Paloalto: Heroes and Villains : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

"Call me unique/call me a fake," Paloalto singer James Grundler wails at the beginning of "Bones," an eerie, acoustic number from the group's second album. How about just "unoriginal"? The band members may hail from California, but they've got the Brit-rock formula down cold -- overemotive vocals, big walls of guitar noise, symphonic flourishes, lush production. Just when it's all starting to sound like leftovers from The Bends, rock-god producer Rick Rubin steps in to give the album some oomph. His solution? Don't bury the drums in the mix, put 'em front and center. That extra kick makes a midtempo number such as "Fade Out/In" sound propulsive and manic, instead of like a soggy Coldplay import. Score one for the Colonies.

KIRK MILLER
(RS 927, July 24, 2003)