"Holmes is a singer-songwriter who pens the kind of melodic, unpretentious songs that scream for usage in film and TV. There's a humor, wistfulness and universality that would compare well with some of the best of Ben Folds or Beck and translates best in intimate venues." — Los Angeles Times
 

"A master working his craft" — Vox / We Heart Music
 

"Holmes has a level of polish that can only come from someone who's been making music for some time... a slow burning, surprising album that takes some time before it reveals all its splendours." — Exclaim
 

"Forty five minutes of tragedy, intrigue, deceptions... No matter the moment of melodrama, Holmes can provide the empathetic soundtrack... Across the release, Holmes' raw, bluesy voice is balanced by classic piano power chords and sparing instrumentation. His lyrics prove to be equally simplistic, yet startlingly effective..." — Pensatos.com Music Blog
 

"...the important thing is the music. The strong beat that goes on in a good melody like "it hurts so bad". It's quality folks, and you ought to know it. Listen up!..." — EderBlog
 

"Pop perfection!." — Mondo Magazine
 

"This sophomore effort incorporates guitar, keyboard, strings, and even whistling, at times conjuring Paul Simon, most notably on the highlight track, "Unsatisfied." Holmes also delivers some beautifully sad ballads with an Aimee Mann-like directness, yielding an intriguing dualism by juxtaposing the flip with the poignant." — Flavorpill
 

"It's really rare to come across a cd a listener can just play without skipping over the bad songs. Stop Go is worth putting on that V.I.P. list" — Hot Indie News
 

"Bring to mind the eclectic vibe of Beck and John Frusciante, mix in the pop sheen of Ben Folds and Elton John and what you will hear is someone who is making music for people who have forgotten what good music should sound like... Those who listen to this will eat this up and pass it along to friends who are musically malnourished." — BookMusic
 

"The one-man wrecking crew that is Silverlake's Holmes, gets a free pass solely for "Let Go," the opening track on his band's self-titled effort and easily the best stoner song Steely Dan never wrote. Like Donald Fagen, Shakked is smart and a little bored, delivering his detached vocals over pristinely arranged cafe pop songs awash in sunny backing vocals.... but the album is far too ornate to be the work of a slacker. Shakked pulls an unpredictable left turn on "Go Computer", a Weezer-esque guitar stomper with vocals smothered in slap echo... The heart of a showman beats inside these songs - wait until you hear what he's done to David Bowie's "Let's Dance"..." — ESD Music
 

"Sometimes you cannot dine on a single entree and crave a smorgasboard. In the same way you can listen to your power pop and want a variety of styles and influences. Holmes (aka Roy Shakked) has a feast here sure to please power pop fans (Okay, enough food analogies here). Using the basic structure of The Beatles, and Electric Light Orchestra, Holmes carves out lush orchestral/lounge pop. On the liner notes, he classifies the style categories as: Power Pop, Rock Ya Body, Rock Ya Soul, Heartbreak Ballad and Little Diddy. This is a good guide, but I'll elaborate here - Holmes uses Cello, Saxophones and Accordian, to put together a beautiful series of ELO-styled ballads like "Nevermind" and "Nothing at All". He has gathered a dream-team of quality players here, including Lyle Workman (Bourgeois Tagg) and eleven other musicians. "Be Alone" is pop via Fountains of Wayne type rock tune. "Another Week" has melodies that bounce along with a bit of quirkiness similar to Tally Hall (see below). Although the mid-tempo songs are good, they can't compare to the ballads here. "Gray World" is my favorite tune here, and the ELO comparisons are more subtle homage, than the stylistic note for note copying of Bleu's L.E.O. Seek this music out and your soul will be shaked and baked by these teriffic ballads (I knew shouldn't have skipped dinner). Holmes will go on tour to support this album this June. Visit Holmes site to hear the entire album streaming and then order it directly!" — PowerPopaholic
 

"who knew that I could still, after all these cynical years, enjoy straight up, well-crafted, highly melodic indie pop?." — Comfort Music
 

"Stop Go is a corker. It's a non-stop thrill ride of power-pop riffage and Britpop soul. Once again busy guy extraordinaire and Holmes himself, Roy Shakked, plays 90% of the instruments himself and still somehow manages not to kill himself writing great pop. He does occasionally use his usual lineup of super cool, legendary, and brilliant studio folk back him up when he can't play the trombone, guitar, and accordion at the same time. But for the most part this is the demented effort of one guy on a mission to make incredible pop music." — First Coast News

"Holmes is pure, pure power pop. His 5 song debut hinted that his brand of Wisely, Chris Brown, Micheal Penn inspired songwriting would result in a killer full length debut. Consider that promise delivered as evidenced on the song bites below for your savoring proof. Thick with sharp percussive rhythms, tinkling piano, great arrangements and, of course, hooks and unforgettable grit... Very Highly Recommended!! — Not Lame Recordings
 

"Singer/Songwriter/Producer Roy Shakked is Holmes and his latest release Stop Go is a refreshing cross-section of musical genres. Holmes serves up punchy Rock, tuneful Power Pop and even smooth R&B with the help of top-notch musicians the likes of Lyle Workman and Brett Simons. It doesn't get much more fun than the title track, which delivers exactly what it's title promises. The whistle-along melodic treat that is "Another Week" recalls other tune-masters like Bleu and The Argument. "Five Days A Week" is a smooth Power Pop ride right out of the Joe Jackson songbook. You've probably heard Holmes already as his music has been featured on many television shows and album compilations. Chances are you'll be hearing a lot more of him everywhere else very soon." — whitsbrain.com
 

"Stop Go is one of the more engaging power pop productions of this soon-to-be-one-third-over year. Mixing in pop influences as varied as Ben Folds, Jeff Lynne (one of the current incarnation of ELO's cellists plays on the disc), Jellyfish, The Beatles, and maybe even a dash of Beck, he still manages to create an organic enough pop sound that in six months' time I'll probably be referring to some other artist as Holmeseque.

The piano is Holmes/Shakked's primary instrument, although he doesn't use it in as dominant a fashion as, say, Folds. The opener "Five Days a Week" (Beatles nod?) rocks along with a poppy punch that recalls The Argument, while "Wake Up", his signature track which anchored his self-titled EP of last year, is a delight that crams in more "na na na"s in 3:23 than "Hey Jude" did in 7 minutes. You'll go, not stop, with the title track, which bounces along like "Getting Better" with a more rocking guitar riff.

He can do the slow stuff too, as piano-and-acoustic-guitar ballad "Prove Me Wrong Again" proves, with its Penn/Brion/Dolieslager sound. Other highlights include "Gray World", which has enough Harrisonesque slide guitar and orchestration to come off as a combination of a typical Jeff Lynne/ELO ballad with Badfinger's "Day After Day"; "Be Alone", a more "modern"-sounding track that has handclaps galore, and "Nevermind", another lushly orchestrated ballad. Even the closing instrumental "Daydream No. 57" isn't bad, and I hate instrumentals." — Absolute Power Pop
 

"Say what you will about "pop" music; even the most adamant nay-sayers among us with astronomical standards of expectation cross paths with a guilty pleasure or two from time to time. The truth is, whether or not they're out to change the world, some folks just write solid tunes. Such is the case with Holmes (aka Roy Shakked). His recent release, Stop Go, is a collection of 12 songs that offer something for the ear no matter what mood you're in. The album has its fair share of toe-tapping sing-alongs, yet displays a depth on its slower ballad-esque moments that balances the feel nicely. There is undoubtedly a Beatles influence pervasive throughout — songs such as "Another Week" and "Nevermind" could even pass for revamped lost tracks from Magical Mystery Tour — as well as others from the rock n' roll era, but with a modern spin. Holmes has notable experience as a producer under different aliases (the Tao of Groove, Jazzelicious), and it shows. The album as a whole is well produced, yet the vocals retain more of a live feel, tastefully avoiding effect over-saturation. While rarely straying from the traditional pop/rock format, Holmes' unique touches polish the album enough to shine." — Amplifier Magazine
 

"Holmes is an artist whose music would fit in with that heard on commercial radio today but does not have that cookie cutter sound about him... Like a baseball player who is called a five tool player when he is able to perform several aspects of his profession exceptionally so is Holmes Ray Shakked - what would be termed a multi talented individual who writes, sings, and performs well." — Sherrill Fulghum, AntiMusic
 

"well crafted... excellent pop music... An enjoyable listen... Holmes will be worth looking out for on his next release." — Americana UK
 

Top 10 - Best Power Pop of 2007. — Rising Hegemon
 

“Delivering instantly accessible, chart friendly songs.” — Rock n’ Reel