Link: OK Go
The Inside Pulse:
OK Go is exactly as advertised. Imagine a band called “OK Go” and you’re 95 percent of the way there (click here and stream “Crash the Party” to see how you did). This disk, the band’s second full length album, brings a wide-ranging cycle of chrome-bright iterations of the perfect indie pop song, circa 2005. You like the Hives, Spoon, Gorillaz, the Shins, etc. but don’t want to buy each album individually? This will give you the lay of the land and doesn’t waste your time with those dragging tracks that try to establish the hipster cred. That’s not to say that it’s derivative drivel. Oh No is thoughtful, optimistic pop by kids that hang out at the local indie record store sharing turns at the listening station, turning each other on to what’s next. There’s no shame in digging the sound unless you cling too tightly to your own hipster cred.
Positives:
The music is well-executed, light-weight pop in the tradition of T. Rex, Cheap Trick, XTC, Teenage Fanclub, (Apples) in Stereo and The Hives.
The band clearly knows it’s heritage, with nice musical references for the savvy, and doesn’t over reach.
A meatier listen than neo-hair pop rockers like Hot Hot Heat and whatever the OC is pimping this week.
Negatives:
This album won’t solve world hunger or even help you through a moderately difficult breakup.
Disposible pop is, by definition, disposible.
Can the music snob in you handle it if the average 11 year old girl can bop to it?
Cross-breed:
Cheap Trick meets 21st century indie rock.
Reason to buy:
You will only buy one album this year and you want it to be a diverse survey of happy indie pop … or … you will buy 30+ album this year and you have a soft spot for solid and catchy, if ultimately shallow, indie pop.
