Holy Moly & The Crackers “Take A Bite”

We reviewed Holy Moly & The Crackers last album Salem (see here) and really loved it. As the band’s name perhaps implies, they tend to offer up something just a bit out of the ordinary.

It must be said that this album is an even further step up from the previous release. It kicks off gloriously with “All I Got Is You” and “Upside Down”. Like many of the other tracks on this album, these songs show an even bolder and bigger sound. There’s also an added element of ‘pop’ thrown in to the mix. That’s not to say it’s ‘lightweight’ it’s just that songs like “Can’t Get Enough” and “Sister” have better production and melodies to die for. These songs are the ones that will get you jumping and shaking.

That’s not to say there isn’t stuff on here that’s a bitfurther off the beaten track. That’s first hinted at by “Take A Bite” which hasa more eastern vibe to it. But things really explode with “Naked In Budapest”,which is like a gorgeous bhangra/funk number – honestly, that sounds a lotbetter than it looks in writing! In contrast, “I’d Give It All” is a sumptuousballad which acts like a breath of fresh air on the album.

You really could see this album being the one that allowsHoly Moly & The Crackers to break through. It gives them so much choice ofpotential crossover singles. “Through With Talking” is a blustering bluesnumber of the type that brought worldwide acclaim to The Black Keys. Alternatively,they could go with the indie pop feel of “Who Do You Think You Are”.

The term ‘eclectic’ is used so widely in music that insometimes seems a cliché. It’s also often used when releases are just a mess ofstyles and sounds. It would definitely be the correct term to use for thisrelease. Far from being a clash of styles and cultures, this is a great exampleof a band taking different influences and creating something new and fresh. Areally great album that will grab your attention right from the off.