The Big Takeover reviews The Original Plan by The Enigmatic Foe, due July 30 on double 45RPM vinyl

REVIEW

Many thanks to The Big Takeover for the early review of The Original Plan by The Enigmatic Foe. "It mixes leisurely, The Church-like shoegaze... with more propelling, Kitchens of Distinction / Real Estate dreampop... springy, vivacious, The Go-Betweens / The Smiths indie pop... and even jazzy and disco-fied, horn-flecked soul."

If those words don't get you to check out The Enigmatic Foe, then how about these words from me: check out The Enigmatic Foe! Go here to pick up 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯 (out July 30) on sweet, double 45RPM vinyl.

The Morning Call appreciates Mark Bryan's "rootsy, unpretentious quality"

REVIEW


In a recent review as park of a “best new music” roundup, The Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania wrote that Midlife Priceless “suggests Bryan brings more to [Hootie & the Blowfish] than appearances suggest. Bryan’s solo songs have a bit poppier feel than Hootie & the Blowfish, but there’s still a rootsy, unpretentious quality to these songs.”

J Hacha De Zola's Greatest Hits package gets a glowing writeup in The Jersey Journal; East of Eden is due in June

ALBUM REVIEW


Thoughtful words from Jim Testa of The Jersey Journal on J Hacha De Zola’s Greatest Hits. “It’s not all fun house mirrors and whoopee cushions. The haunting 'Strange' slows things down for a tortured love song; 'A Fool’s Moon' sweeps you off to romantic pre-revolution Cuba for a slow turn around the dance floor; and 'Syn Illusion' bids for airplay on Spanish pop radio."

Out now (w/ an all-new album 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘥𝘦𝘯 arriving June 11)!

Ghettoblaster digs J Hacha De Zola's Greatest Hits, and says it will due as we wait for the June release of new LP East of Eden

ALBUM REVIEW


Ghettoblaster writes that “a gypsy jazz vibe swirls around J Hacha De Zola’s style, with swinging elements of a klezmer-like influence filtered in at times.” His new Greatest Hits presages his next full length, East of Eden, coming in June. According to Ghettoblaster’s review, this newly remixed and remastered compilation “can stand on its own merits as we patiently wait.”

Powerpopaholic says years of work have paid off on Mike Viola's latest LP

REVIEW

Powerpopaholic contends that “years of producing others and his own experimentation have left their mark” on Mike Viola, who is known for myriad accomplishments including his band the Candy Butchers, his production work for artists including Mandy Moore and Panic! At The Disco, and his vocals on the late Adam Schlesinger’s iconic theme song for That Thing You Do!

The site recently recommended Viola’s Godmuffin (out now on Grand Phony), a wholly self-recorded LP on which he applies his “top-notch” songwriting to introspective songs that explore tragedy, loss, and “the stress and isolation of the time.”

Mike Viola gets a feature in his hometown paper, the Patriot-Ledger

FEATURE

“So, there you are, filming your latest music video, made up as a vampire floating around Mandy Moore’s swimming pool in Los Angeles."

The Patriot-Ledger - which has been serving Massachusetts’ South Shore since 1837 and was once Mike Viola’s local paper - recently spoke with Viola about how far he’s come since he was “a Stoughton teenager cutting his musical teeth playing innumerable gigs at the old Scotch and Sounds Lounge at Westgate Lanes in Brockton." Link in bio.

Mike's new album Godmuffin is out now from Grandphony.