'loud and boisterous, delivered with attitude and flashes of wit.' STEPKID
INTERVIEW: 'We’re in an age where everyone’s reactionary. Everyone’s lizard brain is being bombarded. Yet by taking the time to live with a piece of art — a full album, a 90 minute movie, a book — we expand our minds and our outlooks.' PRO MEDIA MAG
'This 2 LP set is deep - like peeling layers off an onion - each song is a revelation!' RED RED WINE ON A SUNDAY
'DROP THE NEEDLE ANYWHERE ON THESE 4 SIDES & YOU'RE GREETED WITH HOY'S TRADEMARK CRUNCHY, MEATY, DIRT-DISCHARGING GUITARS & SWAGGERING, MICK JAGGER/DAVID JOHANSEN-LIKE GROWL' THE BIG TAKEOVER
INTERVIEW: 10 QUESTIONS GREG HOY & JASON SLOTA at INDIE MUSIC REVIEW.
'unapologetic attitude, confident vocals, and colourful arrangements - an impressive moulding of timeless spirit and modern production...SHINES WITH A FOCUSED PUNK-ROCK SWAGGER' BROKEN 8
'What rock and roll is all about.' ABSOLUTE POWERPOP
'GREG HOY & THE BOYS DEMONSTRATE THEIR ABILITY TO KEEP THINGS VERY ENGAGING.' Indie Spoonful
‘ADDICTED THE FIRST TIME I HEARD IT' DIVIDE & CONQUOR
'FOMO YOLO ONO IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF WHY ROCK N’ ROLL WILL NEVER DIE, AND WHY SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE THE GENRE SO MUCH. IT’S FILLED WITH CATCHY RIFFS AND GREAT INSTRUMENTATION AS WELL AS LYRICS THAT DOCUMENT THE STRUGGLES OF THE COMMON MAN' DIVIDE & CONQUER
'IN THE IMMORTAL WORDS OF GREG HOY, 'THE UKELELE MAKES EVERY SONG A HOLIDAY SONG' THE BAY BRIDGED
'EVERYTHING FLOWS; HIS ALBUMS NEVER SOUND LIKE A DISJOINTED COLLECTION OF TRACKS' DELUSIONS OF ADEQUACY
'THE GUY KNOWS HIS WAY AROUND A CRUNCHY LICK' DAGGAR
'IT’S NICE TO BE REMINDED THAT AC/DC AND BLACK FLAG ESSENTIALLY BOTH STARTED WITH DIRTBAGS WHO LIKE LOUD AMPS' THE DELI MAGAZINE
'FORTIFIED WITH ESSENTIAL HOOKS THAT'LL BOUNCE THROUGH YOUR HEAD WELL AFTER THE ALBUM'S END' PUNK PLANET
'ON HIS SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM, HOY HAS CREATED, RECORDED, AND PERFORMED TWO HANDFULS OF POWER-POP TRACKS WITH INSTRUMENTAL ELEMENTS OF THE 70S, 80S, AND 90S AND SURPRISING, DELICIOUS LYRICAL POP CULTURE REFERENCES. THE ALBUM HAS A LOT GOING FOR ITSELF, AS DOES ITS ORIGINATOR. HOY SHOULD PLEASE MANY POWER-POP FANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO GOT INTO THE GENRE OVER THE LAST DECADE THROUGH SOME OF ITS REVIVALISTS.’ DELUSIONS OF ADEQUACY
THE ALBUM’S INITIAL FOUR SONGS ARE ALL SPOT-ON IN SONGWRITING AND PRODUCTION, AND ANY OF THEM COULD BE A STANDOUT SINGLE ON AN EDGY COMMERCIAL STATION. AND THE MELLOW-ISH “OPTIMISTIC OPTOMETRIST” (WHICH FRANKLY COULD BE A GUIDED BY VOICES SONG TITLE) FRAMES HOY’S OUTLOOK IN A LYRICAL PERSPECTIVE WHEN HE AFFIRMS “THE ANSWER’S IN A POP SONG.” FOR HIM, IT DEFINITELY SEEMS TO BE.’ PITTSBURGH CITY PAPER
'HOY' HAS TO BE THE BEST POWER-POP RECORD I'VE EVER HEARD RECORDED ENTIRELY BY ONE PERSON. IS HE FOR REAL? YOU KEEP GLANCING AT THE SLEEVE NOTES, THINKING THE MAN MUST BE JOSHING, TAKING CREDIT FOR OTHERS' PLAYING, BECAUSE HOY BETRAYS NO VENEER OR VESTIGE OF SUCH A SOLITARY, NECESSARILY PIECE-MEAL INSTALLMENTS PROJECT. WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE IS A ROCKIN' QUARTET, WITH HOY'S FULL-THROATED SINGING LEADING THE CHARGE. THIS IS POWER-POP WITH BIG GUITAR CRUNCH, SOME REAL BACK-BEAT PRESENCE, AND ENCIRCLING GUITARS, BOLD MELODIES AND NO HINT OF BOYISH NICETIES OR POLITE MANNERISM....SIGN ME UP FOR THE NEXT GIG, AND SEE YOU IN THE FRONT ROW.'
JACK RABID, THE BIG TAKEOVER
'A JAGGED-EDGED PIECE OF CLASSIC ROCK COOL... AT TIMES RECALLING TELEVISION’S CASUAL STYLE' BEACH SLOTH
'UNDERTONES OF CLASSIC PUNK ROCK ACTS SUCH AS SEX PISTOLS AND THE CLASH, MIXED IN A MORE POLISHED AND CONTEMPORARY FASHION.' PWRMOVES
threads needles between Matthew Sweet / Buzzcocks heavy power-pop, garage, Midwestern indie rock, and rock ’n’ roll
- Jack, The Big Takeover
'CATCHY, FIERY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, REBELLIOUS.' RATINGS GAME
'Greg Hoy’s mind is like an intuitively inventive jukebox that has digested all manner of garage, classic, alternative, and progressive rock tunes.' VMS
'GREAT ROCK-N-ROLL PUNCHY DRUMMING AND A SPLENDID GUITAR WORK' ELECTROWOW
'pay attention to the attitude and wit' Stereo Stickman
Interview: 'I AM A RECORDING STUDIO JUNKIE. I’VE HAD A HOME STUDIO OF SOME SORT FOR YEARS. I ALSO BE SURE TO SPEND A FEW WEEKS EVERY YEAR IN A REALLY BIG ROOM. IN THE LAST DECADE, THAT’S MOSTLY AT TINY TELEPHONE IN SAN FRANCISCO GEEKING OUT WITH MY PALS JASON SLOTA, DENNIS GALWAY, AND THE STUPENDOUSLY TALENTED ENGINEER JACOB WINICK ON DRUM SOUNDS AFTER DRINKING TOO MUCH OF JV’S COFFEE.' INDIE MUSIC DISCOVERY
Greg Hoy has been a pop chameleon throughout the last decade, releasing numerous albums with styles as varied as straight-up power pop, Sun Records-style rockabilly, and near-heavy metal. This time around he's gone with groove, with the results resembling the minimalist-yet-melodic beats of Spoon (The 21 Day Myth). Absolute Powerpop
THE RECORD PRODUCER REPLACING THE ARTIST HAS BEEN TOSSED ABOUT IN THE PRESS LATELY, AND IT SEEMS THAT MANY HAVE FORGOTTEN THIS IS AN AGE-OLD CONCEPT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY (SEE MOTOWN). PRODUCER GREG HOY TAKES STAGE FRONT AND CENTER TO PERFORM HIS FINE WEEZER-BY-WAY-OF-THE-BEATLES TUNES. VILLAGE VOICE CHOICE 'BEST OF 2003’
'HOY'S CLEAR-EYED ROCK IS FUELED BY STRAIGHT-UP MELODICISM' TIME OUT NY
'GREG HOY WRITES THE KIND OF LEFT-OF-THE-DIAL ROCK THAT THE REPEAT BUTTON WAS DESIGNED FOR' INTERNATIONAL CORK
'HOY USHERS IN THE REBIRTH OF SLACK WITH HIS LO AND LOWER-FI INDIE POP THAT RECALLS A LESS AMBITIOUS WEEZER OR A MORE AMBITIOUS PAVEMENT. THIS IS FORTIFIED WITH 10 ESSENTIAL HOOKS THAT'LL BOUNCE THROUGH YOUR HEAD WELL AFTER THE DISC'S END.’ PUNK PLANET
‘IMPRESSIVE -- ACCOMPLISHED INDIE POP THAT TOUCHES ON A WIDE SPECTRUM OF SOUNDS. HOY IS THE BRAINCHILD, SOMEWHAT PREDICTABLY, OF GREG HOY OF LAST TOWN CHORUS AND YEARBOOK FAME. HOY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE INSTRUMENTATION ON HIS SOLO DEBUT, AS WELL AS THE RECORDING ITSELF. THE RESULTS ARE IMPRESSIVE -- ACCOMPLISHED INDIE POP THAT TOUCHES ON A WIDE SPECTRUM OF SOUNDS AND MOODS.’ SPLENDID EZINE
‘DIY POWER-POP WITH CLEVER LYRICS AND ENERGETIC GUITARS WHEN SOMEONE WRITES, RECORDS, AND PRODUCES ALL OF HIS OWN SONGS AND ALSO PLAYS ALL OF THE INSTRUMENTS ON AN ALBUM, RESPECT AND AWE FROM LISTENERS ARE EXPECTED AND APPROPRIATE. WHEN THE MUSIC SONICALLY APPEALS TO YOU REGARDLESS OF THE CONSIDERABLE AFOREMENTIONED SKILLS, THE RESULT IS EVEN BETTER. SUCH IS THE CASE, FOR THE MOST PART, WITH HOY’S SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM. I PRESUME GREG HOY’S LAST NAME DOES NOT CARRY A SILENT “H,” BUT I LIKE THAT THE NAMES OF BOTH ARTIST AND ALBUM MEAN “TODAY” IN SPANISH. IT GIVES HOY AN EXTRA URGENCY AND CONTEMPORARY SPUNK.’ DELUSIONS OF ADEQUACY