Jona Underground are Anna and Jon. The merging of the duo’s names is probably supposed to reflect the meeting of two like minds, a fusion of creative powers or something similar, but the truth is it is just a bit sickly.
Musically, ‘On the Outside’ draws on classic and vintage pop and folk and more contemporary styles. Lyrically, ‘On the Outside’ is an exploration of relationships and emotional reactions, someone’s always playing with someone else’s heart, one partner is always shutting the other out and leaving them in a quandary.
When it’s good, it’s not bad at all: ‘Spin Cycle’ is strongly reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac’s easier country moments.
When it’s not so good... ouch. The dance-orientated pop sound of ‘My World, Your World’ is doubtless intended to display the duo’s capacity to diversify, and to show they can turn their hand to crisp pop as readily as country and folk tunes, but the clicky beat and crap 90s house piano just sound horribly dated and horribly… well, horrible, not to mention incongruous. The title- track is also an attempt at club-friendly pop, and while it’s less cringe-inducing, it still sounds a bit forced.
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These blips notwithstanding, the album manages to sustain a consistency of vibe as a rounded set of quiet, poised and melodic songs.
Jona Overground Online
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