AltarTV

Back in the day there was a weird romance between punk rock and dance music. Eventually they went their separate ways, but the badass Ohio outfit known as Vanity Theft is all about getting the two back together.

With technology on their side, Vanity Theft mixes old school punk aesthetics with uber-modern synth swagger, the kind of attitude and vague sarcasm championed by Blondie and Talking Heads some decades ago. Like those two, Vanity Theft is upbeat and fun by the books, but fired up by a clear and present adoration for hedonistic punk rock. They might not be alone in attempting that style, but they’re doing it better than anyone else.

On their five releases, Vanity Theft dives unapologetically into the dancefloor mindset, but they’re well-endowed with the instrumental chops to back it up. The beats are simplistic but robotic, like all good dance music, and with their gnawing overdriven guitars and Alicia Grodecki’s playfully provocative vocals, it makes for a helluva listen.

Vanity Theft is simply unlike anything else out there.

• Facebook
• Twitter