In mid-December 1999, Paloalto went into the recording studio with producer Rick Rubin to work on the band’s debut album. The outcome is a complete and utter waste of time.
The first and only thing you hear while listening to Paloalto’s self-titled debut is that it is completely derivative of Radiohead. In fact, the CD sleeve is bordering on an outright lie because all the songs seem like they were written by Thom Yorke, not by Paloalto lead singer James Grundler.
Song after song, the album unforgivably sounds like Pablo Honey and The Bends to the point where you can actually recognize a few guitar riffs and transitions. Chord after chord, the listener just grows more and more disappointed. Being influenced by an originative band like Radiohead is actually commendable, but writing identical tunes is just plain thievery. Radiohead should sue.
And the creepiest aspect to Paloalto’s album is Grundler’s voice. It sounds as though he decided to study and dub Yorke’s trademark vocal inflections, like his falsetto and sibilance. It’s as though Grundler wants to be Yorke. Check out the CD’s photos, because he even ripped off his disheveled haircut.
Do yourself a favor and buy a Radiohead CD instead of this new Paloalto, because the material is practically identical, with the exception that the latter’s work is stodgy. But if you insist on popping it into your CD player, run a bath, because you’re going to feel dirty just listening to it. – LT