On [Import]

Imperial Teen | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 5, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Cherry Red
• ASIN: B00006BINU
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,034,578 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Ivanka

2. Baby

3. Sugar

4. Million $ Man

5. Captain

6. Our Time

7. Undone

8. Mr. and Mrs.

9. Teacher's Pet

10. City Song

11. My Spy

12. The First

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pop Is Not Your Enemy! Give In!!!!!, July 7, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: On (Audio CD)

I've never understood the blase reaction to Imperial Teen's magnificent work by the alternative radio. Sure, "Yoo Hoo" and "You're One" got appropriate exposure, but people just never really woke up to the magic that is Imperial Teen. Apparently, they're just too cool for gritty pop these days. Blur suffered the same fate in the States so, whaddaya gonna do?
Well, if you are going to get a Teen record, it might as well be "On". After dissapointing sales of their previous record and splitting between two (now three) cities, it looked like I.T. was on it's way to calling it quits. "On" is almost like a defiant rebuke to that sentiment. Dismissing the Sonic Youth-like flourishes of "What Is Not To Love?", the Teen's go full-on bubble-gum pop with this one and the result is that rarity in today's music: a true pop rock album with nary a false move. "Ivanka" is "Devil With The Blue Dress" with irrisistable attitude, the slithery hip-shaker "Sugar" could have been one of Blondie's hits, and the almost ridiculously bouncy "Baby", has the dippy sensibility of "She's Tight" or maybe "Love Shack". Other songs recall everything from Sweet to Thomas Dolby. You'd think it would be a tonic to a market consumed with theatrical angst, macho posturing, and Barbie-style vacuousness, but "On" never got beyond cult status, like Imperial Teen's other fine releases. Feh. Their loss. But for fans of Blur, the B-52's, and early Cheap Trick...you MUST check out Imperial Teen at once!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really Great Album, April 15, 2002

By 

"[e-mail]" (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On (Audio CD)

If you're looking for an album that you can put on and just love every song, this is it. The opening song "Ivanka" is probably one of the catchiest pop songs you'll hear this year, and the rest of the songs on the album are the same way. (Incidentally, when you see "Ivanka" played live it will literally blow you away). It's interesting about Imperial Teen. Each of their three records so far have contained at least one song that, alone, would be worth the price of the record. On "Seasick" it was "You're One," and on "What is Not to Love" it was the killer "Yoo-Hoo." Yet if you buy an Imperial Teen album for that "one song" you can't get out of your head, you end up realizing that all of the other songs on their albums are almost better than that one song. It's the same with "On." You'll buy it (and love it) for "Ivanka," but after a few listens, you'll realize you can't get the other songs out of your head either. For instance, check out the infectious melodies of "Sugar," "Million Dollar Man," and "Baby." Then there's the dreamy sounds of "Captain," "Undone," and "My Spy." Well, there's nothing left to say except this is the best pop album of the year.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW, May 1, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: On (Audio CD)

Comebacks that are worthy of unglowing praise are few and far between. Normally, when one thinks of a comeback, they're usually prone to think of someone like Elvis or Frank Sinatra, whose bright careers had slumped terribly, and are revived on a wave of both inspiration and nostalga. Other comebacks stem from an artist or group returning after years of absence or uncomfortable silence--such as John Lennon's brief return shortly before his murder, or like Wire, a long-dormant beast whose return is quite welcome.

Over the past few years, the music industry has changed in a most unfortunate way. With an increasing focus on marketing towards already-successful trends in order to assure a fast buck, the idea of developing new, interesting, and original artists has become a naive concept. Records that are very good indeed never see the light of day, or are presssed up in such a small quantity that nobody ever gets to hear them.

Imperial Teen are one of those bands that suffered at the hands of an unsympathetic record label. Their debut album, Seasick, was a fresh, breezy breath of fresh new-wave pop air, full of more harmonies and hooks than you can shake a stick at. It was a lovely record that you couldn't help but love and enjoy. The follow up, What Is Not to Love was aptly titled, though a bit ironic, considering the indifference it met with, and the fact that the band was dropped not long after its release.

Now signed to Merge, Imperial Teen present us with a glorious new album, On. You know, as in "Spot On." On proves that Imperial Teen was far from giving up the ghost when dropped, and like their labelmates Spoon, the Teens prove that losing their label doth not mean that the band loses their quality. Like Spoon, Imperial Teen have produced the album of their career, and thanks be to Merge for recognizing an excellent record from an amazing band. Just don't call it a comeback.

To call Imperial Teen retro or new-wave would do a disservice to both the music and the band. With Will Schwartz's popstar singing, tempered with Roddy Bottum's musical genius and Jone and Lynn's harmonies, you might think you were listening to something straight out of 1985, without all of the cliches. They aren't trying to be anything other than themselves, and if it sounds retro to you, then so be it. While it is true that Roddy Bottum and Will Schwartz's hearts can be found in a new-wave disco, they certainly do not linger there for one moment. In fact, opening number "Ivanka" seems to take a page from the book of Unrest, with a dark musical beast riding underneath a facade of breathy boy-girl vocals and a driving beat.

From there, Imperial Teen turn on the charm, pick up the pace, and set out on a course of action that is best summed up in one word: FUN. The next 39 minutes of your life will be pleasant, to say the least. If, after hearing "Million $ Man," you don't feel sorry for their former label losing the feel-good hit of the season, then, my friend, you just aren't feeling. It's this album's classic Imperial Teen tune, up there with "You're One" and "Lipstick," and if you can't feel it, then, my friend, you simply can't feel. Don't be embarassed, though, if "Million $ Man" and On prompts you to dance around the apartment; every time I've heard it, I've indulged in some massive bedroom break-outs.

The only flaw with On, however, is more of an aesthetic one. While the band are relentless in providing non-stop uptempo pop, the album closes with two rather slow numbers. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, as the songs are both excellent, but it gives the feeling that the band, after pop-rocking out, has seemingly run out of gas, worn themselves down, and have tuckered out on the couch. Of course, after the previous ten songs of fast-paced, hyperactive pop, you'd probably be tired as well. On is a full-throttled joyride, if only you'll dare to take the trip. What is not to love, indeed!