Palm Trees and Power Lines

Production

Recording took place at Full Kilt Studio and Third Stone Recording in North Hollywood, California with producer Gavin MacKillop. Additional production was done by Tim Pagnotta. Wes Sideman acted as assistant engineer at Third Stone Recording. John Nooney, Mauro Rubbi and Trent Slatton engineered the Pro-Tools sessions. Tim Cullen provided additional backing vocals. Alain Johannes performed additional guitar. Nooney and Ariel Rechtshaid contributed keyboards. Slatton provided programming. Tom Lord-Alge mixed "She's the Blade", "Crying", "Memory", "Back to California" and "Over" at South Beach Studio. Mark Trombino mixed "Worst December" and "Champagne" at Chalice Recording Studios with assistance from Alan Mason. Mackillop mixed "Destination Anywhere", "What You Say", "Head Up" and "Counting Stars". Evan Frankfort mixed "Sign Off". Brian Gardner mastered the recordings at Bernie Grudman Mastering in Hollywood, California.

Release

"Memory" was released to radio on March 16, 2004. It was released on April 13. The album is named after the scenery in California where the band members live, as the skyline is littered with palm trees and power lines. On the album cover, a few pieces of Californian scenery can be seen in the background, such as a liquor store, which Pagnotta visits in the documentary Back to the Disaster. "She's the Blade" was released to radio on August 31.

Reception

Palm Trees and Power Lines received mixed to favorable reviews from critics. Johnny Loftus of Allmusic gives a favorable review, concluding that "Sugarcult are thankfully more concerned with pleasing the crowd than making a statement." Punktastic characterizes the album as "one hell of a grower," a record "that shows maturity without ever coming across as trite or predictable." The review goes on to call the album "a fine record which, while not as anthemic and instant as its predecessor, is destined to be a sure-fire summer hit."

Track listing

All songs by Tim Pagnotta, all music by Pagnotta and Sugarcult.

1. "She's the Blade" – 2:59
2. "Crying" – 3:29
3. "Memory" – 3:46
4. "Worst December" – 3:37
5. "Back to California" – 4:07
6. "Destination Anywhere" – 3:51
7. "Champagne" – 2:56
8. "What You Say" – 2:39
9. "Over" – 3:24
10. "Head Up" – 3:56
11. "Counting Stars" – 3:38
12. "Sign Off" – 2:13
13. "Blackout" (Japanese bonus track) – 3:10

Note

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.