On - On

 

Toronto's On have been compared a lot to Sonic Youth, so I was intrigued to hear their debut album. Live Reviews of the Power Trio have been really complementary and I can see the comparison, particularly Guitar wise.

There's also a likeness to the Grunge and College Rock of the 90s, but On are much more than that. Like most great Trios they are perfectly in sync, Lucy Di Santo's vocal is front and centre, but it isn't as shouty as this sort of affair can be. She also forms a pulsating Rhythm Section with Dan Cornelius. 

The drive though is the sound, built around pulsating grooves and riffs from Steve Fall. The danger is that that groove might result in 10 Songs that all sound the same. There is not a bit of that here for two reasons. The first is that when they slow things down, they become a different band without ever forcing the issue. 

Hereafter is based around great Bass Lines and comes across strangely as a Motown sort of feel. FLA has an almost Disco rhythm to it. and Try is a great ballad that really works. In the hands of someone like Garbage the Guitar Noise would have to dominate, here the understatement is the key.

Then there is the fact that the band can play and aren't stuck in one place. Amends begins like it is a Debbie Harry talk thing, but the song revs up into a fantastic Psych Guitar fest. Similarly Break You bursts into something Black Sabbath Guitar like.

Fall's Guitar also takes the excellent Underdog from a pacy almost Pop Rock song into something that Muse would be proud of. That is the absolute joy of this album, there is so much underneath. So much more to On. It may take repeated listens to discover this, but it is well worth the effort. I am really impressed and would to see them Live over here.

You can listen to and buy the album here and here.