A cocktail of nitty gritty whipped country western songs served up with a mexicali twist.

10 MP3 Songs in this album (28:05) !
Related styles: Country: Alt-Country, Rock: Cowpunk, Type: Lo-Fi

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Album review of Paladino â By Larry Vanderpool on September 26, 2011 2:37 pm

The Los Angeles, California based band Paladino will release their self-titled debut album on November 15, 2011. The album is a mix of original songs and covers of classic country tunes like the standard Have You Ever Been Lonely and the seminal Green Green Grass of Home which was made popular by the late-great Porter Wagoner. The quintet Paladino consists of (front-man, lead singer, and songwriter) Jonathan Harkham, (guitarist) Chris Isom, (guitarist) Adrienne Isom, (bass guitar) Annie Rothschild, and (drummer) Jon Rygiewicz. Paladinoâs songs combine traditional country sounds with psychedelic, folk, and harder edged rock music to create their own unique brand of alt. country that will surely earn them a legion of loyal fans.

The albums first track âLonely Mountainâ is an up tempo country-rock song that will have listeners wondering if Jim Morrison is alive and The Doors have become an alt. country band. Paladino follows this remarkable track with a superb cover of the Woody Guthrie classic âSnow Deer.â âOde To Miseryâ is a whimsical up tempo song that seems to draw elements of its sound from The Grateful Dead, Johnny Cash, and a little Bob Dylan. The two songs that follow, âIn Exileâ and âMexicali Rainsongâ sound like the Grateful Dead recruited Jim Morrison to sing a few songs with them. The whole album is interesting synthesis of modern and classic sounds that culminate with perhaps the best track on the album âToo Many Riversâ which is a slow crooner that will leave traditional country fans salivating for more.

Paladino has produced an instant classic with their soon to be released self titled album. The blending of old and new musical sounds with the constant crooning vocals of front-man Jonathan Harkham make for an album worth closely listening to. Fans of a multiplicity of various genres will absolutely love this album and keep its songs in constant rotation on their personal playlists. The covers are done in a way that makes them sound fresh and new and the originals have a nostalgic flavor that makes them seem like old friends we havenât seen in a long time. Do not miss Paladino when they come to your town and grab this album as soon as you can you will not be disappointed that you did.

Album review from CountryChart.com:

If Reverend Horton Heat had children with Lucinda Williams they might have offspring that could form a band that sounds like Paladino on their quirky and intensely interesting "Paladino" self-titled album.

The project begins with the upbeat "Lonely Mountain" that can best be described as "cowboy punk." With a laid-back but fast-paced vocal style that is unusually compelling, lead singer Jonathan Harkham deserves careful artistic examination as do other founding Paladino members Chris and Adrienne Isom. Harkham is also a talented painter, and his artistic nature is the driving creative force on the album since he wrote most of the songs (and even painted the album cover).

Paladino's cowboy swagger emerges on "Snow Deer," which offers elements of traditional country presented in a style that would befit the Grand Ole Opry stage. However, the punk influences resurface on "Ode To Misery," which also features elements of alt country, Americana, and rock n' roll. It must be mentioned to country audiences that the word "punk" should not be a turn-off, because Paladino's self-titled album is both accessible and accomplished. Indeed, it is refreshing to see a unique blend of styles that respects the country genre.

The fourth cut, "In Exile," offers some of the best whistling on a cut since the theme of "The Andy Griffith Show." The most surprising track is the latin-tinged "Mexicali Rainsong," but it is "Green Green Grass Of Home" that will get country audiences excited the most and could land Paladino on country and Americana music charts. The beautiful cover put forth by Paladino is remarkable for its nuanced vocals and minimal production. Likewise, the beat was not accelerated too much, which allows the track to slowly simmer. "Green Green Grass Of Home" should be released to radio.

"Have You Ever Been Lonely" has much of the same charm, and the track has a retro-Traveling Wilbury's vibe that works. Cowboy punk returns on "Here I Lie," and "Dim & Gutless Jig" will likely be a concert favorite with its hard-edged lyrics and upbeat tempo. However, the album ends with another pure country/Americana song titled "Too Many Rivers" that fires on all cylinders.

"Paladino," the self-titled album from the group Paladino, is worth purchasing simply for the stellar track "Green Green Grass Of Home." However, all of the other tracks are musically interesting and carefully produced in such a way that each song has more resonance upon successive listens. No one will ever call "Paladino" boring, and you might just call it the most fun you've had this year. CountryChart.com