Comet

Saturday, April 9, 2005 @ Haileys in Denton, Texas, Wall of Sound Festival
Once upon a time, Denton made a name for itself with festivals like this. Unbelievably, it's now been nearly a decade since the first Melodica festival created the phrase "Denton space rock," but the spirit lives on, and so does the sound of swirling, cascading guitars and slow-churning, subversive melodies.
Austin's Experimental Aircraft dropped a juiced-up set of guy-girl tradeoffs and pedal magic, giving way to the day's highlight, the recently re-formed dream-pop icons Comet. The brothers Jim and Neil Stone churned out heart-tugging gossamer threads and syrupy laser-beam solos like it was 1996 all over again, topped off with a surprising cover of the Cure's "A Forest" and an even more wondrous rendition of their own "Formula One Driver Blues." Michael Chamy, Dallas Observer www.dallasobserver.com/issues/2005-04-14/music/setlist.html
- Dallas Observer

“longtime fans will be happy to hear Comet's return to form…….sounds like a Bedhead interpretation of My Bloody Valentine, though the slow, feedback-filled songs have a unique twist in the Stone brothers' vocals………for Comet, atmosphere is the point, and in that respect, shoegaze fans won't be disappointed.” Sam machkovech, dallas observer april 21,2005 www.dallasobserver.com/issues/2005-04-21/local.html - Dallas Observer

“For their first release since the last lunar eclipse, Comet has returned to its droning best and created a stealth piece of lo-fi shimmer. The chiming guitars and heartbeat bass drum at the onset resemble the opening of Darkside Of The Moon before heading into their cherub like Jesus & Mary Chain imitation.” Justin Press, dallas music guide , april 2005 www.dallasmusicguide.com/albums/comet.htm - dallas music guide

Sunday, December 12, 2004 at Gypsy Tea Room
“Comet followed with its first Dallas concert in seven years, but on Sunday night, the group sounded like it had arrived at the Gypsy in a 1997 time machine. Their ultra-loud shoegazer style remained completely intact, and the band's booming drums, whispery vocals and soaring guitars made theirs a welcome reunion.”
Sam Machkovech - Dallas Observer

“Comet is a four-piece from Mesquite, Texas with a sound that is both familiar and exotic. Musically, the group lies somewhere between the slow-rock sounds of bands like Low and fellow Texans Bedhead and the more tangled arrangements of Mercury Rev and Spiritualized” - CMJ New Music Monthly

”Bright eyed children who dig out 1991's "Yerself is Steam" and say hey! This American mixture of shoegazing, sixties psychedelia and melancholia, also borrowing from The Beatles at their most egocentric……….What Comet have chosen to do, they do well. The whole ambiance is mellow, where a string section and gentle saxophone solo can elevate a song……….it catches the contentment of watching a good old black and white film by yourself or walking home through the night rain and having a cuppa when you get in.” - Ben Myers

“Comet are the pop children of Mercury Rev.………..Comet's twists on classic verse-chorus songwriting keep them interesting. With a string-section coda adding sadness only hinted at, it takes two listenings to understand how and why "Shogun Girl" works.” - Alternative Press

“Flaming Lips fans should be pointed in the direction of Texan group Comet, with singer Jim Stone - who shares Wayne Coyne's trans-atlantic Syd Barrett vocal style……..they've got a firm hold on pop craft and throw in some great baroque/psychedelic string surges, too. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it's produced by former Mercury Rev vocalist David Baker, and the shambling shaman brings some of his old magic to this record.” - Select

“Comet distinguishes itself with a keen ear for song structure and the ability to create surprisingly lush arrangements……….Comet cites Britpop references from the Beatles to Pink Floyd to the Cure with peer-reviewable tenacity.” - Michael Chamy

Though David Baker's production inevitably leads to Mercury Rev comparisons, on Musings, Comet isn't quite so wild and wired as that band in its early days. Instead, there's a post-psychedelic wistfulness that tends to suggest instead groups like the Flaming Lips or, at least in the vocals, Built to Spill. The Stones' sweet singing bears this out, high but clear, while the band merrily crunches away. There are definite hints of overdriven shoegaze drone being part of Comet's formative years, as well — "Rocket Flare," the opening track, has some great work in this regard, showing Jim Stone isn't simply a fine singer. Songs stretch with extended introductions and endings, all while not seeming indulgent or time-wasting — a nice thing in and of itself. Consider "Soundtrack to the Short Film: 'Lifelines'" as an example. Over a simple, gentle blend of distant electric guitar and piano, Stone sings softly, before adding some acoustic guitar to the mix. It's a marvelous start, and could almost make a perfect song on its own, while the eventual addition of the rest of the band — including some wonderful guitar work — makes a good thing even better. Another reason Musings is such a fine listen is that the band shows enviable ambition — rather than using a full debut album to show how kick-ass they are (if you will), they have no problem bringing in strings and orchestration for self-written arrangements. Baker happily helps out on the production end, balancing out band and accompanying players excellently. "Day at the Races" is a particular winner, its series of gentle crescendos by both guitar and strings creating a lovely atmosphere. Another standout is "Formula One Driver Blues," where gentle woodwinds alternate with massive, melancholy feedback riffs and heartbreaking chiming. — Ned Raggett - Ned Raggett