THE COMAS
A Def Needle In Tomorrow (Plastique)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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The Comas are keeping the Chapel Hill flag flying over the musical firmament with this collection of psychedelica-laced shoegazer pop. In a genre that's too often personified by four bored boys with guitars and a drum kit, The Comas offer not only a different look (there are two girls and two guys) but a broader range of textures, not only because the availability of female voices expands the vocal possibilities, but because between them they offer not only guitar and drums, but violin and keyboards, and when they need additional sounds for the desired effect they find them. Sometimes that means featuring drummer John Harrison's skills as a turntablist, sometimes it means recruiting outside help, which they do here when banjo, trumpet or additional guitars are called for.

They do it all in service to the songs, composed by guitarist/vocalist Andrew Herod and arranged by the group, which is rounded out by Margaret White (bass, violin, vocals) and Nicole Gehweiller (keyboards, guitar, vocals). It sometimes takes a while for those arrangements to get to the point, as it were, and sometimes they simply more drift away rather than actually end, but by the end of it all, that becomes part of the charm. And A Def Needle In Tomorrow is, in fact, a charming album. If you have a taste for dreamy pop with an acid edge, this is one worth checking out.

Track List:

Arena * Tiger In A Tower * Wicked Elm * All Over The School * Rancor * Sweet Sweet 69 * Tired * Sister Brewerton * Centipedes * Free Burritions * Pa Mac

© 2001 - Shaun Dale