Marking the group’s second release on Astralwerks—and second full-length overall—Bring on the Comets sees Louisville, Kentucky-originating VHS or Beta shooting for the stars. The sound is big, melodies are soaring, and hues are bright and warm. The album’s sound ranges from classic rock-size guitar exploits to something that one could liken to latter-day melodic rockers such as Travis. “Bring On the Comets,” for example, one of the disc’s standout and more inventive tracks, harks back to the Cure at their musically-sunniest. Other tracks not to miss include “Take It or Leave It”—a driving number peppered with energetic guitar strokes behind the chorus containing the song’s title—“Fall Down Lightly”—a slight introspective tune—and “We Could Be One”—a love song with a bit of the group’s trademark supporting disco beat that complements the feel-good sentiments. As one might guess from the above, Bring On the Comets is a slight departure into to purer rock territory by the trio who cut their teeth with beat-enhanced funk and house-punk on efforts such as 2002’s EP Le Funk. Their current outing sees them pretty much succeeding in melodic territory and fans of the band that came out of the noise-rock scene in its Kentucky hometown, as well as newcomers, will be strongly pleased with the results.
--Andrew Palmacci
