Produced by
Masters of Reality member (and champion of retro sounds) Chris Goss,
the Flys' debut,
Holiday Man, succeeds on inspired performances and their willingness to experiment with the standard alt-rock songwriting formula. The band is successful at creating mind-altering soundscapes ("Groove Is Where You Find It") as well as dark,
Nirvana-esque pop (the album's best track, "Got You [Where I Want You]"). The Flys also use their two vocalists throughout -- Adam Paskowitz is more of a traditional singer, while Joshua Paskowitz is the rapper; both take turns singing through a homemade distortion device dubbed the "Paskowitz Nebulizer," as heard on such tracks as "Take U There." And although it may boast a silly title, the music on "The Gods of Basketball" is a wonderful slice of pure acid rock which manages to inebriate and terrify the listener at the same time. A very promising debut,
the Flys are definitely on to something unique. ~ Greg Prato