Customer Reviews

On

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Echobelly is perhaps one of the most underrated bands of the mid 90's Britpop wave. 'On' combines the guitar swagger of Oasis and the brooding sound of The Smiths. Debbie Smith on rhythm guitar adds these sweeping guitar-washes, giving their sound a subtle wall-of-sound effect. But the obvious centerpiece of Echobelly is the silky-sweet vocals of Sonya Madan, almost like a pixielike geisha, seductive yet packs a powerful punch. But I've always found that Echobelly strays beyond the boundaries of typical mid 90's indie-pop, an ecclectic chemistry adding an unconventional spin to their sound. Bittersweet. Crooning crystalline vocals with a slightly worldly bent, raw guitar brashness as a backdrop to an exotic seductress. This is still Britpop but with a unique twist, and just like Sonya Madan's voice...seductive but packs a powerful punch.

It's sad that Echobelly didn't crack America. Though I have nothing against Oasis, Blur or Elastica, Echobelly was truly the more deserving of these bands. Every song on this album is amazing. You'll be sure to be humming them all even after the first listen.

Though Lustra wasn't up to Echobelly's usual greatness, it deserves your time as well. Sadly their first album Everybody's Got On seems to be out-of-print, but if you can find it, it's almot as good as On.

But for now, On is definitely their highlight, and probably the best album of the whole brit-pop era.

I own 200 CD's, and this one is up there in the top 10 that I listen to very regularly. Every song is brilliant and catchy, with roaring guitars and soaring vocals, and always seems fresh every time. As far as pop genius this is right up there with Abba/Gold (another of my favorite albums, once I got over the initial shame of listening to "disco"). Dark Therapy still sends chills down my spine every time, it's so dreamy as it meanders at first, building to it's climax, then setting you down with a gentle landing. Then there's the perfect motivational song Great Things--"I wanna do great things, I don't wanna compromise". If you liked Hole's Celebrity Skin or Elastica, you would probably like this album, it has a similar rocking upbeat groove to it.

But the style is totally unique. Soon I will have their new album (People Are Expensive, an import) as well, from the clips I've heard they've really grown! Lustra also has some excellent tracks, but it's not as consistently good as On.

This album stands alone in music history. Echobelly shone for this album and produced the most fantastic pop/rock melodies, full of angst, dark backstreet games, sex ridden decadent pop. Melodies wrenched from heaven and slashed on a guitar from hell. Every song has a hook that grabs both ears, every song has a melody to die for. Every one in the music world wanted intro's to their songs as good as these. I cannot praise this LP high enough. "King of the Kerb" is an all time favourite, and Sonya's vocals are brilliant as they are throughout. Layered driving guitars reverberating sheer power. Sonya sounds like an angel on cocaine, her luscious vocals drag you in and swirl you around. Why this LP did not do more is the greatest mystery alive. It is sheer brilliance. Anyone who likes driving pop/rock with real melody should give this a listen, you WILL NOT be disappointed. I reserve my all time favourite of all time label for "Dark Therapy". A more seductive guitar and vocal could not be heard at the beginning of a track. Dark indeed "If you close your eyes and I will take you all the way". I don't know where the comparisons with Blondie and the Smith's come from, Echobelly are out there on there own, believe me. A shame they could not repeat it with Lustra which has none of the same creative spark or brilliance.

Echobelly was a band that emerged from Britain's Britpop era (the mid-90's). The band often gets compared to such bands as Blondie and The Smiths. Not only does the band get compared to Blondie and The Smiths but the band (during the time of Britpop) was noted for it's ethnic/racial diversity. It's lead guitarist was from Sweden, Sonya Aurora Maden, Echobelly's lead singer was Eurasian, and rhythm guitarist Debbie Smith was a black lesbian.

Echobelly's sound is that of aggressive guitar pop. On "On" Echobelly's sound has melode a bit from their debut album "Everybody's Got One". But that's not a bad thing and actually works for the band. On "Everybody's Got One" Echobelly blasted through everything and the lyrics were sort of in your face feminist lyrics (not that I'm trying to offend anybody). Often a bit arrogant, challenging social conventions, and a little self-pitying. There's less of a challenge and aggressivness on this album. But even still, Echobelly is able to pull of some pretty good guitar pop songs. Highlights include "Dark Therapy", "Pantyhose and Roses", "Great Things", "Natural Animal", and "Nobody Like You".

much of echobelly's success was directly attributable to the pixie-like and utterly gorgeous sonya aurora madan. it would've been easy for naysayers to take one look at her and pass the band off as irrelevant. besides, stunning vocalists aren't supposed to sing 'artistic' and 'credible' songs, right? so wrong. anyone wanting to dismiss madan as another pretty face do (and did) so at their own peril because sonya, for all the great looks, was easily one of the most dynamic, forceful personalities to emerge from the britpop era.

most critics point to echobelly's first album, 'everybody's got one,' as their defining moment. it was raw, angry, melodic, and trapped volatile lyrical messages in three-minute pop songs. songs like 'i can't imagine the world without me,' 'father ruler king computer,' and 'give her a gun' showed that madan was a more than capable lyricist that would kick your ass if he pissed her off.

the band's second album, 'on' lost a little bit of the former's bite (particularly in madan's decidedly feminist posturing), but it was still a huge album in many ways. glen johanssen is a superb musician and provided gritty, stained backdrops for madan's otherworldly vocals. it was a nice marriage that fuled the echobelly machine.

the album's opener, 'car fiction' is quick fist smash into a concrete wall. glen's guitars, never bogged down in effects, are refreshingly straightforward. he turns on the overdrive and plays--just the way it should be. 'natural animal' see madan lament over a lost lover and is one of her stronger vocal performances. my personal favorite, 'pantyhoses and roses' tells the story of a couple bored with each other and features madan's own call-and-response, 'it could change / it will never / it could change / it will never.' the albums penultimate track, 'dark therapy,' evokes a mood the song title suggests. it's moody, dark, and atmospheric and madan's vocals are absolutely seductive and chill-inducing--'if you close your eyes then i will you all the way / let me close your eyes and i will take it all the way.'

'on' is a worthy follow up to its predecessor and one of the great britpop albums. every song is immediately identifiable and memorable. if you look hooks, 'on' has them in spades. you'll be singing these songs in your head for days. it's sad to see it's out of print, however. but if you can buy it used, you'd certainly do yourself a favor.

I have owned this album since its release and I have never grown tired of it. All the songs on this album are good and it is such a fresh summer time album that it will stand the test of time.

If you like Alternative Music, pick this one up.

Echobelly was a band that emerged from Britain's Britpop era (the mid-90's). The band often gets compared to such bands as Blondie and The Smiths. Not only does the band get compared to Blondie and The Smiths but the band (during the time of Britpop) was noted for it's ethnic/racial diversity. It's lead guitarist was from Sweden, Sonya Aurora Maden, Echobelly's lead singer was Eurasian, and rhythm guitarist Debbie Smith was a black lesbian.

Echobelly's sound is that of aggressive guitar pop. On "On" Echobelly's sound has melode a bit from their debut album "Everybody's Got One". But that's not a bad thing and actually works for the band. On "Everybody's Got One" Echobelly blasted through everything and the lyrics were sort of in your face feminist lyrics (not that I'm trying to offend anybody). Often a bit arrogant, challenging social conventions, and a little self-pitying. There's less of a challenge and aggressivness on this album. But even still, Echobelly is able to pull of some pretty good guitar pop songs. Highlights include "Dark Therapy", "Pantyhose and Roses", "Great Things", "Natural Animal", and "Nobody Like You".

Please do not purchase this album! It would be a shame if Echobelly became famous. The second Echobelly album, On, is their best work. Sonya is probably the best female vocalist in music today. Her voice jumps off of every track. Every song has infectous hooks, great guitar work,....really the whole package. From ballads like Dark Therapy to rock blasts like Car Fiction, this album has so much depth. But the best part of Echobelly is that Nobody in the U.S. knows them. This CD is like my secret weapon. I will play it for someone once and they will instantly fall in love. They come back a week later and say ...How come I can't find this CD anywhere? This band is the best at what they do.

If you are a fan of Brit-pop, then look no further than "On." Although dismissed as light-hearted fluff by some, the tracks on this album are superior to any of the top-40 tripe currently on the radio. For a fun ride, just listen to "Great Things" - lovers of banal, teeny-bopper lyrics need not apply....