Album Review: ON AN ON - Give In

ON AN ON
Give In
Rating: Grrrr

Rising from the ashes of indie stalwarts Scattered Trees, Nate Eiesland, Alissa Ricci, and Ryne Estwing decided to continue on under a the new name ON AN ON, and worked with Broken Social Scene producer Dave Newfeld for their debut record Give In. Despite only having two weeks to regroup and plan their new approach, ON AN ON have crafted a remarkably assured debut record which builds from the influences of acts like BSS, Arcade Fire, and Radiohead. Give In creates a nice tension between acoustic and electronic elements that seldom feels forced or rushed, while chief songwriter Eisland finds interesting turns of phrase that linger long in the memory. From opening track and first single "Ghosts" you know you are in for something special. Minimal drum programming and subtle atmospherics lead into booming drums and chugging guitar riffs that slowly gestates into something more epic yet still intimate. Eisland's haunting words "I was on the verge to scream/When you wouldn't scream about anything" pushing his friend to keep alive, and pushes the track into immortality.



Eisland continues throughout Give In to make definitive statements that nail the essence of the track itself. For example, on the driving and forceful track "Panic," with the swirling guitars and strident drums providing a framework of almost collapse, Eiesland finds a way to still have hope, singing “Maybe something good could come along/maybe something good could save us all.”



On the 8 minute closing track "I Wanted To Say More," Eiesland sums up the futility of trying to help someone with the gorgeous lines "You are a saint and you are the devil/Every word I spoke to you/I thought that they were wings/But they were only feathers." The track is almost ambient in its approach, trailing out with a long coda of electronics and drifting piano and guitar lines.



The flow of Give In alternates between dense, heavy numbers and more subtle, atmospheric numbers. You can definitely tell the BSS influence on tracks like the soaring "Every Song,"



piano driven "American Dream,"



and raucous "War Is Gone."



But ON AN ON is far more than the sum of its influences, allowing moments of experimentation seep through the mix, defining their own sound. The clattering noise and drive of "Cops," haunted electronic folk of "All The Horses," and the before mentioned "I Wanted To Say More" with its lengthy ambient interludes. ON AN ON even carves out its own skyscraping epic, the intense synth riff heavy "The Hunter," which easily would hit the cheap seats in any stadium.



Give In definitely asserts itself as one of the best debuts this year, the perfect example of not letting adversity getting the best of the situation and striking forth on a new path. It's a gorgeously produced record that keeps unearthing new treasures with each listen. If only every debut album could sound this inspired.

Rating Scale:

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and piques one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.