Shannon and the Clams - Onion (2018)

Released in 2018, Onion finds Shannon & the Clams going through some changes. While the album is a long way from glossy, it's their most polished effort to date; Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys produced the sessions, and though his presence isn't intrusive, the production on this material is cleaner and more mannered than this group has seen in the past, and he's added more layers of instrumentation than is their custom. And while Shannon & the Clams have usually been ready to get the party started, Onion finds them in a slightly more somber mood. Onion was primarily written in the wake of the tragic December 2016 fire at the Oakland, California D.I.Y. venue Ghost Ship; the band had played the space in the past, and had friends among the 36 people who lost their lives. As one would expect, there's a bit more time spent contemplating life's consequences on Onion, especially on tracks like the runaway's tale of "Backstreets," the moody contemplation of fate in "Strange Wind," and the bittersweet memories of "Don't Close Your Eyes." But if Onion is a few shades darker than Shannon & the Clams have seemed in the past, musically it's still full of the joy of life, built on the '50s and '60s pop frameworks that are their bread and butter, and Shannon Shaw's strong, soulful lead vocals can communicate both passion and blues with equal skill. (And Will Sprott's keyboards still evoke the low-tech brilliance of Joe Meek as well as anyone in the 21st century.) Onion is mature and contemplative compared to Shannon & the Clams' earlier efforts, but it's music that comes from a place of celebration and love, and these songs will make you dance and sing along -- and that's what this band has always done best.