But he still knows how to have a good time, whether offhandedly noting in "The Trouble With Never" that "selective amnesia is only a heartbeat away" or delighting in the philosophical ponderings of the turbocharged, talking blues in "Stay Frosty." Roth's self-mocking flamboyance qualifies him as one of rock's great showmen, and when that's coupled with the dazzling dexterity of Eddie's lightning runs and a thunderous rhythm section, you're back behind the wheel of that Camaro you drove in 1985 with a beer between your legs.
The trouble is that even though many of the songs are reworked versions of 1970s demos (or maybe because of that), with a few notable exceptions like "Blood and Fire," they're largely lacking in the melodic pizzazz that turned VH into such a hit machine in their heyday. A complete, respectable effort that avoids nearly all of the pitfalls typical of decades-in-the-making reunions, but short of songs that can stand up to "Hot for Teacher."
- Dan DeLuca
Form & Control
(Tummy Touch ***)
On Form & Control, Phenomenal Handclap Band's second album, the New York sextet leads with the catchy electroclash tune "Following." Next up is dancehall disco, then some glam- and art-rock thrown in for good measure. Much of the album, in fact, is an homage to eras-past melodies, instrumentation, and lyrics, with even ABBA-inspired attire and coiffures.
What's missing from Form & Control, however, are the soul influences inherent in the group's name. They were readily apparent on the group's 2009 self-named debut album, where the band recreated the soulful, sensual, and playful '60s without resorting to blatant derivation.
