MUSIC REVIEW: THE ON AND ONS – Menacing Smile

Shane | 3 September 2020 | Reply

MUSIC REVIEW: THE ON AND ONS – Menacing Smile
Citadel Records
May 2020
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
80%

Clocking in at 18 glorious minutes, The On And Ons third release is a six-track mini-album of sublime power pop greatness which will delight fans of everything from garage rock to psych rock to Oz rock to power pop to just about any other kind of rock and pop music.

Menacing Smile boasts melodies and riffs and choruses for miles. There’s hints of Beach Boyness and Monkees-ivity and bassist Clyde Bramley’s old band Hoodoo Gurus and a load of other references for rock n’ roll tragics to discover, but these hints speak more of shared influences than any shade of cookie-cutter copyism.

The title track and Don’t Wanna Talk About It are pure sunshine pop n’ roll, the trio (Glenn Morris on lead vocals and guitar, brother Brian on drums and harmonies, and Bramley handling bass and rounding out those gorgeous harmony vocals) revelling in short, punchy, leave-‘em-wanting-more brilliance. Hold On Tight takes us to a slightly darker ‘60s garage psych place, while Monday Blues sounds like some alchemical concoction of equal part Fab Four and the spirit of punk.

9 Days is another punchy rocker dripping with catchy harmonies and a riff/chorus combo to die for. Mini-album (not an EP, apparently) closer Change Of Heart – at 3:24 the longest song here, and it’s worth noting that half of these songs don’t even crack the three minute mark – is glorious songwriting, an irresistible groove full of paisley soul.

It’s certainly not a sprawling epic by any stretch of the imagination, but listening to Menacing Smile is about the finest 18 minutes you may ever spend.