Customer Reviews

Onka's Big Moka

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

 

 

To most of my friends, the name "Toploader" is rather foreign. But to those who love British beats, this group provokes smiles and happy thoughts.

When someone asks me what some of my favorite bands are, "Toploader" is one of them. They wrinkle their foreheads and reply, "Who?" and I ask them if they have seen "A Walk to Remember." Upon the affirmative, I then ask, "Do you remember the 'Dancing in the Moonlight' song?" Usually, they smile with recognition and say, "Yeah, I loved that song." Well, if you are like some of these people, for your information, Toploader is that long-lost artist that you've been looking for since you saw the movie.

Most of the music is similar to "Dancing" - with a modern, '70s-retro flair, sure to get you in the mood to either sing along or jump up and dance around. I call "Onka's Big Moka" my "happy music" because no matter what, this CD always puts me into a good mood.

If you're looking for fun music, for energetic, motivated, interesting lyrics, then Toploader is a definite must. And when you are absolutely hooked, and your friends ask why you love this no-name band, you too will know why!

Reviewers who criticised this album for being "so optimistic it's silly" were way off the mark. In this day and age when you have bands like Radiohead and Travis moaning about everything, such optimism is a welcome relief. Don't get me wrong, theyre great bands, but after roughly 2 minutes of Radiohead you feel just about ready to slit your wrists. In saying that however, the definite highlight of Onka's Big Moka comes in the form of a moody ballad - Achilles Heel. But the thing I love about this album is it's ability to put a smile on my face, through fun, funky songs such as Let the People Know and Breathe. Who cares if it lacks depth and lyrical meaningness, it's not trying to be deep, just an uplifting and happy piece of music. And as that it is excellent.

I loved this album! It's nice to have an album that you can sing along to, that isn't deep and is just good fun to dance to! I recommend this album to anyone who enjoys dancing around the room!!

woah this album rocks, worth every penny
Dancing in the moonlight is the best song,
also Achilles heel is very close.

This is a new album that sounds like it came right out of the 70's...sort of a cross between Stevie Wonder and Jamiroquai. There is even a cover of "Dancing In The Moonlight". Some of the songs really soar but it is a little too syrupy for my taste.

This CD was only out in the U.S. in Import form for quite a while but Toploader has been one of Britain's biggest bands since the release of "Onka's Big Moka".

OBM is a riotous album from start to finish, reminiscient of great arena rock bands of the 70's (similar to Aerosmith during that decade).

With Coldplay's "Parachutes", the best album of 2001.

This is definately not rocking-out material, but for the cover of "Dancing in the Moonlight" this CD will be safe from being sold back. The groups melodic up-tempo piano and Jamiroqua-ish sound (is that a word) make this not neccesarily a must have album... but one that will get some play in my CD player. Maybe while I am sleeping... but still.

In a time when new releases by UK artists are far better and far more original than anything to come out of North America (Super Furry Animals, Radiohead, Doves, Badly Drawn Boy, to name but a few), the much-hyped Toploader come off as plainly middle-of-the-road. What makes Onka's Big Moka a worthwhile listen is their unabashed enthusiasm in combining the styles of Seventies AOR, Jamiroquai's modern funk, the Black Crowes, and early Elton John.

The exuberant, piano-driven songs 'Let The People Know, 'Breathe', 'Do You Know What Your Future Will Be?', 'Just Hold On', 'Higher State', and 'Just About Living' are all so optimistic it's almost silly (just look at those song titles), and the lyrics are sporadically banal ("don't fret get high/there's a new dawn that says hi"), but the energy that comes out of the record's slick production is palpable. Their giddy, and nearly annoying, cover of the AM radio staple 'Dancing In The Moonlight' show that Toploader is shameless in their embracing of the Seventies sound, while 'Summer Cycle' and the inane 'Floating Away (In A Bathtub)' cross the line into complete idiocy. Songwriter and vocalist Joseph Washburn manages to show some depth and originality in the outstanding, moody ballad 'Achilles Heel', the album's high point.

Despite its lack of originality, Onka's Big Moka is still an enjoyable record that is infinitely more fun than the horrible glut of sappy American guitar rock that has been dominating the airwaves.