One Night Only - 'Just For Tonight'
So, they're called One Night Only, and their new single is called 'Just For Tonight'... Do you think these boys are trying to tell us something? Is the One Night Only tour called 'Here Tonight, Gone Tomorrow'? Is their album called 'Seriously, Soon As The Sun Comes Up, We're Outta Here'? Will subsequent ONO songs be called 'Cinderella Had The Right Idea', or 'Basically You've Got Us From Teatime Until Midnight And That's It'?? I mean it's going to be hard to really commit ourselves to a brand new band if everything about them screams that they aren't going to stick around very long, even if we really want them to.
There are other stumbling blocks too, truth be told. Not least the problem of their influences. Where other bands plunder the early '80s quirkpop explosion - there are echoes of everyone from Dexy's Midnight Runners to Rip Rig and Panic to the Flying Lizards in the indie rehearsal rooms of Britain right now - One Night Only look to the kind of big, boomy, hair-on-yer-chest stadium-rock of Simple Minds, Psychedelic Furs or A Flock Of Seagulls. The stuff which did OK over here, but really broke the bank in America, where it was used as the staple soundtrack of every teen movie ever made. Watch The Breakfast Club or Pretty In Pink if you don't believe me.
In fact, if you'll forgive a brief history lesson, after U2 went over there and cleaned up with an even BIGGER variation on this most manly of themes, even the commercials for fizzy drinks started to sound like coyote howls carried in the wind rolling in off the prairies. Anyone remember 'First Time' by Robin Beck? That's this song's great grandmother.
Now, in these days of super-epic rock from the likes of My Chemical Romance, it seems churlish to try and pick fault with one band for being puffed-up when that's very much the way everyone seems to be going at the moment. But this sounds so much like a tribute to a pretty dark time in popular music history (and not one of those dark times which turn out to have been amazing in retrospect either, unless it's the early days of house music you're pining for) that it sort of becomes meaningless. You can't even forgive One Night Only for making a statement of where music is RIGHT NOW, like you can with all the other post-Coldplay reverb-rockers, because it's so rooted in a windbag full of nonsense from 20 years ago.
There's definitely a good song struggling to be heard here, however. And if the band were planning on hanging around to explain themselves, maybe we all could overlook some of the more obvious '80s production touches to settle down and enjoy it.
As it is, it's probably wise to just wait until tomorrow morning, and get on with our lives, right?
Download: Out now
CD Released: January 28th
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comments
The singer's really cute, tho...
One of your American readers here...I normally love your reviews, Fraser, but this time I had to laugh at loud at the description of the Psychedelic Furs and, especially, A Flock of Seagulls as: "big, boomy, hair-on-yer-chest stadium-rock."
In the US, these bands were perceived as anything but "hairy chested." Both these bands and their fans were considered "faggy," at least relative to properly "manly" options like Van Halen, Rush, or Quiet Riot.
Oh, also, I quite like that One Night Only song...
[Rush? Manly?? I take your point though. I was trying to describe the inflated quality of the music, which always seemed to be puffing itself up. Possibly to over-compensate for the weedy stature of the people making it? - Fraser]
so where abouts in this review do u talk about their music and not just slag off their name?
[Paragraphs 2, 4 and 5. - Fraser]
maybe their name isnt that good but its the music that counts. a poor reviewer, a really good band.
[Well if they are, they've hidden it well. - Fraser]
just wanted to say these guys are amazing and soooo hot,going to see them in Feb!!!
can not wait!
love the shows x
dont u think they're a bit the killers-ish
like a sound from somewhere between hot fuss and sam's town
gd though
=D
well ur review is just ur opinion, and ur allowed to have an opinion (obv) i just wish theyd chosen some one with a good taste inmusic to review it cos if u ant noticed this band are turning heads and gettin all the credit they deserve. i guess the true test will be next week in the chart! but like i say, reviews are just 1 persons opinion
i lurvvvvve one nite nly wahooo
maybe their name isnt that good but its the music that counts. a poor reviewer, a really good band.
[Well if they are, they've hidden it well. - Fraser]
if you are a good reviewer, you've hidden it well!
how can you slag off a band whos frontman is still only 17, and theyve already supported bands such as the enemy and the pigeon detectives... and this single has been on the radio 1 playlist for the past two months, as well as being jo whileys single of the week!
plus in a review about one night only.. you seem to have managed to name 9 other bands in the mix of the rubbish you wrote!
you really dont know your stuff mate... i hope you realise this when "Just for tonight" enters the charts this week
bbc really need to get a new reviewer, one who at least talks about the single and band they are reviewing!
[I did. I said the band sound like some other bands that I never liked, and that this song is a really good example of that. All the other stuff you were talking about (their age, who they supported, whether it charts or not) is irrelevant. It's about what the song does to the person who hears it, which in this case is me. And that's something I really do know LOADS about. - Fraser]
"All the other stuff you were talking about (their age, who they supported, whether it charts or not) is irrelevant."
If what i said was irrelevent, surely then when you talk about how you don't like their name, and what you think the titles of the next singles will be is irrelevant??? After all is it not supposed to be a single review?
And just to let you know, the album is called "Started a Fire".
"whether it charts or not) is irrelevant."
Whether it charts or not is relevant, after all is that not the reason singles are released?
But for now i will say no more, i think Sundays Chart will prove that the rating of 2 stars given, is not the rating the UK public would give this bright new young band!
[Michael, what I said was these things are irrelevant to whether I should like the song or not, not irrelevant to LIFE ITSELF. Also, I didn't say I don't like their name, I said the name of the band and the name of their song mean the exact same thing, and that this is a funny thing.
And that 'chart success=music quality' argument has never stood up. Not unless you personally happen to like every song which has ever been in the Top 10 ever. - Fraser]
Got to agree with Fraser on this one. It's an opinion in the review and no amount of chart success or other trivia about the band is relevant to the merits of the song and whether it is 'good' or not.
I think it's a pretty bland song personally, and can't really understand all the hype it is receiving. My view, as ever though, is a personal opinion, as is Fraser's review.
Top of the pops you officially suck !!!!!! This song is the best song ive heard in ages. Only 2/5 how very dare you, your reviewer should be sacked.
[I couldn't agree more, John, but sadly, he rather comes with the blog. I've tried and I've tried to sack the feckless layabout, but will he go? Will he heck! You should write to Tony Blair or something. - Fraser]
you really are a crap reviewer. Both the band and song are amzaing. Need to sack this person veryyyyy soon. 2/5 ignorant fool, how very dare you.
AMAZING song.
boo to the reviewer.
I can see this band being big...and rightly so!
They're bloody talented.
especially considering their ages!
And what does the name have to do with how good the single is?
[One last time, and then I'm not saying it again. I didn't say they had a bad name. I said the name of the band and the name of the song mean the same thing, and that this is a funny thing. That's what I said. You can go and check if you like. The bit about the song being a bit drab comes later. - Fraser]
Is this non-entity of a "reveiwer" trying to be funny? It's pathetic the way he sadly goes on about names & analogies.
Has he actually seen the band live or listened to the album ... I think not.
This new band, fronted by a SEVENTEEN year old entered the charts at #9. The first headline tour is sold out, European promoters are already booking shows, all major festivals beckon and their first, the Isle of Wight, places ONO amongst the best in the business.
The band ARE doing great things, it's REALLY happening, real people are buying the single and supporting the live shows and these facts alone show that this so-called reveiwer has screwed up big time.
For his own sake, replace him with someone who knows what he/she is talking about.
[It's always embarrassing when your dad thinks he needs to fight your battles for you, innit? - Fraser]
What a load of b*s!
i bet you have not seen these guys live let alone heard more than Just For Tonight. Then and only Then would you be able to give an opinion on such a young talented band that will only go from strength to strength with there big sounding anthemic songs.
an honest reply would be nice
[OK, I'll be honest, as I am nice. Your street team are starting to become tiresome. How's that? - Fraser]
What a load of B*s..
If you new how hard these guys have worked to get where they are today you would realise these guys are here for many years to come.
and the comments relating to other bands my have a ring of truth but to see them live (which i bet you have not done) you would hear how talented they are.
The album which is out next week will no doubt give you a better impresion of them if not you are in the wrong job
[Er, haven't I already answered this comment, Chris? - Fraser]
whoa, you've taken quite an ear-bashing for giving this song two stars.
Your review, I didn't really understand. I know you have discussed the song in it, just I don't really get it.
I like the song, I like the band, I preordered the album from HMV and it arrived - signed. Not sure how.
And I have to say, it's fantastic. Maybe Just For Tonight didn't really reach you, but you should check out the acoustic version - it's incredible, like a completely different song.
And that is my view. Whether you share it or not, is improbable. So will everyone stop saying 'the reviewer sucks' etc.