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revenge of palomar |
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SXSW Live Shots "The Friends sweatbox was filled to a comfy, steamy density by the time the gals of Palomar took up their guitars, and the music they sprang upon the expectant crowd did nothing to temper the thermostat. Speedy, catchy, superprecise power pop, with about as much charisma as the stage could contain was the order of the hour, and it was delivered with all the enthusiasm the Brooklyn quartet's overwhelming cool would allow. Palomar is three-part female vocal harmonies delivered with the yelling intensity of Mates of State, but easier -- more natural. As if this was how they were born to sing. Divine doo-doots and ooh-waahs punctuated songs that make Imperial Teen sound like they're running in sand, and they galloped through tune after tune with hardly a pause. While the guitars tapped out jarring, off-kilter melodies, the drummer, a lone male hidden behind sweaty heads, held it fast as an anchor, thudding when thudding was called for and skittering across the top of the melody when the voices demanded full attention. But the focus was on the group's enormously cute and smiling faces, and the happy, happy vocal harmonies of the front three. There are lots of bands producing pop of this sort, fast and as sharp as a Singer needle, all to the point of making a joyful noise with no ironic apology necessary. But Palomar has it down. When you hit a groove in any style, it's evident, and that's the case with this band. They've achieved a clarity in their songs that most who try will never achieve. Sure it's spazzy, but it's a hell of a lot of fun. " (click for entire article with photo) -Christopher Hess, Austin Chronicle [3.14.03] "The festival tends to book the major acts starting
on Thursday, but some of the most rewarding sounds I sampled
came from smaller names on opening night. You may not have heard
of any of these acts yet, but if you're a dedicated rock fan,
one or more is likely to cross your radar screen some time this
year. My evening featured...endearingly catchy indie-pop from
Milwaukee's Lovelies and Brooklyn's Palomar..." (click for entire article) SXSW Picks and Sleepers: "This
Brooklyn quartet makes somewhat spastic power-pop for one of
the coolest indies going, the Self-Starter Foundation. Last year's
Palomar II is nothing if not a blast, like Imperial Teen consuming
copious amounts of sugar and schnapps -- before the crash, of
course. (Friends, 10pm)" (click for entire article) Spoon, Crooked Fingers, Palomar: "...the New York quartet Palomar, which offered its own take on the new New Wave via minimal pop songs (think of a much less cheery Go-Go's meet a much less virtuosic Television) distinguished by three-part female harmonies..." (click for entire article) -Jim DeRogatis, Chicago Sun-Times [4.1.03] "...Palomar specializes
in fast, melodic, carnival-ride punk pop tunes. They'll remind
you, by turns, of X and the Breeders and Shonen Knife and, sometimes,
of the Go-Gos played on 78 (for those of you who grew up in the
digital age, this means really fast). The vocals are very high
and tight and fast, layered over solid, bouncy rhythms. This
is a band that is not afraid of pop hooks and doo-wop-on-speed
choruses -- but if you write them off as pure sugar, you are
missing the point of Rachel's sardonic grin. There are no frills
in their set, no jumping up and down, few and short instrumental
solos, not much interplay between the band members beyond eye
contact and an occasional smile. But the tunes are sharp and
ironic, the rhythms fast and insistent, and the singing piercing..."
more... Live review of Pop Montreal show:
"New York's Palomar made their first local appearance with
a stellar set of tunes from this summer's Palomar II. The sound
man was clearly on their side, as he did a bang-up job of giving
each of the three female vocalists a clearly defined space in
the stereo mix. Guitars were bright, lyrics were intelligible
and more than few over-eager male punters received a sardonic
tonguelashing from Rachel between tunes (such a thing is always
a possibility with such a gender-minded band, and few in the
room would have had it any other way)." more... |