In October 2016, when Shannon Shaw and Cody Blanchard started working on the new material, the main idea was that the songs would be personal and introspective. The plan was to make the album that would help them and the other members to figure out stuff about themselves. Unfortunately, they didn't know they will be forced to amplify the spectrum of things they have to look at. At the end of the same year, Ghost Ship burned in a huge fire. It was a place where Shawn and Cody performed. Thirty six people died, and some of them were their close friends. This turned the situation 360 degrees, and the band inevitably changed the creative direction of their LP.
The second important thing that influenced their sound is that they flew to Nashville in January 2017 to meet with Dan Auerbach and record a duet with him in his Easy Eyes Studios. Dan had already showed his talent of bringing out the best in other artists. Shannon described it in the following way: You know, when you become really emotional in any direction, all the other emotions become extreme as well. It's is the same as in funpark. You are terrified when you are taking a ride, but as soon as you get down to the safe place, you are ready to laugh again.
Onion is maintaining the sound of the 60s, garage rock 'n' roll with the spark of surf. Auerbach added just a sprinkle of soul. From the first song The Boy, you can feel measured rawness. When I was a boy, I learned not to cry, My daddy would scream and I would hide. Backstreets and Don't Close Your Eyes have the most obvious references to the Ghost Strip tragedy. Did You Love Me is a ballade in which Claw described the pain and despair that follows breakup. On Love Strike, he does the opposite by emphasizing the magic of the new love.
Shannon and The Clams survived the tragedy and they are ready to reach the new horizons. They might even step out of the underground.
