Review of "Candy Butchers"

Candy Butchers

Alternative

New York, NY

http://www.candybutchers.com

good alternative rock

good alternative rock

with a somewhat hard to find acoustic EP from their scrubbed 1996 album. while the EP has some of their best material, the new album, "Falling into Place," is quite excellent. Mike Viola is an extremely talented musician and songwriter.

Pop Beauty

I love these guys. Mike Viola has such a killer pop voice, and they have that sound that's unmistakably rooted in the 60's, and they've glossed over the best of the decades afterwards to refine their sound. Find the EP -- it's worth it, and way better than "Falling into Place", which is also quite good. Also, you can hear Mike Viola in the movie "That Thing You Do". He does all the vocals for The Wonders, though you wouldn't know it by his wimpy mention in the credits of the movie. :-(

very energetic

"all I have" is one of the staples for most mixes that I make for friends.. they were really energetic when I saw them last year and I figured mike must be pretty rad to be wearing a suit in the 105 degree weather... reminds my dad of elvis costello.

hard-edged pop with range to spare

mike viola's been through a hell of a lot in his 33 years, and it shows in his music, which ranges from angry alterna-rock anthems ("killing floor," "canned hunt") to sugary pop laced with poison ("till you die," "cupid complained to venus") to simple acoustic love songs ("give me some time") to happy odes to his nieces and nephews ("happy birthday risbee") to deeply mournful drinking songs ("once i was"). and he's not afraid to get silly - his limited-release EP "let's get christmas" contained, among other things, a speed-punk cover of "all i want for christmas," a super-intense acoustic "i want it that way," and a reggae redo of his "doing it the wrong way," complete with goofy fake accent and giggles in between lines. in short: mike viola and the candy butchers rule. go see them in concert, buy their CDs, worship them, for they are your saviors.

funny story...

for new years 96/97, i went to see BNL in NYC, aside from a pre-fame paula cole (yes she always sucked) a local band by the name of 'candy buthcers' opened for them... it ruled, my friend and i went home very sad as we knew there were no albums available - SO!!! - when we to see a post fame BNL in jersey in summer '99 we were incredibly psyched that the candy butchers were once again opening for them - it was fate i tell ya!!! - anyway - go and buy 'fallin into place' AND try to find their 96 EP, its even better

"he's wonderful! and adorable!"

saw mike viola open for tmbg a few weeks ago, amidst an otherwise rather unpleasant crowd-- he was fantastic (and wonderful and adorable, to quote my friend) and i have nothing but praise.

I would give anything to see Candy Butchers live but am not sure if they're even touring anymore ... turned on to them officially by Jordan (TMBGirl) who put "California Girl" on my indie mix tape as filler and have been addicted ever since ... turns out that since FruDana's favorite movie in the whole world is "That Thing You Do" I was already well acquainted with the sound. Got the EP on eBay (bad Andy good CD) for really cheap and do indeed prefer it to "Falling Into Place" ... wishing and hoping there will be another CD to add to collection soon. UPDATE: One thing no one mentioned on here is an absolute gem called the "Blue Thumb Record" for lack of a better title which was the I guess unreleased CD from which the EP (Live at La Bonbonniere) was culled. Partly, anyway ... there are five songs on Bonbonniere and two of them are also on Blue Thumb. Anyway, I probably shouldn't even have it but I do and it is maybe the best CD ever. I never get sick of it and there isn't a bad cut on it. Meanwhile, I have to say I was SO disappointed with the newest Viola CD, "Play With Your Head" ... I really wish he'd re-release Blue Thumb for the masses.