After listening to the joyous stomp of "Quickstix", it's tempting to say that the distortion pedal ruined rock and roll. I myself own seven of the damn things, but after listening to how the clean guitar simply cuts to the root of rock, it makes me think I lost my way somewhere. Something about these eleven tracks definitely invokes nostalgia. Perhaps it's the warm tone of the recording, which sounds much more comforting than the sterile perfection of most of today's releases. On the other hand, it could be the slight reverb applied to the vocals, recalling the blossoming psychedelic experiments of the Fab Four. The Beatles' influence is undeniable, but On TV is what would have happened if the Beatles had come after the MC5. Take a track like "Cumberland Blues" -- a mid-tempo number that shimmies with dirty lust. The guitars are rough and the notes are blue, but the vocals are totally John Lennon's from Let It Be. All of this makes for a wonderfully fun listening experience.

The disc is well paced, mixing rocking numbers with slower ballads and infusing all of them with the band's sardonic sense of humor. Jumping tunes like "Disaster Management Plan" can easily shift into a bizarre waltz before roaring back. "Paranoid" perfectly captures the strut of prime Rolling Stones, and when the band lets out shouts of joy it's impossible not to get caught up in their excitement. The slower songs are just as pleasing. "Jesus is a Lefty" borrows the soft sweetness of ‘50s rock ballads and marries it to a sharp guitar, for a result that sounds like a U2 B-side. "Saved by the Child" begins with a chiming guitar line a la the Byrds, before progressing into a bass-heavy sound that reminds me of Morrissey.

What's the secret to The Moonies' sound? There is no secret. It's as obvious as the computer screen in front of your face. If you write excellent songs and play them with conviction, you don't need fancy gadgets or electronic squiggles to get people to pay attention. This sounds simple, and in some respects it is, but because it's so rare to hear a band pull it off, it must be tougher than it sounds. So go ahead -- convert to the Moonies. It may not get you into heaven, but it will make life on Earth a lot more fun.