Tag: Mike Viola

Mike Viola and The Successful Failures

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Mike Viola

Mike Viola “Paul McCarthy”

If there is anyone who’s well-loved in power pop circles, it’s Mike Viola. As a producer, he’s pushed artists like Panic! at the Disco, Andrew Bird, Ryan Adams, Jenny Lewis, and Mandy Moore to higher levels. As a musician, he’s built an amazing catalog of albums, both solo and with his band The Candy Butchers. And it’s Mike’s voice on that American pop classic “That Thing You Do!” written by Adam Schlesinger.

After several “quiet” years, Paul McCarthy has Viola clearly exploring his relationship to pop stardom and fame. “Bill Viola” gives us a slice of this past, expecting rock stardom, one foot in the future, and one foot in the past as he blurs narrative lines. His hard rock style on “Water Makes Me Sick,” notably recalls Joe Walsh as an inspiration. “Love Letters From A Childhood Sweetheart” is another solid ballad, about looking back to what could have been. The compelling guitar lines on “Scientist Alexis” have serious heft, but lack the hooks it really needs. But no matter, the title track “Paul McCarthy” is a fun imaginary tale of joining The Beatles at Shea Stadium, complete with a dreamy chorus “Do know you’re alive?” Viola coasts, then he immerses himself in the buzzing “Torp” with its bass rhythm and an earnest chorus. The awesome “You Put The Light Back in My Face,” recalls the great solo rocker of his past. Viola remains a dynamic artist that keeps his music fresh, and that’s what makes this album great, and always highly anticipated by fans. Highly Recommended.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLDcvhWGnM8

The Successful Failures

The Successful Failures “Wrong Together”

The 10th LP from New Jersey’s Successful Failures finds lead singer/songwriter Mick Chorba still knows how to jam with the best of them. The potent mixture of rootsy, indie-rock is evident in the opener “Millions of People.” It’s a great start, full of catchy riffs and inspirational lyrics. In the next tune, it goes into a less optimistic “Sunny Side of Town” with a little more twang and sadness. From there it feels more like a mixed bag. In some cases, the band recalls its earlier, grungier incarnation on “New City” and “The Worst of Our Kind.” Things seem to drag after this, with the simplistic “It Is the Rain” feeling like a kiddie rocker.

It seems to get more fun with the loose chorus of “Kids from Queens” which includes a blistering solo in the coda. The blues come back in “All I Really Want” and Chorba excels at this too. The ambitious “I Am of the Stars” proves the band does really good operatic rock with notable piano and guitar call-and-response. “Flying Cowboys” is a strong final track, and while this album isn’t as consistent as previous ones it boasts several great tunes. Still, a band that deserves to be heard.

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New singles for February: Mike Viola, Lemon Twigs, Popsicko, Matweeds, Dropkick, Hot Nun, Wesson

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Rejoice! A new Mike Viola album will soon be upon us! The first track “Paul McCarthy” is a not-so-subtle look at the life of a certain Beatle. The Lemon Twigs also have an advance single release, and “Corner of My Eye” features a heart-breaking lead vocal. Big Stir releases a new single from the late 90’s band Popsicko, and “Ashtray Mouth” was written by frontman Keith Brown. RumBar Records release the rare Boston punk pop band Matweeds only recorded material, a “lost” classic for sure.  The prolific Dropkick is also back (does Andrew Taylor ever sleep?) and we’ve got the advance “Telephone.” After scoring in our top ten last year, Jeff Shelton is back with the heavy riffs of Hot Nun again, although this track feels really closer to The Well Wishers style. Finally Brit alt. rocker Chris Wesson is a new discovery for me, and he deserves to be heard by you.







Mike Viola and Drake Bell

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Mike Viola

Mike Viola “Godmuffin”

Mike Viola (Candy Butchers) returns to a more conventional rock and pop sound, but the years of producing others and his own experimentation have left their mark. Written and recorded alone in Viola’s home studio his songwriting remains in top-notch form starting with “USA Up All Night” a slice of life that brings to life the stress and isolation (“…all of the bars are closed”) of the time. “Creeper” (in response to the passing of friend Adam Schlesinger) adds menace to the story, and “Drug Rug” is a catchy look back at his early days in the music biz and the parties where you “get lost.” 

Viola has an air of tragedy that swirls around each song as he dives into fatherhood, “We May Never Be This Young Again” but the pain of loss on “All You Can Eat” is palpable. The introspection gets more impassioned on “People Pleaser, You’re The Man of The House” and some hope is expressed on “Ordinary Girl.” A downer of an album, but also very well done. Highly Recommended!

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Drake Bell

Drake Bell “The Lost Album”

Early in 2007 — Drake Bell delivered a debut pop album It’s Only Time and it blew me away at the time. But for the follow-up — Drake lost the computer hard drive where all the new songs were stored. “I thought the songs would never be heard again,” the now 33-year-old says. So he started over, writing and recording the rockabilly-influenced Ready Set Go! in 2014. But then one day he found that damaged hard drive, and recovered all those songs. For Drake, it was like opening up a time capsule.

Bell’s follow up to that debut continues his melodic mastery and it’s brilliantly upbeat. “You Want Me” is soul-inspired power pop with horns supporting his layered vocal harmonies. The piano flirtation “On To You” and “It’s Never Over” are comparable to Wyatt Funderburk for pop bounce and sly humor. “Sail On” is a grand epic ballad in the Brian Wilson mode, and “Nowhere Else To Go” injects ‘70s pop-funk akin to the Jackson 5. He adds a few country-pop tunes as well. Every song shines bright, and it’s a contender for this year’s top ten for sure. Better late than never and Highly Recommended.

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Happy Halloween! Videos, Singles and Downloadable Treats!

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Mike Viola is back, as a hip vampire in the new video for ‘Drug Rug,’ a track off his upcoming LP Godmuffin. Directed by Caitlin Gerard, the video opens with Viola lying on a float in Mandy Moore’s pool. It gets weirder from there. Godmuffin arrives on 12/11/20.

Muck and The Mires have a less sophisticated video, but “Six O’Clock Baby” from the new LP Take Me Back To Planet Earth is a really catchy tune and the monster theme means it gets posted here today! Get the album on Amazon

The 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco charms us with this piano melody about getting married 29 times. “Monogamy will be the death of me” he sings. I agree with that one! It’s a free downloadable treat and the bands got a cool video too!

This lockdown is scary enough, but back from the dead comes The Feels with a new single to die for. A perfect package of power-pop riffs and a deadly hook!

Ken Sharp has another gem with “Mr. Popularity” joined by the always great Fernando Perdomo. It’s got a little ’70s funk too! Enjoy!

Ward White has this very creepy version of The Beatles classic “Helter Skelter” featuring a ghostly reed organ played by Grammy-winning engineer/producer, John Spiker (Tenacious D, Beck), perfect for a Halloween night!

The Corner Laughers “Poppy Seeds”

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In the liner notes it asks “Who is immune to the charms of airy female vocals and ukulele, with lyrics full of pith (but not vinegar)?” Not me (that’s for sure). Led by the harmonies of Karla Kane, with bassist Khoi Huynh, drummer Charlie Crabtree, and guitarists KC Bowman and Angela Silletto, the indie band’s latest features a who’s who of indie power pop guests (Allen Clapp, Anton Barbeau, Mike Viola). The irresistible melody of “Grasshopper Clock” is full of weaving harmonies sure to please and the “Bells of El Camino” is a little more twee pop, think The Essex Green meets Saint Etienne. This approach follows the next several songs here, and standouts include “Laughing Stars” and the solo ukulele ditty “Twice The Luck” is such quirky fun, you expect it to be the theme song for the next Zooey Deschanel show.

And then it shifts to more catchy themes, all based around San Francisco. The piano led theme to area’s tallest skyscraper “Transamerica Pyramid” is a perfect summer tune with handclaps and Beach Boys styled harmonies. The sunshine-pop melancholy of “8:18” is full of anticipation, and even “Chicken Bingo” has fun with the band’s West Coast image. “They asked us where we came from, we said “San Francisco” –They asked again we said “Outer Space,” and the ending track “The Perfect Weather” is a long love letter to the city by the bay. Fans of The Agony Aunts will also love the composition and tight arrangements. Rarely does such a beautiful pop album arrive, it deserves to make my top ten list this year for sure.