time. It's got everything you wish more artists could do. Paloalto do it, others fail. It is surely a masterpiece with the best songs to be "going going gone", "breathe in", "the world outside" and "throwing stones". Some would say they are just a radiohead copy but that's wrong. James Grundler sings on the high level as thom yorke does but James' voice is so much more powerful and extraordinary. His voice alone guides you into a paradise of the rare - Absolutely beautiful. This album is a MUST. In contrast to other albums every song on "Heroes and Villains" is great and it's a nice mixture of songs with power(eg. "Fade out/in") and beautiful slow songs(eg. "Throwing stones"). Buy the album - trust me - you do yourself a favour

From the ashes of Paloalto rises a new band by the name of Golden State!
James Grundler, along with Andy Blunda, Tommy Black, Kirke Jan, and Todd Ogren are back in full force with their new unsigned "Splinter's Out E.P."

Visit their official site to get the lastest show dates and information:

Golden State
http://www.goldenstatetheband.com

Sounds like coldplay and travis. I love this album.Standouts for me sleeping citizens.breath in. If you like coldplay & early 80's brit new wave Buy this album.

They are now a new band, known as "golden state". Don't get confused, there is already a band out there known as golden state that is horrendous. These guys are the best below radar band I've come across in so long. I strongly recommend you go see them live, they are unabelievably talented...and talk about an unreal singing voice. I wish I could give these guys 6 stars. BUY THIS CD.

Rock isn't what it used to be, and it's getting difficult to find recent music that's worth listening to. I haven't bothered with any current bands in quite a long time because it seems like every genre has mixed itself with insubstantial pop music. But when I heard "Breathe In" at a movie theater last September, I was so impressed by the lyrics and haunting melody that I bought "Heroes and Villains" the next day.

Palo Alto sounds like classic alternative, and if I didn't know anything about the band I'd swear this album came out in 1995! Vocalist/songwriter James Grundler has a pleasantly hypnotic singing voice that is well-paired with his beautiful melodies and unpretentious lyrics. It was difficult to decide, but "The World Outside" and "Going Going Gone" are my favorites. The other songs are just as great; there's not a trace of filler on this CD! A-

This album is definitely a cut above the current music clutter and just simply...great music. The guys write great songs with real melody and lush guitar sounds, and James Grundler's voice is amazingly soulful. His voice has been likened to Radiohead's Yorke, but James' voice is a bit deeper and less melancholy -- a beautiful voice.

The whole album has a real rich lush vibe to it -- if you played it all afternoon, it'll put you in a kind of creative mood to write, paint, or daydream the day away. Wonderful.

I first stumbled onto Paloalto by accident. I saw them open up for someone in concert and was totally blown away by their sound and their music. It was like watching "The Bends"-era Radiohead. If you can find the first cd, also produced by Rick Rubin, buy it! A great cd.

This new cd, "Heroes & Villians", is nothing new--but that's not a bad thing. The songs are wonderfully written. Great melodies. The songs start off mellow and then, by the chorus, hit a cresendo. If Radiohead had stayed away from the weird stuff they are doing now, they would sound similar to Paloalto. James, the lead singer, sounds very similar to Thom Yorke. If you're a fan of "The Bends", you should definitely check out both Paloalto cd's.

As someone who is not really a fan of this style of music I have to say this is one of the best records I've bought in a long time. Chock full of great songs, melodies, & hooks. People often compare Palo Alto to Radiohead and Coldplay but believe it or not I think they're better. The songs are actually true songs, not just experiments in sound. This record gets better with every listen. A truly underrated band that should be much more visible to the masses. Highly recommended!

I bought this cd after looking up James Grundler, and was I ever amazed! I had liked his previous band The Din Pedals (which if you haven't heard, you should definitely give a listen to). Of course when I found out he was in another band, I had to go and get their cd's. James Grundler has an amazing voice, and it mixes really well with their style of music. Also be sure to check out The Din Pedals ("Waterfall" is one of the most breathtaking songs I've ever heard.) You won't be disappointed with either band.

This certainly is a lovely album to listen to. I completely agree with the opinion that it is remniscent to the sounds of Travis. But I think James Grundler has a better voice than Fran Healy. Musically, I would say they have more in common with Travis than Coldplay or Radiohead. And the thing of it is- they aren't British. But everyone thought Remy Zero was British too, and they were linked to Travis a lot as well. Anyway, this album doesn't have a very distinctive sound, but it is pleasing, interesting, and certainly something that you'll be able to tap your toes and sing along to. I think this will probably be in my cd player for awhile.