On albums like Secret Swingers and
The Stars are Insane,
Versus perfected the art of writing atmospheric songs that build and explode around the three-minute mark, revving up the hooks and drama into a compelling climax.
Afterglow, however, seems to intentionally avoid the explosion -- it seems as if the band wants to write more composed, pop-oriented songs that can stand up even without the obvious power behind them. For the most part, this works -- "Raining" lays off on the fuzz in favor of complex, midtempo pop, and "Off the Hook" is gorgeous (in the vein of The Stars Are Insane's "Wind Me Up") -- but diehard fans of the band's early material may miss the crushing hooks. ~ Nitsuh Abebe