It’s always a little odd when the frontman for a band releases a solo album, as one often asks if it was necessary to cut out the rest of the band. Sometimes these explore different sides, but sometimes they just sound like warmed over versions of outtakes (and sometimes it just seems like the guy doesn’t like the rest of his regular band…). Tokyo Police Club frontman Dave Monks doesn’t reinvent his wheel with his solo On a Wave, but does provide a nice, relaxed version of himself.
Monks’ relaxed sway dominates Wave, from opener “No One’s Child” to closer “Ultimately”. There are moments of more rock, such as “Don’t Go Falling to Pieces” and “No God of Mine”, plus a vocoder-like synthed “Bluebird”, but the album as whole feels like Monks strumming his guitar on his home porch.
That does make On a Wave feel a bit like ‘Tokyo Police Club acoustic’, but Tokyo Police Club are a great band, and Monks delivers some nice songs.
