Even though Bring on the Comets is VHS or Beta’s third full-length, it’s still difficult to believe that the band hails from the sleepy Midwest college town of Louisville, Kentucky. After all, judging from its fondness for ultra-sleek keyboards, Duran Duran-meets-Echo & the Bunnymen riffs and sultry discotheque beats, the band should have originated in, say, a hipster enclave such as Brooklyn or a chic flat in Paris.
But perhaps VHS or Beta’s unassuming locale is what makes its music so inviting and elevates it above the synth-punk masses. Comets isn’t as immediately accessible (or danceable) as the band’s 2004 breakthrough, Night on Fire, but the songwriting is more consistent, thanks to main songwriter Craig Pfunder’s knack for constructing irresistible hooks. “Can’t Believe a Single Word” is a glorious nod to grandiose 1980s anthems by The Call or Big Country, while “Burn It All Down” overcomes weak lyrics (“We’ll burn the flags, burn the house, burn the church, burn it all down” isn’t exactly awe-inspiring) to be a red-hot nod to French disco-funk.
Even better is the New Order-esque “Fall Down Lightly,” which is the type of sentimental, gooey pop song most Top 40 wordsmiths would kill to craft. And perhaps that’s where VHS or Beta triumphs: By not being afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve, its music ultimately becomes more meaningful with multiple spins.
VHS Or Beta
Bring on the Comets
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