Showcasing his versatility, eclectic indie-rocker, Greg Hoy, strips back his signature sound for his new album, “Yay For Effort”. Deciding to include prominent instruments throughout his backing track, Greg Hoy has gone for a more acoustic vibe for his latest collection of tracks, allowing him to flood the 10 tracks with emotion and heart. This acts as the follow-up to last year’s EP, titled “Old Man and the Cinnamon Girl”.
Greg Hoy, an East Bay, California-based singer-songwriter and multi-talented artist, has forged a remarkable path in the music industry. Collaborating with renowned producers such as Steve Albini, Sylvia Massy, and John Vanderslice, Greg Hoy has garnered critical acclaim for his varied style and impressive songwriting skills. With comparisons to Jack White, Tom Petty, and Brittany Howard, his music transcends genres, blending rock, power pop, garage, and acoustic elements into a captivating sound. Greg Hoy’s extensive discography includes over 30 albums and singles released under various monikers, showcasing his versatility and dedication to his craft. Greg Hoy & The Boys, a loose collective of friends and trusted musicians, add depth and energy to Greg Hoy’s music, creating a dynamic and captivating live experience. From powerhouse performances at notable events like Noise Pop, SXSW, CMJ, and Latitude Festival to having their songs featured on TV shows and commercials, Greg Hoy & The Boys continue to captivate audiences and push the boundaries of their craft. Not only a prolific musician, but Greg Hoy is also a recording producer, engineer, marketing guru, jingle and sound composer, art director, and label owner. Embracing a DIY spirit, Greg Hoy’s passion for music extends beyond the stage and studio, as he runs his own record label, 30 Peak, and delves into production and soundtrack work. Greg Hoy’s artistic journey continues to evolve, fueled by an insatiable creative drive and a commitment to pushing boundaries in his quest for musical expression.
Written and produced by himself, Greg Hoy really showcases his diverse talent and ability to craft incredible songs with the release of this new album “Yay For Effort”.We also have to mention the album cover artwork as we love that Greg Hoy makes it clear that this is a stripped-back 10-track collection with him playing the piano – making it super clear to his listeners what to expect.
Stream “Yay For Effort” by Greg Hoy on Spotify here:
The “Yay For Effort” album starts off with “Oh No” which introduces listeners to the collection of tracks with a rhythmic beat that is headlined by hi-hat cymbal drums twisted around piano melodies and a drum vibe as Greg Hoy progressively sings about the friends he has lost. Vocals are emotional from the get-go, it’s his instrument skills and production ability that truly shines, effortlessly preparing us for the rest of the album. The title track is next which starts off with a low reverb setting a dark indie-rock vibe that suits Greg Hoy’s vocals down to a tee, and we soon realise why he named the album “Yay for Effort” as this track builds and builds and builds until it crescendoes into a melodic rock guitar sound post-chorus. This track suits Greg Hoy’s voice brilliantly, and it definitely showcases his songwriting skills, yet it’s the backing track that truly shines. “Listen Up” follows next with his vocals sounding the best we’ve heard them as he delves deep for emotion as he strips it completely back to just him and a piano. As the track nears the end, harmonies are added as the title words are repeated and we can be sure that we are listening up. Track four is “Today Is Not The Day To Die”, which is another stripped-back acoustic number starting off with drum cymbals and a hopeful piano melody which links in well with the positive lyrics from Greg Hoy who spreads good vibes and inspiration amongst many, making this a total stand-out track on “Yay For Effort”. The fifth track is “Let It All Go Down” which sees this singer-songwriter tackle a more indie-rock vibe with some incredible guitar chords that totally make this a highlight track.
Next up is “Firedrill” which changes the dynamic tone slightly with Greg Hoy jumping straight in with vocals as an acoustic guitar kickstarts, creating an interesting ballad track that is full of so much emotional soul. The track later has drums flowing in majorly as Greg Hoy feels this song. “Comfort Vendetta” follows next which has a hard indie-pop-rock style to it showcasing Greg Hoy’s versatility and has an early ’00s pop-rock vibe with a catchy melody that makes an empowered impact on the listeners. Track eight titled “Lonely Satellite” tones the album back down after powerful track number seven, giving a more ballad-type acoustic session allowing the focus to be on his indie-rock vocals and the lyrics as he paints a story of a man who is frustrated at life and is showcasing that to the world in the way he reacts to certain things or people, the track then develops into relating this man to us, the listeners, and Greg Hoy, himself, allowing us to understand this man but also how we should interpret life itself – making this a highly conceptual track that has a positive background theme to it.
The penultimate track, titled “Silly Me!”, sees Greg Hoy strip it back again, with a deep guitar rhythm that is beyond groovy and stands out for all the right reasons as it brings a whole new tone to the album and later we’re surprised by some string vibes that bring a symphonic element to the deep rhythm. Greg Hoy looks into himself with the lyrics of “Silly Me!” almost as if he’s looking at himself and his life from another perspective. This track alone is the perfect set-up for the final track on the album whilst continuing to surprise us by ending the track on a symphonic string segment. “Yay For Effort” ends with the track titled “Dim Sun (For Everyone)” – note that it isn’t Dim Sum so Greg Hoy manages to shatter our hearts as we wouldn’t mind him treating us to some dim sum right about now – and it’s a very tuneful track spreading his positivity which we’ve seen highlights of throughout the collection of tracks. Unlike anything else on this album, the last track is an upbeat ballad that is filled with good vibe energy allowing the beautiful production to take centre stage, with subtle lyrics that connect with the track. This one really ends “Yay For Effort” on a high note, embracing his listeners, and shining a bright light on us all.
Stream “Today Is Not The Day To Die”, which is our favourite track from the album, on Spotify here:
“Yay For Effort”, by Greg Hoy, is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms, via 30 Peak. He is currently out on tour, promoting this album with tickets being available from his official website.
Yay for Effort Summer Tour dates:
6/24 Pacifica CA Winters Tavern- 7/08 San Francisco CA Hotel Utah
- 7/14 Rockville MD Hank Dietle’s
- 7/15 Pittsburgh PA Club Cafe
- 7/16 Youngstown Westside Bowl
- 7/18 Brooklyn NY (live recording) Leesta Vall
- 7/19 New Haven CT Three Sheets
- 7/20 NYC Arlene’s Grocery
- 7/21 Philadelphia PA The Fire
- 7/22 Mechanicsburg PA Metropolis
- 8/12 Alameda CA The Fireside