Cliff Hillis

He’s like the Energizer bunny of indie pop, going and going. Just when you think Cliff Hillis has reached a peak – he pulls this amazing EP out and impresses you all over again. Cliff has been very busy touring , and he’s released this fan-funded EP. And thank the Lord for that; this is a clear contender for the best EP of 2014. Like his last full length, he’s got a variety of styles here.

The pensive “Dashboard” leads to a soaring vocal in the chorus about listening to his favorite tunes on the road. George Harrison styled slide guitar starts off “Turn On A Dime,” a super catchy ear-worm that proves Hillis continues to write memorable hits. “Just One More” has a bit more laid back feel, about asserting yourself – complete with gentle horn flourishes. Next, “Hang On To The Moment” is another gem that reaches deep; this a perfect slow rock ballad to dance to. There is not a weak moment throughout the concise seven tracks here. Some of the songwriting reminds me of Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne) where comfort can be found in the warmth of these melodies. The song “Could You Be The Enemy” even claims in the lyric “Satisfaction Guaranteed” and I would apply that to this EP. A rare treat that should not be missed. - Power Popaholic

CLIFF HILLIS – SONG MACHINE
Things that can be always counted on: Death, taxes, and Cliff Hillis releasing a superfine record. Song Machine is his latest, and the 7-song EP finds him collaborating with Scot Sax, Dan Bern and Phil Solem on three excellent numbers and packing all seven with the classic, classy, pop moves his fans have come to know and love. The glorious, uplifting ballad “Hang on to the Moment” may be the best thing here – as well as one of the best things Hillis has ever recorded, but the Solem/Hillis co-write “Tonight,” the “Lust For Life”-influenced bopper “Could You Be the Enemy,” and the pretty, lullaby-like “Goodnight Sunlight” are all close runners-up. “Turn On a Dime,” with some nifty slide guitar courtesy of Smash Palace’s Stephen Butler and background vocals by fellow popmeister Corin Ashley, is another pop sureshot. Grade: A- - Goldmine Magazine

While listening to Dream Good, the new album by Phoenixville-based singer songwriter Cliff Hillis, one word comes to mind.

Sessionable.

The twelve tunes on this album are light and refreshing, energetic pop songs with subtle hints of Costello, Lofgren, Wilco and the sweet finish of Crenshaw. It’s an album you can play repeatedly on a summer night while hanging on the porch with friends.

My favorite song on the album is “Ways and Means,” which packs the most power to the pop. “Sing It Once Again” is a lovely song about the search for meaning and how we find it in those brief unexpected moments. Every song on the album is enjoyable. This is an easy album to place on the iPod and hit shuffle. - Phoenixville Dish (Jim Breslin)

Cliff Hillis has done what many power pop artists do after over a decade of solid output, they seamlessly transition to adult contemporary pop. Starting out with the legendary Starbelly, then transitioning to John Faye Power Trip and IKE he drew heavily on the riffs and influences of Matthew Sweet. Once his solo career started with Be Seeing You on Not Lame Records, fans knew what to expect and Cliff has remained a popular artist ever since.

On Dream Good, Hillis continues to show his melodic skills are as sharp as ever on the opener “Keep The Blue Skies” and he still surrounds himself with top notch collaborators like Scot Sax (The Feel), Danny Wilde (The Rembrandts) and Brad Jones. And he hasn’t mellowed that much, as “Ways and Means” packs lots of power into those driving blues riffs. I love the creative “Talking Tree” with its contrasting blend of strings, bass guitar and staccato picked rhythm. The next several songs are along the Fountains of Wayne or Marshall Crenshaw vibe with “When You’re Listening” and “Welcome To You.” More gems include the brilliant “Twin Sisters” and the low key “Just The Same.” Like Mike Viola, Hillis makes each story so compelling you need to listen. Each tune has a refreshing melody line and polished delivery (without filler to be found) that puts this album near my top ten list for 2012. - Power Popaholic (Aaron Kupferberg)

About four years ago, I wrote that Cliff Hillis "is the golden mean of power pop - punchy enough to satisfy fans of Fountains of Wayne or Cheap Trick, but melodic enough to satisfy fans of Squeeze, Michael Carpenter and Paul McCartney". That was the last time Hillis released a solo disc, and now he's back with Dream Good which is just as good as The Long Now if not better. Hillis has a preternatural gift for melody and the immediate hooks of "Keep the Blue Skies" threaten to make it your new favorite song after just one listen. "Sing it Once Again" is an acoustic-guitar based gem with handclaps, "Ways and Means" finds him rocking like his days in Ike, and the moody, melodic Beatlesque "Welcome to You" would have fit in snugly on the last Red Button album. Just take about 35-40 minutes and listen below - it's easily one of the year's best. - Absolute Powerpop (Steve Ferra)

If there is such a thing as an impeccable power pop pedigree, Cliff Hillis comes as close to anyone I can think of to possessing it. After solid stints with pop royalty Starbelly and the John Faye Power Trip, Hillis launched his solo career with a pair of aces, 2001’s Be Seeing You and 2004’s Better Living Through Compression. The Long Now, Hillis’ latest release on Anna Borg’s Tallboy Records label, completes his solo trifecta. The Long Now is, in many ways, the perfect pop record: its songs are expertly constructed, melding wickedly clever lyrics with inescapable pop melodies. Hillis, unlike anybody this side of Bay area rocker Chris von Sneidern, possesses the pluperfect pop voice—he can sing sweet and intimate, as on “She Sees” or “Ought to Know,” or can reach back and belt out a rocker, as on “Northern Lights,” or “Faded Star.” Most impressively, he makes it all seem effortless. And if you’re going to ask for a little help from your friends, it surely doesn’t hurt if your Rolodex contains the numbers of Danny Wilde, Willie Wisely, and Kyf Brewer—all of whom co-wrote tracks on The Long Now—or former Hooter Eric Bazilian, who contributes a scorching guitar solo to “All for the Sake.” Kudos, as well, to jack-of-all-trades Ritchie Rubini, who, in a addition to coproducing the disc, contributes drums, percussion, piano, and synth throughout, and co-wrote “Like an Island,” to boot. But it’s Hillis who truly shines on The Long Now—it’s difficult to confine his considerable talents to a 4-1/2” diameter slab of aluminum. --Rick Schadelbauer [January 12, 2009] - Amplifier Magazine

Cliff Hillis should be a major star. There, I said it … and his latest release, The Long Now (Tallboy Records), proves it. It’s a stylish, thoughtful, consistently excellent collection of catchy pop tunes that never fails to engage. A few tunes written with the Rembrandts’ Danny Wilde (“She Sees” and “Northern Lights”) are top-shelf, but there’s really nothing here less than very good, as Hillis is a supremely talented craftsman whose way with a hook is undeniable throughout. Not flashy, not life-changing — just great. John Borack/Goldmine Magazine - Goldmine Magazine

In this vast, fertile underground we love to call the worldwide pop scene, there are some artists who you just know should rise up and become stars, and Cliff Hillis is one of them. On his second album, Better Living Through Compression, the Delaware native continues to display his all-around music acumen with a batch of tasty, edgy tunes that fans of anyone from the Raspberries to Rooney will surely love. Crunchy power poppers like "So Much To Tell You," "Two Of The Same" and the particularly radio friendly "Go Go Go" proudly sit alongside moodier pieces like "Madeline," the swaying "Six Feet Under," the beautiful, tasteful "China Heart" and the gorgeous luminescence of "All These Memories." The best song on Better Living Through Compression is probably "Better Than Myself" which in a better world would be a hit single and in this world could easily be the centerpiece of a twenty-something soundtrack.

-David Bash
- Entertaniment Today- Los Angeles

Some people are so full of talent that it almost seems unfair. Cliff Hillis has such a monopoly on talent: a consistently wonderful songwriter, tasteful guitarist, and smooth vocalist. "The Long Now", named after an intriguing Foundation of the same name, is Cliff's third solo release. Prior to his trio of solo records, he built his musical muscle with one of my favorite power pop bands, IKE/John Faye Power Trip.

"The Long Now" finds Cliff more serious and matured; this can be detected in the subject matter covered by the lyrics and what some would call a more "seasoned" musical feel. The tunes just ease right into the ears and the melodies impress gently on the brain. Like other records by Cliff, "The Long Now" charms quickly, with Cliff's soothing voice more hypnotic than ever. The release has a more laid back feel with a lot of mid-tempo and breezy numbers, but there are some kick ass rockers too, like "Northern Lights" and the smoldering closer, "Faded Star".

The CD features an outstanding collection of collaborators that are no strangers to pop rock. One of my songwriting heroes, Danny Wilde, co-wrote "Northern Lights" and "She Sees", both of which would have fit nicely on The Rembrandts' "Untitled" release. Kyf Brewer (Ravyns, Company of Wolves) does his thing on "All For The Sake" and "Shake Me Down". Eric Bazilian (The Hooters) joins in to solo on "All For The Sake", and Cliff's old Caulfields colleague, Ritchie Rubini is a heavy contributor.

This is an artist who strives for the best and avoids filler on his records. In the spirit of pop wizards like Paul McCartney, Glenn Tilbrook, or Danny Wilde, Cliff Hillis continues to be inviting and accessible while expanding his horizons as an artist. It did not take long at all for "The Long Now" to now be a favorite of mine. - Bill's Music Forum

Cliff Hillis-Song Machine EP. It's always a good year for power pop when Cliff Hillis decides to release new material, and his followup to 2012's Dream Good is this new 7-song EP which he crowd-funded. If you weren't among those who already supported the EP you won't want to waste any time adding this to your collection. Hillis is matched by only a handful in the power pop scene when it comes to pure songcraft, and the seven tunes here are confirmation from the pensive opener "Dashboard" (which builds to a great crescendo) to the would-have-been-an-AM-Radio-hit-in-the-70s "Just One More" to the jangly, Beatlesque "Tonight". And Hillis is good for one track that instantly grabs you as a favorite - on 2008's The Long Now it was "Elevator", on Dream Good it was "Keep the Blue Skies", and here it's "Turn on a Dime" with a melody both catchy and effortless. It's going to be a real Sophie's Choice to pick between this and the Peter Buzzelle I review in July for 2014's top EP. - Absolute Powerpop