Customer Reviews

Paloalto

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Paloalto's website mentions the band's influences, and among them are Stone Temple Pilots and the Catherine Wheel. In the driving guitars and soulful melodies, I can definately hear the Stone Temple Pilot influence. But in the lyrics and the voice of lead singer James Grundler, I can hear the distinct impression of the Catherine Wheel. The music is utterly beautiful, the words enrapturing. "Beauty of Disaster" is probably the best song on the album, being both haunting and lovely at the same time. While the Catherine Wheel have struggled in obscurity for well over 10 years, it seems that Paloalto may be able to break into the "mainstream". It's rare to find an album where every song is wonderful, but Paloalto have achieved this perfectly.

Many reviews mention how similar Paloalto is to Radiohead. While there might be a little idol worship by Paloalto to Radiohead, I don't think they have taken much from them. And I'm a HUGE Radiohead fan, as well. Paloalto is here to stay - and I, for one, am happy to be along for the ride.

There are some hooky tunes on this album. The Rick Rubin production is excellent. But the singer's delivery is so close to Thom Yorke's, you start to ask, "Is this an homage or a forgery?" These guys are talented, and they have credible influences, but the music's just not original. If you're looking for emotional, epic, radio friendly guitar rock, find yourself Radiohead's Pablo Honey or the Bends and get the real thing.

I would really give this album four and a half stars. I really like everything about it. If you're wondering what it sounds like, its the voice of Thom Yorke in a way (lead singer of Radiohead) and the music of PJ Harvey, both exceptional artists. However, its just missing a little something to make it truly post rock. (art rock i suppose)

i really love the way Paloalto comes across. since paloalto is one of SPIN magazines top artists, i bought the CD with a gift certificate and I now realize that it is a very good album. his voice is simply wonderful.

finally, an american band has come through with an exceptional post rock album after hundreds of wonderful Eupropeans. Sigur Ros and Bjork from Iceland; Radiohead, Coldplay and U2 from the UK; Godspeed You Black Emperor from Canada and many more.

throw away the gushy pop and hard rock cause here comes the wave of the future, in the city of the future, paloalto (also the band)

This CD gives me hope for our lackluster American music scene. The most innovative things in music as of late have come from Coldplay, U2, Travis, and the always astounding Radiohead. However, this CD is cause to give us Yanks hope that we can still make significant music. In disucussing this band, you will inevitabley end up discussing Radiohead. Indeed, the only real reason I picked up this CD in the first place was because it shared it's name with a particularly good Radiohead B-Side. And as I listned to James Grundler's voice soar to heights only Thom Yorke's does, I was even more convinced that this was a Radiohead clone. However, as I took the CD home and gave it more and more spins in my CD player, I was truly amazed. As many other reviewers have said, the sound on this disc is A LOT like that if you were to combine "The Bends" and "OK Computer." The guitars and keyboards are almost eerily Radiohead-like, and as I mentioned before, somtimes I doubt that I am not actually listening to Thom Yorke. Yet every single song on this disc, while maybe not untreaded territory, is a well crafted and extremely well performed song. James' voice is almost on par with Thom, although he does sometimes over stretch his limits. The guitar isn't up to Johnny's level, but it is used to its full effect. The lyrics are indeed wonderful, and slightly more upbeat than some of Thom's depressing rantings. Amazing songs like "Monolith" and "Too Many Questions" show that the band can give weight and importance to a catchy sounding pop tune (something not many bands can do nowadays). I would reccomend this disc to fans of Radiohead and even those who think Radiohead is slightly too avantgarde, for Paloalto is a little less avantgarde than their British counterparts. "The Mayor and the Seizure Pills" alone is reason enough to buy this amazingly good piece of music.

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

Say bye to Bubble Gum Pop, and Meat-head frat-rock, and hello to Paloalto. Finally a band out of America with some musical roots. This album soars and grows with climbing powerful vocals, beautiful driving guitars, and tribal pounding drums. Take vitage FLOYD, splash a bit of earlry U2, add a little VERVE, and some OK radiohead, and what we've got is PALOALTO, the first of, hopefully a new movement of musically gifted American Rock Artists.

I must start by saying if you don't have this album "Get It"!
It is well crafted and emotional in a refreshing light. I have been following the lead singer though his short but exciting career, I was pleasantly surprised, but always knew that he would put out an album of this magnitude. The band has incredible talent. Just see them live once and you know this is the real deal. All I can say is buy the record!
Oh yea, I've heard the songs that the band are working on in the studio. Just get ready to be blown away!
That's right you read it here first!

A really fun band, sort of like a cross between early Radiohead, U2 and anything on KROQ right now. While this CD doesn't capture all of the power of their live show, it's a really good disc.

The new group "Paloalto" bring a new dimension in to the pop/alternative style of music heard these days. "Sonny" has got to be one of the best songs I've heard in a while. It starts off nice and slow and then speeds up to an energizing chorus. The rest of the cd provides an upbeat harmony for listeners.

Powered by clever hooks and rhythmic dynamics, the band triumphs with this very strong debut album. "Sonny" is the highlight track with a shimmering chorus destined for rock greatness. Producer Rick Rubin's touch is really noted here with his knack for big, defined tracking without losing the significance of the song. With mainstream music going slightly more rock these days, paloalto is a band that will surely (hopefully) become a household name soon.