The On and Ons “Come On In”
I was late to the party, but this Sydney, Australia band signed with Jem Records and made their debut in January. The On and Ons are comprised of keyboardist John Hoey, bassist Clyde Bramley, brother Brian Morris (drums, vocals), and singer-songwriter-guitarist Glenn Morris. Last year, they produced a number of noteworthy EPs, and the album ‘Come On In’ is an excellent compilation of their songs. “Let Ya Hair Down!” was honored by Little Steven’s Underground Garage as one of the”Coolest Songs In The World,” so I would be remiss if I didn’t check out the additional songs on the album.
The album’s opening track, “Roller Coaster,” is very much like a Plimsouls tune with great jangle and echoing harmonies. “Been There” is pure ‘60s British Invasion bliss with reverb, and “Sunny Jim” is a dense guitar attack akin to The Guess Who with an Aussie garage vibe. Another gem is “(Scare Me) Outta My Mind,” with its wicked solo, and those “ooh, ooh” backing harmonies, it has a very Halloween party feel to it. Plenty of good melodies here make this one Highly Recommended.
Richard Snow (& The Inlaws) “Look Back In Manga”
From Nottingham UK. Richard Snow and The Inlaws are Richard (Snow) Hattersley, Phillip Edmundson and Justin Monkton. Richard started his musical life in a Beatles cover band, and has solo several albums in the recent past and ‘Look Back in Manga’ is a new compilation with some recent singles added. Richard’s bright jangle starts us with “Equinox,” a sweet melody that sets a very Beatlesque tone. This continues with the ironic “I Never Liked The Beatles” about an old curmudgeon named Ron who hates the Fab Four.
The songs feel like personal experiences, and some work very well (“Double Act” and “Not Gonna Take It”) and others just aren’t as memorable. My favorite on this album is the mid-tempo love song “You Can’t Have It All,” with a great hook and solid vocal performance. This album will be hit-or-miss for most, and that’s okay. It still is music that deserves to be heard, so check it out.
