Night On Fire
by VHS or Beta
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. AllMusic
    60
    An uneven but promising debut album that suggests that the group may still create something distinctive.
  2. Alternative Press
    40
    Clogging their previously supple grooves with banal guitar bluster and noxious singing, VHS Or Beta don't set the Night On Fire; they just dampen your spirits. [Oct 2004, p.148]
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  3. Blender
    80
    Immediately transforms VHS or Beta from disco revivalists into one of rock's best new bands. [Oct 2004, p.130]
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  5. Drowned In Sound
    70
    What really let’s this collection down is not the quality of the songs – everything about their tunes is well considered and slickly executed – but the production.
  6. Filter
    68
    Still, without the pirate blouses and eyeliner... it's just homage, isn't it? [#12, p.99]
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  7. Junkmedia
    40
    The '80s idolatry is far too forced and distracting, and VHS or Beta comes off as trying too hard to imitate admittedly great, but definitely dated, pop music.
  8. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    VHS Or Beta hit on a candy-coloured disco-funk previously only thought possible by men wearing daft robot masks. [9 Apr 2005, p.58]
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  9. Paste Magazine
    40
    Night on Fire is going to need a gifted remixer to transform it into the dance-floor-packer it aspires to be.
  10. Pitchfork
    42
    VHS or BETA have moved on, like so many bands this year, to pillaging the dance-friendly template of late-80s Cure.
  11. PopMatters
    80
    VHS or Beta has made an album that truly sounds great, and that ought to be enough, though they will probably be called hacks and rip-off artists anyway.
  12. Q Magazine
    30
    The actual effect... is closer to a whinier Duran Duran, with even their slapped bass-driven grooves hobbled by the paper-thin production. [Apr 2005, p.124]
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  13. Splendid
    70
    While the band has adeptly navigated the waters of change, a few moments on Night on Fire are simply too slick for their own good.
  14. Stylus Magazine
    70
    Kill the instrumentals and one or two filler tracks and you've got one of the best EPs of the year.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 12 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. MatthewT
    Feb 9, 2006
    9
    Many have already made the high quality of this album known in their comments, so i shall simply defend it from those who single out the Many have already made the high quality of this album known in their comments, so i shall simply defend it from those who single out the production and the instrumentals...quite frankly, i cannot find fault with the production which seems crisp and suited to the music...and the instrumentals...what's wrong with them? Do songs have to have lyrics to be good? In my opinion the instrumentals add variety to an already quality album, which contains no filler, but plenty of quality 80s style music with a beat that makes your hips want to wiggle and your arms want to dance...GO VHS OR BETA GO!… Full Review »
  2. EW
    Jan 14, 2006
    10
    I love this band! Their not that big in the UK so I had a hard time trying to find the album, but when I did i was soooo happy!!! The beats I love this band! Their not that big in the UK so I had a hard time trying to find the album, but when I did i was soooo happy!!! The beats are highly addictive and you can't help but dance! Their like what you get when you mix together Duran Duran, Daft Punk and The Cure. Get this album NOW!!!… Full Review »
  3. MusicMaven
    Jun 13, 2005
    7
    VHS Or Beta follow a pretty simple formula. Thumping 70's disco + moody 80's new wave = new millennium dance-punk. It's not VHS Or Beta follow a pretty simple formula. Thumping 70's disco + moody 80's new wave = new millennium dance-punk. It's not terribly original, but it makes for a fun listen. There's echoes of The Alarm, Echo & The Bunnymen, and early U2 within the dancefloor-ready grooves. The minimal lyrics are pretty bland, but the lead singer's Robert-Smith-like croon makes them sound deep. Some of the songs fade into the background and others go on too long (like the closer "Irreversible"), but if you like the ingredients in the formula, this album can definitely set your night on fire.… Full Review »
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