Bring on the Comets

by

VHS or Beta

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You just have to love it when you come across an album that you play over and over and over and over again - this is one of them. I am stunned by the quality of the production, which does harken back to the 80's - and in a superb, electrifying fashion. I agree wholeheartedly with a comment made previously saying that if this came out back then, it would have dominated, been huge. To me, it comes off like a combination of Big Country + Real Life (if you remember those bands). Rocking, yet with layers of synths aplenty. I have seen them perform live and they were incredible - you should too, if you're lucky enough to be in town when they are. This album is excellent and one of the best of 2007. Play it in a car with a deluxe system to REALLY experience its power.

VHS Or Beta are the unabashed mascots of dance rock. I can't think of a better term for what they do musically. Composed as a traditional 4-piece with synthetic enhancements (e.g. electronic drum pads and occasional synths), the band at times can be hard to distinguish from a fully electronic outfit. 'Bring on The Comets' is different from previous releases that focused on a specific dance genre, whether it was French Disco or 80s Brit New Wave, and is their foray into something that truly resembles Rock for dancing or rather "rock for the club". Sometimes the album feels Classic, sometimes Arena, sometimes Country and sometimes Indie Rock.

"Love in My Pocket" has a swaggering rock feel, like it might be an updated Cheap Trick song with its seemingly tongue-in-cheek lyrics about love. "Can't Believe A Single Word" has the quick-tongued intro and falsetto of something The Darkness would scribe. The track is truly anthemic, a blessing for those that pump their fists in the air and shake their [...] at the same time. It's not unexpected that VHS' combo of mainstream rock and glitter-ball club antics might get excessive - it can. Thankfully, the album has a tendency to switch things up from track to track keeping the sound varied. Indie Pop rears itself onto the album on "Fall Down Lightly" with its chorus reminiscent of a wistful Ivy song. The albums final track "The Stars Where We Came From" has lead singer Craig Pfunder bellowing over pedal steel and piano in a heartbroken piece that crescendos in tragic Country Rock style.

VHS Or Beta have forayed into the Rock area of Dance Rock on "Comets", but one thing that has stayed consistent is their penchant for thematic albums. Only the song "Burn It All Down" truly stands out as more club dance than bar rock. It sounds as it belongs on their previous album but its dance merit makes it worthy of inclusion on any release. There are a good set of stand-out tracks on "Comets" but overall the album feels like it was completed with filler tracks like "Take It Or Leave It" sounding like a bad Anime theme song, 2 short instrumental tracks and a later track "Time Stands Still" which overflows the hand clap pot dragging on for four minutes.

Fans of VHS Or Beta will appreciate the album's movement into new areas of dance rock. Other's should check it out if they like to toe the line between discotheque and rocking out, or just like to tap their toes.