EVERY DAMN DAY
“This foursome from New Jersey has a handful of self-released recordings that have a brightness and maturity that surpasses many a band that have been signed (only to fizzle) in the past. These suburban chums sound like they spend more time working on their punchy pop style than their haircuts and image, which is always a bonus for the listener. There’s no reason Mike Daly’s songs shouldn’t be heard on the radio: His lyrics are as clever and witty as his melodies and the band knows how to add the right amount of stinging rock to his sweet pop songs. With very little effort, an A-list producer could really make these songs sparkle. EDD’s Web site … features sound clips of its work, plus some insight as to what makes this band of remarkably ordinary guys tick. They just might give NJ bar bands a good name.” — Steve Ciabattoni, CMJ New Music Report.
”This new song by Every Damn Day (‘Audio’), newly putting vocals on a previous instrumental track, is just fantastic. Play it LOUD.” — Professor Power Pop (@ProfessorPower2), via Twitter.
“.. Funny, touching insights about growing older in an increasingly colder world…Snappy pop arrangements and killer vocal harmonies.” — Bob Makin, The Courier News (about “An Imaginary Sitcom”).
“Mystified that I’d never heard this *terrific* NJ band, Every Damn Day (@EveryDamnDay8). If you’re a fan of Marvelous 3 or All Day Sucker, you MUST check out their ’93 debut: Jettison the Pod Sparky. Wow.” — Professor Power Pop (@ProfessorPower2), via Twitter.
“As someone who has been going to shows in New Jersey for the last 25 years it’s easy to see that this band has that classic New Jersey sound that is evident as the core of many modern New Jersey bands. They may not know it but from The Front Bottoms to Gaslight Anthem have this special New Jersey gene flowing through them and it has germinated into their music. Every Damn Day in this new track have a sound that shows the starts of this Jersey sound. It’s a little bit Psychedelic Furs, Echo & The Bunny Men, and so many other early 80’s things but mixed with a little bit of The Damned, The Dictators and other late 70’s punk. It even starts to account for early 80’s like Loverboy and Journey. This is a win. — Sam Lowry, Blood Makes Noise.
MIKE DALY & THE PLANETS
“Trust me — this is guitar-driven power pop and general rock-and-roll of a very high order indeed.” — Steve Simels, PowerPop.
“Four songs. 13 minutes. All muscle. Not a second of fat. Grade: A.” — Mike Greenblatt, The Aquarian Weekly (on “The Cosmic Adventures of ManBoy”).
“Mike Daly & the Planets explore hard rock’s roots on the blistering ‘Broken.’ Vocal delivery is impeccable as the lyrics sound like the ode to a life lived fully, for better and worse. Absolutely brimming with energy the song is a force of nature.” — The Beach Sloth, BeachSloth.com.
“… With the track ‘Broken’ by the New Jersey-based rock band Mike Daly and The Planets, things really get going. This blues rocker is one of the best on this compilation (‘Backroom Blues Volume Two’ on Bongo Boy Records). — Philip Verhaege, Keys and Chords.
“‘Kill A Clown (No, Not Really)’ is a delicious slice of power pop … with chunky guitars and perfecto vocals.” — Mike Greenblatt, Atlas Jams.
“”Kill A Clown (No, Not Really)’ has a catchy, guitar-driven arrangement reminiscent of Webb Wilder or possibly ZZ Top … exuberant backup vocals … (and) funny lyrics.” — Terry Flamm, Broken Hearted Toy.
“Representing pop-rock music at its most catchy, dynamic, and engaging, this album (‘Mike Daly and the Planets’) makes for an extremely enjoyable listen. Mike Daly’s pleasant voice and thoughtful to-the-point songwriting make for a strong and winning double whammy. The tuneful arrangements likewise hit the harmonic spot, with the steady forward-ho drums, bouncy guitar riffs, and neatly percolating basslines all coming through just as clear and pretty as a bell. Better still, there’s a lovely upbeat and positive sensibility evident from start to finish which gives the music a teeming surplus of charm and heart. An excellent album.” — Joe Wawrzyniak, Jersey Beat.
“Mike Daly & The Planets are a hard-working blue-collar rock’n’roll band from the swamps of New Jersey whose new single, ‘Never Too Late,’ is available at Amazon, iTunes and most everywhere digital music is sold or streamed. Daly has an Elvis Costello/John Lennon kind of voice and a knack for arrangement and production that puts his product atop most local phenomenons.” — Mike Greenblatt, Goldmine.
“To me, a really great song is one that gets stuck in your head, tickles your mind and touches your heart. Typically, a Record of the Week has one or two. But with Mike Daly & the Planets’ self-titled debut on Daly’s Pop Goes the World label, it’s nearly the entire 11-song album. Daly is a literate, passionate songwriter whose rich, clever use of wordplay and heartfelt, endearing vocals stir emotions and inspire smiles. On ‘Mike Daly and the Planets,’ a crackerjack band features a lineup of great lead guitarists and a strong ensemble of other guest musicians. But the heart and soul of this collection are delightful, memorable melodies with hooks a-plenty, both musically and lyrically.” Bob Makin, NJArts.net.
“Wrapping up this twist of the dial is the poppy Americana jangle of Mike Daly and the Planets. This is another performer in for the long haul. Mike Daly’s been making music and records in a host of bands for decades. It shows on this remarkable debut from his new outfit (‘Mike Daly and the Planets’). Just check out the Beatlesque opening tempo of ‘Never Too Late’ and its seamless shift into a great new wave vibe. Or the Costello feel of ‘No Simple Task’ with its swinging melody. But the album’s highlight is undoubtedly the majestic ‘Salvation,’ a song that manages to be both moving and insanely catchy at the same time. And to show where Daly comes from, check out these tracks from his former band, Every Damn Day. I love the banjo that kicks in half way through ‘Theme From an Imaginary Sitcom’ and the full-on Costello-cum-Beatles homage in ‘It’s All About Tonite.’ These are lost gems! — Dennis Pilon, Poprock Record.
“File this one under how to rock out like nobody’s business.” — Joe Wawrzyniak, Jersey Beat (about “All It Takes Is One”).
“Mike Daly plays an unapologetic rock that comes out of the realization that ‘punk rock fantasies’ are long over and playing into middle age offers its own personal rewards. And while Daly’s vocal approach brings to mind Bob Mould mixed with Steven Page and Chris Stamey, he’s clearly comfortable in his own skin. … Starting with ‘Slack’ its heavy power chords punctuate each verse of him ‘Polishing my Grammys that I’ll never win.’ The great guitar riffs open ‘Come Along’ and leads to a head-bopping chorus about an old rock and roll fan’s life. ‘Find The Pleasure’ is ‘another standout and ‘Nonsense’ has a little Lou Reed styled lyric. … Daly has enough goodies here to keep you coming back for more listens.” — Aaron Kupferberg, Power Popaholic (about “All It Takes Is One”).
““Heavy on the crunchy guitar with songs that run the gamut between earnest (‘Find the Pleasure’) and humorous (‘Slack’ just might be the funniest damned tune I’ve heard this year), Mr. Daly and his Planets do the (pop) rock with a workingman’s precision and a bucket of tunefulness.” — John Borack, Goldmine (about “All It Takes Is One”).
“Wanna put a smile on your face? Listen to ‘Slack,’ the opening track of Mike Daly & the Planets’ sophomore LP, ‘All It Takes Is One.’ For more than for 30 years, Daly has written fun songs with clever wordplay, but ‘Slack’ may have topped them all with a Beatles-meets-Redd Kross sense of power -pop complete with entertainingly endearing backing harmonies by guitarist John Reynolds, bassist Jim Van Sickle and drummer Jim Smith. Daly hysterically explains how he once had ambition but hopes he never gets it back. Instead, he’d rather ‘slack.’ The fun rhymes on this song fill me with joy and that, in large part, is what music should be all about. … No doubt Daly is one of New Jersey’s best and most unsung singer-songwriters with a rich baritone croon and a knack for clever wordplay, like our own Elvis Costello.” — Bob Makin, New Jersey Stage.
“… Make no mistake about it, every track (on ‘All It Takes Is One’) rocks. … The songs are tight, snappy little statements with punch. Daly sings ‘em in a decidedly blue-collar everyman mode that’s completely believable. ‘Stupid Me’ is a hoot. The compositions are stronger here. It’s a great piece of work. It’s literate, clever, meaty with satisfying chunky fat-back chording that propels the music forward.” — Mike Greenblatt, The Aquarian Weekly.
“‘This Is My Life’ takes that melancholy one step further, singing from the point of view of someone afflicted with cancer, hoping that they can hang on to their life for as long as possible. It’s a dark subject to be sure, but flows with an undercurrent of hopefulness; hope for another day of life tomorrow, hope that there will be another sunrise to feel the warmth of, hope that our loved ones will also be there with us. Very well done.” — Dan Pavelich, Pop-A-Looza.
“What happens when you are not only faced with a global pandemic and the health issues associated with that, but with a life-threatening disease on top of it? Do you give up or give in? Not in the case of Mike Daly, front man for Mike Daly & The Planets, a rock band with decided classic-rock edges. Mike has recurring cancer of the lymphatic system, which means that he is doubly at risk during the pandemic. Awhile back, Mike had an awakening of sorts, reviewing the number of rock heroes that are now gone, some way too soon, and looking at his own life and assessing what that is now. Out of this awakening, comes ‘This Is My Life,’ an astounding piece of rock, complete with a lyric that has deep meaning. … This is a magnificent song.” — Vodka, A Little More Vodka, A Little Less Milk.
“Singer-songwriter-guitarist Mike Daly of Mike Daly & The Planets has had to battle a recurrence of cancer of the lymphatic system during the pandemic. And despite social isolation and locked venues, music has kept him moving forward creatively. His latest song, the powerful ‘This Is My Life’ — submitted to NJArts.net’s Song to See Us Through series — resonates for those of us suffering with medical issues, coping with loss and worrying about the fragility of life.” — Cindy Stagoff, NJArts.net.
“It’s not often when you can write in the vein of a great like Elvis Costello and are able to nail it almost perfectly, while also bringing your own distinct element to the music as well. Mike Daly & The Planets on their new 2-song single ‘Falling Out Of Love Song’ and ‘Star’ have figured out the formula for writing in the vein of Elvis Costello and other power pop greats and making it sound new and fresh. The songs themselves have a certain flair which sounds like a throwback to ’70s radio pop, with that post ’60s cleaned up ELO style of Beatles-esque rock. Daly’s voice definitely has an Elvis Costello or Cat Stevens feel which frames the songs nicely. I couldn’t hear his voice working over other genres as well as it works in this one.” — Sam Lowry, Blood Makes Noise.
“Mike Daly‘s first single for Big Stir Records (‘Falling Out Of Love Song’) and he hits one outta the park with echos of Elvis Costello here. This is a catchy gem that deserves to be heard. — Aaron Kupferberg, Power Popalooza.
A VERY INDIE CHRISTMAS
“The best of several new ‘alternative’ Christmas collections.” — David Hinckley, The (NY) Daily News.
“One of the most engaging new Christmas rock albums of 1996, especially for those who prefer tight, quirky power-pop songs to sober reflections on the holiday’s meaning.” — Jay Lustig, The Star Ledger.
“A savory holiday compilation. The ten songs on the CD … range from power pop to country to jazz-inflected crooning. Each is a polished number, and the whole a spicy stylistic blend.” — The Hudson County Current.
“Packed with first-rate material from start to finish, and an essential addition to any holiday hit parade.” — Al Muzer, The Aquarian Weekly.