REVIEWS:
Probably one of the more promising bands in the wake of post-grunge, Vertical Horizon broke through to the mainstream with "Everything You Want", the title track to the album of the same name - and the actual album (either their third or fourth, I'm not positive), released in 1999, is actually very very good. The sound is a little hard to pinpoint exactly, but I'd probably say it vaguely reminds me of the depression-worn and heavy King's X circa Dogman and Tape Head, and the hooks of R.E.M. (not to mention the lead singer Matt Scannell sounds sort of like Michael Stipe).
--Nick Karn
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(reviewed by Nick Karn)
This was the band's breakthrough album, thanks to massive airplay of the title track, which has a cool echoey guitar line interplaying with acoustic guitar and a driving post grunge chorus that evokes a mood a lot more substantial than what most acts in the genre are capable of. Yet quite unlike a few 90's modern rock hits (or hell, any rock hit in the past), as well as the remainder of the album, it manages not to grow extremely tiresome over repeated listenings, which says a lot about the songwriting here. In fact, all the material here is based on fine hooks like that, and the production of the entire record is near-perfect to the point of it almost sounding like there's a live band in the house while it plays - particularly the opening "We Are", which is an extremely fun anthem with a basic, though driving, riff, fluid bassline and powerful vocal hook.
A lot of these songs also seem to make use of melodies based on minor keys, which gives a lot of the record almost a powerfully depressing feel. Even one of the most uptempo tracks, "You're A God" (another single), has that ominousness about it within the lyrics, which are based on dealing with someone who thinks he's higher in life than in reality. The acoustic "Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)" has a gorgeous sounding darkness, with a glimmer of hope to be found in an otherwise somber tune. "Finding Me" is a wonderfully yearning rocker, and "You Say" makes good on a great chorus progression and is catchy enough to make anyone sing, 'go away, go away, go away!' along to it.
The second half isn't quite as solid as the initial one, but it's still quite memorable nonetheless. "Miracle" and "Give You Back" both set beautifully melancholy moods in a slow ballad format without sounding angsty, and "Send It Up" is a decent (though not great) concert favorite with one of the best guitar parts on the whole album, while following "All Of You" (probably the weakest and least memorable cut here, but the chorus is still very singable) comes guitarist Keith Kane's contribution "Shackled", which really fits its' title. It's interesting to hear after ten Matt Scannell-penned minor key singalongs with Michael Stipe-ish a vocal style Kane's almost possessed, peddler-like vocal tone singing cool lyrics in another catchy number. It's a satisfying way to end this very impressive and fairly consistent set of songs that probably mark Vertical Horizon near the top in its' genre.
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COMMENTS
[email protected] (Andrew McQuillan)
How the hell do these guys get a better review than Soundgarden's album?