OK Go - Oh No (Capitol)
3/5
By: Matt Tomiak
Three years ago, we brought you reports of Chicago's Ok Go, their eponymous debut and its mildly winning combination of arch, sarky lyrics and retro-immersed sugar-rush pop punk. Fast forward to 2006 and the situation stands largely unchanged; 'Oh No' is, much like its predecessor, an exuberant record, which nonetheless retains an undercurrent of knowing petulance.
A deference to the past is perhaps even more prevalent that last time - here we find convincing Elvis Costello impressions by way of Dandy Warhols hedonism appearing on the insistent 'Do What You Want'; 'Oh Lately Its So Quiet' makes a stab at a cod-reggae Police funk which they just about get away with. 'Good Idea at the Time' doubly retro-fies proceedings with a Kings of Leon bluesy thud.
'Here It Goes Again', one of 'Oh No's superior moments, also encapsulates Ok Go best- a marriage of deceptive jauntiness, crunchy guitars and weary defeatism ('just when you think you're in control/ just when you think you've got a hold/ just when you've got on a role ), mirroring Weezer's 'Why Bother' from their venerated 1996 emo set text 'Pinkerton' right down to Damian Kulash's hurt, needy yelping during the song's climax.
Artists in this article: OK Go
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