Customer Reviews

Go [With Bonus Track]

5 star:		(62)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

I, like many, have been waiting what seems like ages for another release from Vertical Horizon. This one is definitely everything you want!

Being a huge fan of Vertical Horizon, I bought this CD blindly. The only track I had heard a clip of was "Inside" off the Vertical Horizon website.

If you are at all a fan of Vertical Horizon's other titles, especially "Everything You Want" than this is a CD for you. The music style is very similar. I can honestly say that there isn't one bad song on this CD. It will be in my CD player for weeks.

A few surprises are "Forever" and "When You Cry". In my opinion, the best tracks on the CD. But they're all good. If you're a VH fan, don't pass this one up, and don't download the music either - do these boys a favor and purchase the album.

I got hooked on Vertical Horizon in 1999 with their Everything You Want CD. After hearing that CD and went out and got their other albums too. If you love great harmony and songs that actually mean something, you'll love this new CD. It is so refreshing to buy a CD that has an entire album that is great instead of wasting your money for just a song or two. If you've never purchased a CD from these guys, this is one to get! Once you hear them, I'll bet money you'll buy the rest of their stuff--if you haven't already!!

Following the success of their 1999 release "Everything You Want", Vertical Horizon finally got back into the studio and released 2003's "Go." A solid follow up to their mega-release, "Go" is full of memorable tracks. The songs have a slightly more mellow and acoustic feel to them but the sound of Vertical Horizon is still quite recognizable.

"When You Cry" has a familiar sound and feel to it reminiscent of Greenwheel's single "Breathe" and is thus a great song. "I'm Still Here", the major single released from the album is also a great tune. "Forever" and "Echo" are two more impressive songs along with "Inside." Once again the album features a unique sounding song (such as "Everything You Want"'s "Shackled") in the closing track, "Underwater." If you close your eyes the song really does make you feel as if you are floating underwater!

Overall, the album is great but for newcomers to Vertical Horizon I feel that "Everything You Want" still represents a better introduction. If you're already a fan then you should wonder why you don't already have this album! Definitely a great addition to the VH library.

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!

I've had the album GO ever since it was released back in September 2003. After eagerly awaiting its release, I can say that I was not the least bit let down. The band really put a lot of effort into each song. You can definately see that the band has grown tremendously since the release of "Everything You Want" in 1999.
One thing to take note of is that there is a distinct difference between many of the songs on "Go". About half of them are what you would expect from Vertical Horizon: catchy lyrics with solid rock beats. Many of them have a bit more rock than the tracks from "EYW"...such as the song "Sunshine". The other half of the songs are more laid back, softer sounding tracks. A personal favorite of mine, "Underwater", may sound boring to some, but to me it is an "intelligent" song with inspiring lyrics and fluid music. Another, "Inside", has a bit of an Irish feel, and is a very beautiful song that uses a wide variety of instruments.
All in all, I highly recommend "Go" for any Vertical Horizon fan. It is definately a personal favorite of mine.

This CD is very likeable. It is a lot like EYW which is a bit of a let down as it hasn't shown much growth however that is not to say that this CD isn't worth purchasing. While at points it does sound like EYW & a long wait for a follow up for the major fans, it is ultimately better than EYW.

The album overall has superb lyrics & VH should be given credibility for their writing on this album. After a few listens this really grows on you, it just takes a little longer. The good thing is that Scannel did say in an interview he knows how frustrating it is for fans to have to wait a long time for a new album by an artist & he hope's that the next one won't take as long.

On to the album:

1. When You Cry has a heavy beginning and a catchy chorus: "it only hurts when you cry". 4/5

2. I'm Still Here, good lyrics, good guitar work happening in this song. "the cities grow, the rivers flow, but I'm still here". 5/5

3. Forever is possibly the best track on the album in terms of its style, its unique & unlike anything else on the disc. 5/5

4. Sunshine has a heavy beginning and is similar to track one yet it is still enjoyable. I like the guitar solo work going on in this album on particular songs such as this one. 4/5

5. Goodbye Again, Stunning intro, great song. You'll find yourself humming this tune "it's in your mind, it's in your eyes, so it's goodbye again". Good composition of song and song is carried out well all the way through to the end. 5/5

6. Echo, Track begins very well & this song has a great chorus "echo, echo, we come, we go". This song leads into some crunchy guitar work and band comes together well on this effort. 4.5/5

7. It's over, VH keep their tone pretty consistent no matter what the theme & they portray emotion rather well. 4/5

8. One If You is done brilliantly in the heavier tone, great electric guitar work & all instruments are played well to suit the song and the singing is superbly in tune, they got the formula right for a heavier song on this effort. 5/5

9. Won't Go Away is not a bad track but I feel that there is something lacking in terms of structure that allows this one to fall short off the mark & is just satisfactory. 3/5

10. Different approach, nice to hear a difference factor, Scannel's vocals during the early stages of this song sounds a lot like Stipe of R.E.M. However maybe could have done without making this one heavier & left it to sail like the course of the intro all the way through. 4.5/5

11. Under Water is a brilliant closer and again Scannel sounds a lot like Stipe of R.E.M. but only this song is done a lot better in the style he was hoping for & he managed to convey this one superbly. Great thing about this song, the pace of music is good, doesn't go overboard with trying to get heavy. 5/5.

Overall VH not a bad effort. Why 4/5 stars instead 5/5 = there is a lot of potential here & I believe you guys are more than capable of reaching to your peaks for your fans to see you truly shine. In terms of lyrics no doubt about it = 5/5.

Fans of VH may also enjoy the Remy Zero album "The Golden Hum." (especially the song "Perfect Memory").

I had never really been a fan of these guys until "Everything You Want" came out, then I bought that album and was very glad I did. I've had that album for years, and I'm still not tired of listening to it. They have a sound that you can listen to all day, the flow of the melodies and the meaningful lyrics make for excellent music. It's the kind of music you can listen to on a gloomy day to lift your spirits, or driving down the road alone on a sunny afternoon with the music blasting as loud as you want while you sing along. Oh, and these guys sound even better live. They performed at my college a few years ago and blew me away. I took the liner notes from my cd with me to the concert (you know, just in case) and not only did each member sign all the autographs the students wanted but they greeted each of us with a smile even though it was absolutely freezing. All around great guys, great musicians, and timeless music that keeps getting better with each album.

This is a very good follow-up album to the previous "Everything you want" album.....Easily likeable....Would say that the songs in the album as a whole are like a combi of Running on Ice and Everything you want....(earlier acoustic works and the electric EYW album)....its the best of 2 worlds....you can now hear layers of synths in the background...

When you cry....
I'm still here.....an obvious radio hit
Forever...very likeable...the next big hit
sunshine....hard intro and reminds you of a 3 doors down song

Highly recommended for VH fans.....melody and instrumentations are really good...