Ok Go - Oh No Album Review

Artist - Ok Go
Album - Oh No
Label - Angel

Ok Go are one of those bands whose rock comes so perfectly formed, so perfectly packaged and so perfectly infectious that you wonder why other bands don't just give up. With a tight hard rock feel, like say Weezer, but combined with a British wit and sense of humour, as well as some nice spikiness, this is the Arctic Monkeys turned up to 10 and in full command of their songwriting and playing. Oh No is the band's second, after a good level of success with their self-titled debut (and a hit single in Get Over It), and it mixes up the styles a little, with Prince-style R&B mingling with catchy power pop, and a Kendal Mint Cake level of energy throughout. The band clearly needed no gestation period - coming out of the stalls this polished takes some doing. That the sheer quality of the music on display in no way distracts from just how 'cool' this band sounds suggests they're also in charge of their sound.

Rating 9/10
Mike Rea
Adult Contemporary Essentials

Review 2

OK GO
OH NO
Capitol Records
27/02/06

A big, bold Queen-esque intro pipes out on the first brashly titled number; 'Invincible', before it evens out into a frivolous post-rock jam featuring bristly Vince Neil type vocals. OK GO are certainly not afraid to stroll nakedly into what is probably their bravest offering on this thirteen track foray. The album then settles into an indie groove, flitting around the various sounds of the genre. This incorporates a Gaz Coombes vocal impersonation via 'A Good Idea at the Time' and, at the other end of the scale; sees a mature Grandaddy style soothingly delivered in; 'Let It Rain' to tender a soothing vibe.

This snappy dressing Damien Kulash led, Chicago formed quartet possess the ability to build a song right up from the timber blocks of a strolling drum beat, so well that you feel that you are apart of the construction process. 'It's A Disaster' performs this function with eerie precision. Overall, this album comes across as though someone has said to The Hives; "Take it easy my suit clad friends, you don't need to try so hard in order to be able to produce natural sounding guitar laden music!"

David Adair