There’s a reason many of the hipper bands chose lo-fi production techniques and an ironic tone in which to package their musicality. By seeming to say ‘meh’ and ‘who cares?’ to the world sonically and philosophically, they galvanise themselves against criticism. Furthermore when listeners realise that there might be a modicum of talent inside the auditory shrug, they often overestimate the level of the talent in directly inverse proportion to the apathy/modesty/production-humility (a lot of those lo-fi ironists wearing their mock humility and thrift store clothes, actually have a lot to be humble about).
On the other hand, real rock saviours stride down the middle of the road proclaiming their greatness. Whether it’s Def Leppard, U2 or The Clash, great bands can be as brash, straightforwardly ambitious and loud-mouthed as they want to be.
Mona have got that part of the equation right. They’re confident. They’re opinionated. They’ve got some talent. They’ve got ambition. It’s kind of refreshing. On the other hand they’d probably do better if they clothed themselves in lo-fi irony, because they’re not yet a great band. Frontman Nick Brown has nascent ideas and a way with a melodic hook, but the music is too indebted to its influences to justify its level of swagger. The drums pound and the guitars ring, but right now it’s all a bit too Manic Street Preachers-meet-U2-with-Clash-hair. Brown and Co probably have the talent to transcend all this, but it’s an album away yet.