Floating in on the last wings of Britpop, this Southern California band named after a Northern California college town (or singer James Grundler's nursery school, depending on who you ask) is out of time and out of step. Y... more »et, they create some of the dreamiest pop to emerge on the U.S. side of the pond in recent years. Winsome, anguished, and brainy, paloalto conjures up the spirit of both Pink Floyd and Radiohead in their introspective epics of triumph and self-determination. Gorgeous, buzzing guitars, sleight-of-hand drumming, and extravagant instrumentation create a lush, swelling wall of sound from which Grundler's fragile voice emerges like a ghostly specter, chiseling out affirmations and grave pronouncements with a haunted gentility. --Jaan Uhelszki« less
Floating in on the last wings of Britpop, this Southern California band named after a Northern California college town (or singer James Grundler's nursery school, depending on who you ask) is out of time and out of step. Yet, they create some of the dreamiest pop to emerge on the U.S. side of the pond in recent years. Winsome, anguished, and brainy, paloalto conjures up the spirit of both Pink Floyd and Radiohead in their introspective epics of triumph and self-determination. Gorgeous, buzzing guitars, sleight-of-hand drumming, and extravagant instrumentation create a lush, swelling wall of sound from which Grundler's fragile voice emerges like a ghostly specter, chiseling out affirmations and grave pronouncements with a haunted gentility. --Jaan Uhelszki
Jessica T. (jessicatok) from LINCOLN, NE Reviewed on 2/18/2007...
Follow-up to their original debut, "Paloalto." A good CD with standout single, "Breathe In."
CD Reviews
Outstanding
Jesper | 05/15/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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"
Beautiful music
Russell Foster | usa | 10/21/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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 ridiculously underrated
Z. Kennan | Santa Barbara, CA | 01/13/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
Quality work
Michelle Finch | Chicago, IL, USA | 02/13/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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-"