Go [With Bonus Track]

Vertical Horizon

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 28, 2005)
• Original Release Date: June 28, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hybrid Recordings
• ASIN: B0009RQSXC
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #17,509 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Coming off a multi-platinum album, a #1 single, and two straight years of global crossing, it’s understandable Vertical Horizon would name their new album "Go." After all, this is a band that never puts the brakes on the creative process. In fact, "Go" proves Vertical Horizon has emerged from the whirlwind of success more inspired and artistically keyed up than ever.

" With our last album [1999's "Everything You Want"], we still had some unanswered questions about what kind of band we wanted to be," says lead singer, guitarist and songwriter Matt Scannell. "We knew we were on a journey and wanted to keep developing. With this album, we're more certain than ever of our direction and identity."

Produced by John Shanks, "Go" is about leaving your mark in a world where every day brings on another attack of the clones. "Most of these songs have to do with taking steps," notes Matt. "Do the things you want to do, experience what you need to, both positive and negative. It's about living your life."

Given the course of events over the last year or so, the band could have called the album "Go, Already!" The members of Vertical Horizon were ready to rock months a"Go", but circumstances beyond their control delayed the release of "Go". Turned out to be a good thing, as the band went back into the studio to record a new song, "I'm Still Here." The track came out so well, it’s now the album’s premiere single.

Says Matt, "It just goes to show that even when you think you’re done with something, you should keep on working. The song is a statement about remaining strong, and the record is more balanced with the addition of that one song."

Like their earlier work, "Go" offers a sublime unity of thought and melody. "I'm fascinated by the ways people communicate and miscommunicate," says Matt. "The words we say aren't always the words we mean. As a writer, I like to explore the gray areas between the black and white." That’s the sentiment behind songs like the harmony-rich "Won’t Go Away" and "Echo," a bittersweet plea for individuality. Hammerhead guitar parts in tracks like "One of You" and "Sunshine" underscore a certain cynicism about love and resistance. Says Matt, "I don't much care for the sweet and bubbly. Music should reflect the world as we really see it, not necessarily the world we idealize."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpectedly effective re-release, September 29, 2005

By	Bryce Johnson "Panda" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I already own the original release of "Go", and when I heard that this re-release was cheap and had an additional track, I decided to pick it up. Now, after having listened all the way through it, I noticed there were more changes than just adding the extra track. The track order is different starting at the new cut, and the re-arranging has actually helped to make a more smooth musical experience. I always had felt with the original release that going from "Forever" to "Sunshine" was somewhat jarring and actually took me out of the flow of the album. Now this album has more of a shape, taking longer to build to the livelier parts, and that makes it more effective when it hits. It honestly improved my opinion of the album as a whole.

The question is, of course, whether or not the album is actually worth buying. If you already own the original release, you might have to be a little nutty (like me) to spend another ten dollars for a better track order and a single, though excellent, new track. But if you haven't picked it up yet and the track samples here please you, there really isn't any reason to hesitate. Yes, their sound has changed with Everything You Want and continues on through this re-release, but I believe both these albums are proof that the more obvious pop-y fluff can still have soul and meaningful musicality.

To address that issue of their drastic change in sound since There and Back Again, Running on Ice, and to some degree Live Stages, I've read that the band had actually wanted to take their sound to somewhere new from the folk-like sound they had through those albums. I think it's clear that Vertical Horizon is one of the later music groups that knows how to sound good without a lot of artificiality getting in the way. My only complaint is that I miss Keith doing the lead vocals. He led almost as many songs as Matt on Vertical Horizon's first three releases, and his unusal sound was one of the unique things I enjoyed about the group. I had hoped to hear him doing the new track on this album, seeing as how he was completely missing from the original release, but sadly, he's missing yet again. Most people unfamiliar with Vertical Horizon's earlier work will remember him as the emotive lead of "Shackled" from Everything You Want. I'm not sure what kept him out of this album, but provided he didn't actually want to do lead vocals anymore, it's a shame not hearing him anymore.

His absence is really the only noteworthy shortcoming of this album. With this new release under the new label, the new track and new shape the album has because of it makes it one of my favorite albums. It still holds up very well and continues to frequent my playlist to this day. An easy five stars from me.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars With Modern Rock Nothing More Than Noise Anymore, Vertical Horizon Is Music To The Ears, November 17, 2005

By	Will W. Martin (Woodland, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In a way, the cover of this re-release says it all. The broken prop implies (given the title of the CD) maybe not quite a go without a doubt speaking to the issues the CD had coming to light at RCA and the dumping of VH following its unsupported release (though I like to view it as an overall statement on life in general).

What is sad is that VH has now, at best, a cult following as Hybrid cannot market the band as it deserves. My first hope given that fact is that their new deal with Hybrid lasts and that they can continue to release music and my second is that they DO NOT change their sound (its a possibility given their acoustic beginning and the departure of Ed Toth) as I feel they are unique among rock bands Why?

This is a rock band with purpose: gifted in melody and blessed to have the writing and vocal talents of someone like Matt Scannell, but seemingly unable to break throught the din of lousy top forty crap roaring out of radios these days.

With regards to this re-release: if you think you should stick with the original release you have...DON'T. I thought that before I heard the bonus track. Better When You're Not Here is, in my opinion THE BEST track VH has ever recorded-it makes the album a 7 star when it was already a 5+ star release. The song represents the mixing of seemingly dissimilar elements that makes the band so special: the lyrics, simple but touching (and ambiguous enough to make you think) and yet the music simply ROCKS, I can crank this in my car and get down with it but at the same time there are intricate suddle aspects that make the song really special: a little acoustic guitar mixed in, and entrancing piano in the bridge and some haunting background vocals.

The new track, combined with a slight re-ordering of the songs leaves us with a seamless masterpiece.

The best or the original tracks are still (well, everything but.... ha ha) When You Cry, I'm Still Here, Forever, and Goodbye Again. I laugh because the album is filled with number 1 tracks if only someone would get behind them and force radio to listen.

VH is special: a rock band that is actually good, a rock band with a message. The band says Go is a gift to the fans...perhaps one day more people will hear it. Until then those of us that know them will continue to listen with pleasure.

A gift it is indeed. Thanks guys.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome! Their best yet!, January 5, 2006

By	T. Clark "tclark51" (Arlington,, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Vertical Horizon in the last few years has quickly become one of my top two favorite bands. Their music is thought provoking & powerful & without a doubt some of the very best stuff out there today.

The best track is definately "Goodbye Again", it's one of my all time favorites & two other standouts are "Won't Go Away" with it's haunting melody & "I'm Still Here".

I loved their last album Everything You Want & highly reccomend it & didn't think this one could come close to that but after listening to it a couple of times decided that it was even better. If you like Vertical Horizon, you will LOVE this album!