She's The Blade leads the way, and it's certainly pulling it's own weight. The music's fast and easy to get into. The lyrics are easy to relate to for many people while still being amusing (depending on your sense of humor).
Next up is Crying. This one contrasts She's The Blade a bit, but it seems to work. The lyrics make this one an easy sell. Good song.
Now we come to Memory. This one is just great all-around. It's easy to get into the music, and the lyrics are, once again, fun and simple, yet very relatable. It's just a plain great song.
It's time for the typical "I need you, come back to me" song that so many bands seem to do these days...but wait. Worst December carries one glaring difference that most of these type of songs don't...the person in the song realizes that being with this woman wanted in the song would require him to change everything about himself, and he knows he can't do that. A nice little twist that makes this song good.
Back To California, unfortunately, cannot follow suit with Worst December. While it is a good song, it offers no such twist that Worst December gives...it is simply your typical "I'm over you because we couldn't make it together" song. Nothing spectacular.
Destination Anywhere offers us a welcome return to the fast-paced songs. Another one that makes you want to bounce when you hear it.
The next track is probably the worst song on the disc. Champagne had the potential to be good, possibly great, but it was marred by it's many references to use of cocaine and various other things.
What You Say is a short song (It's only 2:39). However, what it lacks in length, it makes up for in being another song that makes you want to jump around or something. Overall, it's good stuff.
Many times, songwriters write about broken relationships. Most of the time, it's people feeling sorry for themselves. Over offers a lot more strength in it's lyrics than in most songs like it. It is quite possibly one of the best songs ever written about moving on from a broken relationship.
The transition into this next song, Head Up, is pretty seamless and awesome. Overall, it's nothing too amazing, but not every song on every CD can be amazing, so oh well.
Counting Stars is next. Overall, it's a good song. The music and the lyrics work well together, and that's always a plus.
Last up is Sign Off. The beginning of this track is actually pretty annoying because part of it is reminiscent of the sound of a dial-up Internet connection being started. Anyway, the song itself is pretty darn good. It's another short one, but it works.
FINAL ANALYSIS: Palm Trees And Power Lines only offers one song that could be considered outstanding (that being Memory). However, overall, the vast majority of these tracks are good or great.