7/10
Ever since they emerged almost a decade ago, East Bay alt-rockers Greg Hoy & The Boys have always looked to maintain the raw and swaggering grooves that many of the bands in their area have always produced. Creating this brilliantly fresh and innovative approach to the San Francisco sound has earned them huge praise and acclaim over the years as they continue to seek for bigger and more anthemic outings with every release. And after the vinyl-only release of their 'Yay For Effort' LP last year, they return with their 'Holy Mother Of God' EP, a collection that sees them deliver four varying versions of the same song.
Opening up with the EP's vibrant title-track, the 'Holy Mother Of God' EP stands as one of their more explorative ventures to date. Featuring a Spaghetti Western effort, performed by Eddie Spaghetti of The Supersuckers, as well as a demo rendition of the single, its highlight is the finale dubbed 'Holy Mother Of Ska', which features ska icon and drummer of the The Skalars, Dave Sharma. Each of these renditions sees them offer up a completely new side to their aesthetic, making for an incredibly diverse listen that only heightens their adventurous nature to date.
Rarely can a band confidently release four different incarnations of the same track and get away with it, but Greg Hoy & The Boys take to it like a moth to a flame. Brimming with this fun and lively appeal as it moves along, the 'Holy Mother Of God' EP is certainly one of their most impactful releases of their dynamic tenure so far.