 | |
List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Merge Records
Salesrank: 68211
Released: April 9, 2002 |
| Our Price: $6.97 |
| Used Price: $0.98 |
|
| Media: Audio CD |
|
On Track Listing:
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. First
Editorial Review:
Opening with a thrilling new version of the previously vinyl-only 'Ivanka' and the chaotic, stop 'n' start stomper 'Baby', On begins like any other Imperial Teen album. A pop-perfect hybrid of Top 40, punk, glam and new wave, that one-two power punch could've easily fit on either of the California foursome's first two near-masterpieces. 2002 album on Merge Records.
Description of On:
Despite growing a respectable mullet at the height of the band's fame, keyboardist Roddy Bottum never seemed at ease with Faith No More 's menacing rap-rock doctrine. Things haven't been easy since striking out with Imperial Teen in 1996--the group's first two albums, Seasick and 1999's What Is Not to Love, didn't even rack up a fraction of The Real Thing's massive sales. But rather than retreating to safer commercial ground, Bottom and his coed San Francisco crew sound more determined than over on this third album. Employing angular new-wave rhythms, furious pop riffs, and stop-start melodies that gyrate over lines like "Shake, shake, va va voom / vis a vis / Go go I do you, you do me," songs like "Undone" and "Teacher's Pet" evoke the high-gloss punch of early MTV acts like Altered Images and Sparks while steadfastly looking forward. It's not only good fun, but far more illuminating than anything the latter-day nu-metal crybabies are whining on about. --Aidin Vaziri
On Reviews:
Endless Fun 
2009-01-05 - God, what would a summer be without this album! This album sounds just as fresh the 1000th time as it did the first. Solid fun, bombastic alt-pop. You'll fall in love with it!
Pop Is Not Your Enemy! Give In!!!!!
2004-07-07 - 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!!
Fun!
2003-09-30 - You want a fun album? This is it. Nothing but pure, energetic pop brillance. The best part is all of the boy/girl backing vocals that swirl in and out of the lyrics as if they were channeling 50's do-wap. This is their third album and arguably their best and a definite for the music library and parties.
On is WAY on
2003-08-24 - I was tapping my toes and bopping my head almost immediately. This is such fun. I saw Imperial Teen in 1997 here in SF at the Great American Music Hall. I danced my bum off. I liked 'Seasick' a lot, but like this one better.
This stuff will make you smile. I especially like Baby, Million$man and Our Time.
Most recent music interests have been: Wilco, especially Summer Teeth; Manitoba, Up In Flames; Super Furry Animals, Rings around the World; Flaming Lips; Exploding Hearts, Guitar Romantic.
Imperial F.F.R.R. Teen 
2003-04-30 - I hope they send a royalty check to Mark Robinson for every CD sold.
