Vis-A-Vis
Vis- -Vis has immediate and satisfying jangle pop sensations in "Miles Away," the revved-up "Dear Prudence"-inspired "Snowblind," and the exquisitely son-of-Raspberries "Just for You." For all the extraordinary good points this album contains -- and there are many -- the band just misses the mark by not thinking in terms of a number one smash. Take "Name of the Game," a song title that ABBA utilized more efficiently, as just one example. Cars drummer David Robinson referred to Bj rn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA as true "craftsmen" -- and that is all that is missing from the first side of Fotomaker's second disc. They are a terrific pop band in need of a production team, an Ulvaeus and Andersson, to take it all to the next level. But despite the lack of a big smash single, leadoff track "Miles Away" getting to only bubble under the Top 40, side two holds some very pleasant surprises. "If I Can't Believe in You" and "Two Way Street" are both in-the-pocket, dreamy FM-friendly material, the first borrowing heavily from John Lennon's "God," the second finding inspiration in McGuinness Flint, some of the majesty you know these guys had in them from former glories. "Make It Look Like an Accident" follows the same routine and shows real promise. "Sweet Lies" is a bit of an oddity -- gritty and charging, it could be mistaken for Bachman-Turner Overdrive lite, but still manages to survive surrounded by better song structure. Vis- -Vis had all the elements except for that perfectly positioned monster hit. It's really a shame, as this disc -- and the group's career -- deserved a better fate. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide