Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Mike Viola & the Candy Butchers - Falling into Place - 1999


In the mid-'70s, British singer/songwriters like Graham Parker and Elvis Costello launched careers with music that tempered the onslaught of punk to a more melodic rock sound reminiscent of mid-'60s Beatles music and its many followers, and, while retaining punk's lyrical anguish, explored more complex emotions with more eloquent words. On his debut album, Mike Viola, whose voice most people heard for the first time singing "That Thing You Do!" in the movie of the same name, resurrects the sound of Parker & the Rumour's Howlin' Wind and Costello & the Attractions' This Year's Model, fronting the rhythm section known as the Candy Butchers, with occasional added keyboards by the Band's Garth Hudson. Viola's rough voice has much of Parker's urgency to it, and his songs, less substantial than those of Costello, are nevertheless concerned with many of the same elements of romantic disappointment and its attendant frustration. Indeed, he seems to be rewriting the same song over and over: "All day I'm thinking about you, " he sings in "Give Me Some Time," and "You are always on my mind" in "Can't We Do Anything Right," a title followed one song later by "Doing It the Wrong Way." One song is called "Falling into Place," another "Falling Back Down." Viola's music for these confused and ambivalent sentiments is raucously played by the Candy Butchers, and occasional horn and string charts add grace without robbing the tunes of bite. Mixer Bob Clearmountain has given the album an explosive sound in which every instrument seems simultaneously very loud and distinct. Chip-on-the-shoulder sensitivity is a good combination of feelings in the ever-adolescent world of rock & roll, and it works as well for Viola on this debut album as it has for others in the past. The next question is whether, like Elvis Costello, he'll evolve out of it or, like Graham Parker, keep repeating it.-AMG

8 comments:

My hmphs said...

Musically, he has continued to get better. A more 70s feel, less power and more pop. This release to me always sounded like he was trying too hard to please the record execs.

Anonymous said...

there are much better Mike Viola/Candybutchers record than this one!!

side3 said...

I really loved this album when it came out...and still do. That said, "Hang on Mike" and Lurch" are even better. Mike Viola is my favorite current artist. I even bought the Mandy Moore album he produced (and it is great!).

Lee said...

'Hang On Mike' remains my favourite Candy Butchers album. Read my detailed review here: http://realgonerocks.blogspot.com/2011/01/candy-butchers-hang-on-mike.htm

I'm still on the lookout for their Blue Thumb album...

tomg said...

This album is amazing! Hooks everywhere, fine arrangements. Many thanks for it.
I have heard about Mike Viola a thousand times ( i had listened "That Thing You Do" soundtrack a long time ago too), and i burned this cd a year ago or maybe more. But i guess i never put attention on it 'til now.

Curty Ray said...

https://rapidshare.com/files/3209560994/Falling%20Into%20Place.rar

or

http://www16.zippyshare.com/v/17639200/file.html

tomg said...

Like i said, i got this since a year or so, and i`m almost sure i got it in here, i can't tell for sure.
I wonder if you have "Play With Your Head" from 2002. I'm wondering if it's as good as this one.

Anonymous said...

RE UP PLEASE

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