Before I even heard a note off of Change In The Neon Light, comparisons like The Cure mixed with Interpol made me scoff. Yeah right! To begin with, 90% of the time, when I hear comparisons about a band, they are wrong. Most comparisons fall short of expectations, regardless of who is being named, but The Cure, Interpol? It just isn’t possible. Who is going to live up to that reputation? I almost didn’t want to listen to this album because I was dreading disappointment, but then I listened, and I got my answer: Veil Veil Vanish. They live up to that reputation and even hold their own. Had I heard this on the radio with no introduction, I would have thought that The Cure put out a new, less slit-your-wrists-y album. (Now, since most of The Cure’s discography was well before my time, the only Cure comparison I can go off of is Disintegration, which I grew up listening to.) 

“CHANGE IN THE NEON LIGHT”
“Change in the Neon Light” definitely starts off like a track off of The Cure’s Disintegration with its airy synths and thumping bass line. There is a simple guitar riff that helps add a solid and interesting pattern to the ebb and flow of the synths. I was immediately taken aback by singer Keven Tecon’s voice…it’s very distinct and sounds a lot like a more powerful, less whiny Robert Smith. Nothing in this song really takes center stage, every element works together as a complete unit, and when the vocals come in the song flows very well and sounds almost as if it is trying to move you along. By far, the best part of the song is around 3:29, when the slow and quiet allows a darker, more prominent guitar to come in and give the feeling of a build-up, making you anticipate what is about to come.

“ANTHEM FOR A DOOMED YOUTH”
Still feeling the buzz of anticipation created by “Change in the Neon Light,” the lighthearted opening of “Anthem for a Doomed Youth” takes you in a more cheerful direction than you expected to go without letting you down. Then, in comes the distorted bass that helps make this a stand out track. I love the use of noise here and there, not overdone or bothersome….it’s just right for that ethereal (ugh, I hate using that word) feel. Add in some “oh oh oh”s and hand claps and you’ve got a formula to be one of my favorite songs. The clapping in this song really sounds more like an extension of the drums and not cheesy like they can sound in some times. The acoustic sounding guitar during the chorus really adds another layer to the song that you didn’t even realize was needed but can’t imagine it not being there. The vocals on this song are flawless and great to sing along to.

“EXILE CITY”
This song is sort of forgettable to me. I do like the introduction and I love the music, but the vocals just don’t stick in my head. If I hum this song later during the day, it’s the catchy guitar hook and not the vocals. I think if it were a bit shorter I would enjoy it more. I really like this one, it’s just nowhere near their full potential in my opinion. I like the faster pace of this song, and it really sounds like Robert Smith is singing with a different band.

“MODERN LUST”
The introduction of this song really amps up anticipation, and once again, Veil Veil Vanish doesn’t disappoint. The drums on this song immediately make it stand out. “Don’t think you get to go” gets stuck in my head constantly. Out of all of the songs on the album, “Modern Lust” is the one I want to (and do) put on repeat. I don’t know what else to say about this song… the synths are great, the drums are great, the vocals are great, the guitar is great, the bass is great….it’s definitely the best track on the album.

“PHARMACEUTICAL PARTY PLATFORM”
Starting out very reminiscent of Disintegration, this song ends up being a bit darker sounding than the rest. I think it’s the vocals (they sound like they’re longing for something) coupled with the really minimalist guitar that add to making it sound darker. The vocals on this song are some of the best on the album, and I absolutely love the synths on this song. The vocals on this song definitely make it one of my favorite tracks on the album, but the verses outshine the chorus. This song gets better as it goes along, so by the end I am really loving it every time.

“SECOND HAND DAYLIGHT”
The drums keep this song interesting, although it’s not one of the most enjoyable songs on the album. It has a fun beat but all the backing instruments kind of seem muddled like they’re fighting for attention during the vocals. I do like the vocal harmonies and the lyrics of this song, and during the chorus the instruments all seem to find their place and work very well together. The chorus,“it’s too late…” gets stuck in my head a lot, but it doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the song…I can never place what song is stuck in my head when it happens.

“THIS IS VIOLET”
Starts out very dark and heavy sounding, much louder than the rest of the album. Once the introduction moves into the verse, it’s not as dark, heavy, or loud, but it is a lot faster paced than the rest of the album and I can’t understand any of the words. The guitar during the chorus is very frantic but fitting, and this song really flows from one pattern to the next, unlike a few of the songs that could use a bit of work on the transitions.

“DETACHMENT”
The intro of this song is kind of deceiving to me and it doesn’t fit in with the rest of the song. I really love the introduction but don’t quite enjoy the rest of it. The introduction gives way to a beat that I didn’t see coming at all, and I don’t really like it when music throws me off. The chorus and the introduction go together well, but the verses just don’t fit.

“WILDERNESS”
This song doesn’t have a very strong start but I definitely love how it progresses. The guitar on this song is simply brilliant and I love how laid back this song is.

BASICALLY: If you like The Cure, there’s a giant chance that you will like Veil Veil Vanish. It’s an entire album of mostly stand out tracks, and it’s a ridiculously refreshing style these days.

BEST TRACK: Modern Lust.