Toploader – Onka’s Big Moka

Artist: Toploader

Title: Onka’s Big Moka

Label: Epic

Rating: 6/10

Toploader is a band shipped to America on a huge wave of hype. Are they worth the hype? Read on.

The first thing that strikes you is the Stevie Wonder sound. “Let The People Know” sounds cool even though it’s kind of silly, but not as silly as their cover of “Dancing In The Moonlight”. It reminds me of being a kid when I used to get those damn bowl cuts because I didn’t know there was such a thing as having a hairstyle. I thought if the guy cut it, it looked cool. Well, that same guy listened to “Dancing In The Moonlight” and “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” on a freaking loop. So maybe I’m skewed, but that guy certainly wasn’t on the fast track of cool.

Then comes their almost cover of the ’80’s hit “Rock On” as they thumb their way through the so-called original track “Achilles Heel”. Even though it’s damn close to a rip-off, I still enjoyed it.

Toploader gives us a lot of build up but no climax. “Just About Living” does its best to make you feel its spirit, but it never truly gets off.

+ rae gun