Customer Reviews

Holiday Man

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

When "Got You (Where I Want You)" hit the airwaves, a lot of people went out and bought Holiday Man, listened to it maybe twice (at best) and put it in their bedroom drawer to forever be forgotten. That's understandable; "Got You" is by far the best song on here, and the lead singer's vocals sound like they are continuously being put through a synthesizer. So I'll admit it, even though I found "She's So Huge" to be a not-so-close-behind but respectable second best to their hit single, I pretty much forget about this album. But recently, on a 'remembering one-hit wonders' binge, I gave this album another try. And although I didn't fall in love with it by any means, I was able to find a couple more notable tracks to talk about.

Sadly, even after a number of listens recently, there are still some really bad songs on Holiday Man: "Give You My Car" and "Superfly". Nothing just seems to flow in either track, and no lyrics really jump out at you. "Girls Are The Cruelest" is a rather boring track as well, with lyrics that are hardly a step up from tragically cliché. Next there are two songs that are vastly different from anything else on the album: "The Family" and "Sexual Sandwich". If you don't like Paskowitz's voice in the other ten songs, you might love it here (or, possibly, hate it even more). I like "Sexual Sandwich" as a sexy, almost laughable closer that starts with a Marvin Gaye-like 'this one's for the ladies' quote and carries on with 'do what you do / when you do' chants. "The Family" uses the same type of voice to give thanks to everybody involved with making The Flys so infamous. Neither "Take U There", with its weird, rapping choruses, nor "Afraid", with its catawampus catchiness are really that bad. But on the other hand, they aren't that great either. Take 'em or leave 'em, I guess. "Gods Of Basketball" is a song I have come to enjoy more this time around. The heavy guitars and shouts of 'they'll be sorry when you're gone' are actually quite good; and might actually make the song a hidden gem. But the true, *timeless* gems are "Holiday Man" and "Groove Is Where You Find It". I love the way "Holiday Man" jumps right into things with 'everybody wants to be seen / everybody's eyes are all all-agleam'. If there's a track where the synthesized voice works wonders, it is certainly the title track. The way it finishes is equally as impressive. So if you've shoved this album aside, I do suggest you put it back in your CD-player for three minutes for that song alone (if nothing else). "Groove Is Where You Find It" is in the same vein as "Got You", with a slow groovyness and nostalgic buildup that doesn't exactly get you excited, but keeps you listening.

At long last, Holiday Man is still not a great CD. But it's not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. However, there is about a 40% chance you might actually hate most or all of the album, even if you absolutely loved "Got You (Where I Want You)". After all, before this week, "Got You" was my 41st favorite song of all-time, while at the same time this CD sat-whether gracelessly or not--in my dresser, covered by unpaid bills and basketball cards. But after a new found liking and respect for such treasures as "Holiday Man", "She's So Huge", "Groove Is Where You Find It", "The Gods Of Basketball" and even "Sexual Sandwich", I was able to find a place for The Flys (between Finger Eleven and Ben Folds) within my discriminatorily-chosen CDs in my CD tower.

When "Got You (Where I Want You)" hit the airwaves, a lot of people went out and bought Holiday Man, listened to it maybe twice (at best) and put it in their bedroom drawer to forever be forgotten. That's understandable; "Got You" is by far the best song on here, and the lead singer's vocals sound like they are continuously being put through a synthesizer. So I'll admit it, even though I found "She's So Huge" to be a not-so-close-behind but respectable second best to their hit single, I pretty much forget about this album. But recently, on a 'remembering one-hit wonders' binge, I gave this album another try. And although I didn't fall in love with it by any means, I was able to find a couple more notable tracks to talk about.

Sadly, even after a number of listens recently, there are still some really bad songs on Holiday Man: "Give You My Car" and "Superfly". Nothing just seems to flow in either track, and no lyrics really jump out at you. "Girls Are The Cruelest" is a rather boring track as well, with lyrics that are hardly a step up from tragically cliché. Next there are two songs that are vastly different from anything else on the album: "The Family" and "Sexual Sandwich". If you don't like Paskowitz's voice in the other ten songs, you might love it here (or, possibly, hate it even more). I like "Sexual Sandwich" as a sexy, almost laughable closer that starts with a Marvin Gaye-like 'this one's for the ladies' quote and carries on with 'do what you do / when you do' chants. "The Family" uses the same type of voice to give thanks to everybody involved with making The Flys so infamous. Neither "Take U There", with its weird, rapping choruses, nor "Afraid", with its catawampus catchiness are really that bad. But on the other hand, they aren't that great either. Take 'em or leave 'em, I guess. "Gods Of Basketball" is a song I have come to enjoy more this time around. The heavy guitars and shouts of 'they'll be sorry when you're gone' are actually quite good; and might actually make the song a hidden gem. But the true, *timeless* gems are "Holiday Man" and "Groove Is Where You Find It". I love the way "Holiday Man" jumps right into things with 'everybody wants to be seen / everybody's eyes are all all-agleam'. If there's a track where the synthesized voice works wonders, it is certainly the title track. The way it finishes is equally as impressive. So if you've shoved this album aside, I do suggest you put it back in your CD-player for three minutes for that song alone (if nothing else). "Groove Is Where You Find It" is in the same vein as "Got You", with a slow groovyness and nostalgic buildup that doesn't exactly get you excited, but keeps you listening.

At long last, Holiday Man is still not a great CD. But it's not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. However, there is about a 40% chance you might actually hate most or all of the album, even if you absolutely loved "Got You (Where I Want You)". After all, before this week, "Got You" was my 41st favorite song of all-time, while at the same time this CD sat-whether gracelessly or not--in my dresser, covered by unpaid bills and basketball cards. But after a new found liking and respect for such treasures as "Holiday Man", "She's So Huge", "Groove Is Where You Find It", "The Gods Of Basketball" and even "Sexual Sandwich", I was able to find a place for The Flys (between Finger Eleven and Ben Folds) within my discriminatorily-chosen CDs in my CD tower.

"Got You" was the song I obviously bought the album for, and to my surprise, it ended up being one of the top five best albums of 1999. This album is absolutely RAW! "Holiday Man" has the "Rage Against the Machine" feel to it, and it works. "She's so Huge" is super bobbin' your head material, and "Gods of Basketball" can't really be that good of a song - but it is!

Buy it - open your mind - and enjoy!

I went to the Eve6 concert when they came by my town, and the Flys were opening for them. Frankly, I thought the Flys would suck because they're song "Got You Where I Want You" was so slow and boring. But when they started playing, they were so wicked! All of the songs they played live were so awesome! Then I found another kid in my class had the cd, so I borrowed it from him, and, although they were better in concert, it ruled! So I had to buy it for myself. HOLIDAY MAN IS THE BEST!

These guys just kick butt, no matter what you like! You got the metal guitar riffs of "Holiday Man", the reggae feel of "The Family", the mellow pop to rock song "Got You (Where I Want You)", and the incredibly spacey "Groove is Where You Find It"! IT RULES!!!!!

This Cd simply Kicks $**!!! While i had this funny feeling they might be "one hit wonders", i can promise you. THEY ARE NOT!!! This cd is worth every penny.

Most albums today are "one hit" losers but the Flys' Holiday Man offers so much more. Yes, they have burst on the alternative scene with "Got You (Where I Want You)" and I suppose some people think that the rest of a group's album should be nothing but remixes of their hit song. I disagree. This band kicks versatility that I haven't heard since Soundgarden or Pearl Jam were in their heyday. They go from the melodic "Got You" to the title cut that thumps with an urban, in your face jam to the fast and furious "Take You There". These boys are good, with a strong self-confident sound and I think they're on their way to the top!

I feel so misled! You see a video on MTV and you like the song. You buy the album, assuming that you'll be at least almost as pleased by the remaining ten songs or so. You have been duped...at least if you bought this album. I know this because I made that very mistake. Every song is worse than the previous one, and the song titles are even worse....'Sexual Sandwich'..what the hell is that!? The Flys are this year's Sugar Ray. I can't think of a worse insult than that.

"Got You Where I Want You" is by far the only song worth listening to. Every other songs sound like an entirely different band... most of the time the signer uses so many effect on his voice that it sounds like he's singing through a tin can under a bridge while being backed up by a few highschool kids in a band... it's just plain aweful.

I have been reluctant to buy this album ever since the hit "Got You (Where I want You) which alone makes up for 3 stars of the 4 star rating. I finally decided to shell out a few bucks at a used cd store to get it. I thought maybe some of the songs would be like the smash hit, but not really. Almost a complete mixed bag of altered and drugged up music w/ distorted lushed up ozzie like vocalist.

I do understand after reading the few reviews that this is a great Cali party beach band maybe, but just something I didn't expect after "Hey You."

There's sparks from "Girls are the Cruelest" and the disco like "The Family". Of course "Got You" is the best song by far. Other than that, I find it hard to really get what the band was trying to do in most of the songs. I will admit I do like the cd after several listens. It's something different from the usual hard rock stuff I like, and The Flys is a unique sound all in itself.

What's great about the album is I don't think the band really cares what people think about it. They cater to themselves and the fans who know what to expect form them. They seemed to have fun making this album, and even though I don't have any other The Flys albums, I might reconsider that after I start to appreciate the sound more than what I began. But damn, this is one psyched out blurred album w/ some crazy sounding songs. Oh well, just have to enjoy it when it makes its way to the cd player. For now, 3 stars for "Got You" and 1 for the cleverness of the band.