Call them the poor man’s Police. A poor man’s Bloc Party. A poor man’s Cure. It doesn’t really matter because what VHS or Beta tends to sound like is some pretty good music. There’s nothing wrong with being the little brother of good especially when you’re a trio from Kentucky.
Bring on the Comets has a confident title, and the first track succeeds in building anticipation. While only a minute ling, instrumental “Euglama” sounds like another car puling up next to you at a stoplight and their party is better than your party. It’s equal part disco and party guitars.
After the groovy “Euglama” we get right into a strut with “I’ve Got Your Love in my Pocket.” Ax max and lead singer Craig Pfunder takes charge of this one from the start with a guitar riff as jagged as a jackolantern mouth. “I’ve Got Your Love in my Pocket” will have you walking on your toes as the guitar cuts up and down.
“She Says” sounded so much like old U2 at the start I was looking for the cover of the album to see if Anton Corbin took the photograph. But just when you hoist your white flag and start marching around the stage the music changes again back to a much more driving sound with some guitar bolts by and a weepy vocal by Pfunder. Sounds like a party in the ewok village.
The high point of Bring on the Comets is without a doubt track four “Can’t Believe a Single Word” with its big guitar and frothing chorus. What it lacks in imagination it makes up for in pace. This is where VHS or Beta sound precisely like, well, VHS or Beta. At least I think that’s what they should sound like. “Can’t Believe a Single Word” takes VHS or Beta out of the club and into stadiums. This one could give more than a few of us speeding tickets if it ever makes to radio as a single. Pfunder takes charge of the vocal stomping through the track as the guitar snakes around and some nifty keyboards make it a full on party. If it’s a sonic appetizer you’re after, this one is the water chestnut wrapped in bacon. There’s something ‘80s about “Can’t Believe a Single Word” and the entire album really. It songs like this one that leave you wanting to sit in detention with the rest of the breakfast club.
“Burn it All Down” is much more Bloc Party and is second best on the album. “Burn it all Down” sounds like letting go with lyrics that say, “sick and tired of feeling. . . .easy come and go” there is an awesome release to this one. VHS or Beta systematically “burn the flags burn the house burn the churches burn it all down.” And you know what, it feels good to let go. “Burn it all Down” will be great on the dance floor especially with benefit of a remix. The last supper vibe is very cool as Pfunder says “you bring the bread I’ll bring the wine.” It’s an intelligent lyric and the kind of song that makes an album.
Trouble is “Can’t Believe a Single Word” and “Burn it All Down” are the two-standout tracks on Bring on the Comets. As a whole VHS or Beta turn up a few songs short of getting their names on the marquee and come off more like the cousin of some really great music.
None of Bring on the Comets is hard to listen to, and even an average song like “Take it or Leave It” will feature some effected spiral guitar work. Overall there’s still too much noise and arcade sounds in the music and it can get in the way. VHS or Beta is at their best when they can get on top of the music and the noise.
“Alpha Theta” starts with whale mating sounds. But once you get passed the Discovery channel intro it’s an ambitious little track.
Overall Bring on the Comets runs out of gas about midway through. Like the rookie with no motor by the second half of the season the last several songs are completely forgettable. So much so I had to keep going back in iTunes to see if I was missing something.
I’m not sure VHS or Beta will ever amount to much of anything but there are a couple nice tracks on here and they do sniff around some music you probably already like. Pfunder leans into some nice guitar, and a song like “The Stars Where We Came From” indicates the band likely has more range then I’m giving them credit for. I’m adding “Can’t Believe a Single Word” and “Burn it all Down” to my play list immediately and I’ll be curious enough to check out the next VHS or Beta release as well.
C
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment