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By Jack Foley |
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FRED Durst, of Limp Bizkit fame, has described them as 'a real band, with
a real sound and real songs!' He adds: "Make no mistake, that this band
has credibility and a definite career."
Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath noted that they have 'made the record Radiohead should
have made', describing their debut album as the 'first brilliant American
record of the millennium; a semblance of brilliance in a sea of shit'.
And Stone Temple Pilots' Scott Welland described them as 'a beautiful, lush,
adventurous pop hybrid with something much needed in music today... passion'.
So who are they? Paloalto are comprised of James Grundler (vocals, guitar),
Tommy Black (bass guitar), Andy Blunda (guitar, keyboards), and Florian Reinert
(drums) and they have been compared with some of the leading bands of the
past few years, including the likes of the Smashing Pumpkins and Radiohead.
They have recently been seen in venues around the country, in support of former
Stone Roses' guitarist, John Squire, and also created a storm at the NME's
BRATs gig at London's Scala on February 4. Their debut single, Fade Out/In
is released on Monday (Feb 10) and will be followed by their album, Heroes
and Villains, on February 24. (Click here
for single review).
The band's star first began to rise in 2000, when Grundler's distinctive vocal
style and quality of song-writing found a favourable ear in producer, Rick
Rubin. Impressed with their unfinished demo, he visited Paloalto's rehearsal
studio and claims to have been stunned by what he heard.
Enchanted by their crystalline melodies and slightly cynical view of the world,
Rubin quickly signed the group to American Recordings, noting: "James
has a truly unique gift for melody and a tremendous voice to back it up. This
is a lethal combination. Heroes and Villains really pounds the point home."
If the PR on the new album is anything to go by, Heroes and Villains
should be a real treat when it is released. According to one source, the band
forgoes popular themes of self-pity and revenge for tales of experience and
introspection, putting their brains and baggage into the music to produce
an album that reflects both good times and bad.
'The beautiful melodies, epic arrangements and soaring themes of Heroes
and Villains reveal a band charting a fresh course through the waters
of cash-only creativity and cookie-cutter demographics'.
Certainly, from listening to their debut single, Fade Out/In, some
of what is being written about them rings true. The single itself is a suitably
fiery debut, complete with the aforementioned guitar sound of the Smashing
Pumpkins, while support tracks, Throwing Stones and Pick Yourself
Off The Beach (both of which feautre on the long-player) are excellent
examples of quality songwriting, backed by strong vocals.
Indielondon was, regrettably, unable to make the gig the band played at Shepherd's
Bush Empire on February 7 (in support of John Squire), but certainly looks
forward to catching up with them in the future. We would, however, recommend
buying the single, as Paloalto could well be the name on everyone's lips come
the end of 2003...
RELATED STORIES: Click here
for a review of the debut single...