Customer Reviews

There & Back Again

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
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Recent fans of VH may think it's crazy that Matt Scannell and Keith Kane both cite James Taylor as one of their major musical influences, but their affinity for his style come through clearly on "There and Back Again," their debut album. Like JT, their songs are heartfelt and personal, and they are perfectly matched with complicated fingerwork on their accoustic guitars. The difference here is the harmonies. Matt and Keith have different, but extremely complimentary voices. When they are harmonizing on songs like "The Mountain Song" and "Willingly," the sound is pure magic. Both guys are great songwriters and musicians, and these songs are just beautiful.

"On The Sea" (in a very different form) is the only song from this CD that concertgoers will still hear from VH. The band has changed considerably since this album with the addition of electric guitars and a rhythm section, but recent fans would do themselves a favor to buy this album to see the roots of "Everything You Want." It's a gem.

I bought this Cd in 1994, and although the band has changed and grown since then, I will always come back to this one. I've probably listened to it over a thousand times over the years. I can't even express in words how incredible this album is; if you like acoustic music and lyrics full of meaning and emotion, this is a must have. I love every song, especially "Trying to Find Purpose". The songs are very powerful and moving; very melodious. I'd recommend it to anyone!

In 1995 in Austin, TX, some friends took me to the White Rabbit on Sixth Street to listen to two guys play acoustic guitars. They, of couse, were Vertical Horizon. I had never heard of them before, but wow, the show was incredible.

Since that concert, I have been a big fan. "Everything You Want" was their big breakout record. It's not a bad record, but I admit that I got disenchanted with their live shows after that release. They were loud and electric and lost all of the soul that their earlier shows had. Did these guys sell out? That's what I am wondering.

Anyway, this record is a reminder of what they were before they became household names. All these reviews say the same thing -- the music is folksy. Well, I am not disagreeing. It has some grassroots sound, but what struck me so much was the songwriting. Good stuff. It's a pretty mellow, melancholy record.

It sounds silly, but some of the lyrics just bring tears to my eyes. "Trying to Find Purpose"...I mean, any guy in the world probably can relate to that song sometime in their life. It could be called, "There's something better out there, I know it, and I'll find it someday with you at my side." My favorite one is "Love's Light". It stikes a chord with me. This one could be called, "You and I are so good together, but you can't see that, so I need to let you go before I become an emotional wreck."

For those who are VH fans because of "Everything You Want", then take this review with a grain of salt. The styles are quite different. But the songs here are great, writing is great, just something to listen to on a lazy afternoon.

I guess it helps to know going in that this album is nothing like Vertical Horizon's hit album 'Everything You Want', and that's not neccessarily as bad as it sounds. 'Everything You Want' was a great pop/top-40/commercial rock album that transcended the limitations of that genre because of the great muscianship and quality songwriting, while 'There And Back Again' shows the early beginnings of those positive qualities and strips down the music to its barest essentials: two vocalists who play acoustic guitars.

All of the songs on this album have a down-to-earth, folksy feel to them, but should be accessible to fans of rock music as well. Obviously Keith Kane and Matthew Scannell are influenced by James Taylor and you can hear that throughout the ten compositions. Contrary to that, most of the acoustic guitar work is very aggressive (no laid back folksy strumming here) and includes many muffled and muted chords with a choppy rock style that is more reminiscent of Pete Townshend than anyone else. Both players wrote five songs each for this album, and their song styles are distinctly different; you will immediately hear the difference from 'Trying To Find Purpose' to 'Children's Lullaby'; the former is my favorite song on the disc--I love the guitar work and inspirational lyrics.

Overall, this album fits nicely in my collection because it is so different from most of the music I listen to. If you are not ready to go in with an open mind, then you might be disappointed, especially if you became a fan after 'Everything You Want' and specifically like that type of music. I tend to like all types of music, and 'There And Back Again' was certainly a pleasant suprise from what I expected.

I love many kinds of music. I love bands like the Goo Goo Dolls, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and especially Dave Matthews Band. I love bands like Creed and Default. I love bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden. I even love bands like Godsmack, Kid Rock, Blink 182, and Pink Floyd. But among all those musical greats, Vertical Horizon holds its own as my favorite band of all time. This is an awesome debut album, but only showed a hint of what would become Running On Ice.

Trying To Find Purpose: This is a great song with an awesome
solo--the best one on the album If you like James Taylor, check this one out.

Children's Lullaby: A touching song with great vocals and easy-to-relate-to lyrics. One of Keith Kane's best vocal performances, up there with Shackled and Wash Away.

Footprints In The Snow: A very sad song, but excellent. Matt Scannell proves himself as a songwriter right here.

Love's Light: One of the only VH songs I don't love...it should be called Whithering Away, just listen to the song and see why. That part ruins it for me.

Mountain Song: One of VH's worst is followed by one of their best. This is an awesome, upbeat song, pointing more in the direction of Running On Ice. Another Tayloresque number.

Prayer for an Innocent Man: VH's only religious song. It's a good song, but the lyrics are a little corny ("Let me do thy bidding, yeah"...come on Keith, you can do better).

Lines Upon Your Face: Awesome song, my personal favorite from this album. It's about a friendship perservering through separation.

Willingly: Pretty good, not the strongest on the album though. The lyrics and the music don't fit together.

On The Sea: Incredible song, with truly touching and tragic lyrics. The live version is so much better, but it's a shame this is the only song from this album they still do live.

Liberty: This has a great folksy sound to it, this was their first minor underground radio hit. Great song.

This album is classic, but barely showed the talent waiting to be revealed. If you like this album, I'd suggest Running On Ice. If you like Running On Ice, I'd suggest Live Stages. If you like Live Stages, I'd reccomend Everything You Want. And if you like Everything You Want, I'd highly reccomend you keep an eye out for their new CD, Go, which will be released September 24th 2002!

I bought this CD, along with Live Stages, yesterday and listened through the whole album late last night. It's pretty amazing how Vertical Horizon started as a folksy band (not dissing them at all right here), it's just that over a nine-year span, they progressed from two members to four, adding more harmonies and bass, and yet getting better over the years! And just for the start of a music career, it's pretty AWESOME!!! Every song on this CD will have your heart and ears listening to the wonderful lyrics by Matthew Scannell and Keith Kane, as well as the soft, soothing sounds of the acoustic guitar will make you close your eyes and, sometimes for me, drift you to sleep. My definite favorites are all of them. How can you not have any favorites on this CD? I COMMAND you to go out and BUY this album from this fabulous band! GO! NOW!!!

My brother brought this CD back when he was in college and it hasn't left my CD player since. I am actually writing this review as I order yet another copy to give as a gift. Since it is always in my disc carousel, it is inevitably played whenever I have people over for a party / dinner. Turns out it is as popular w/ my eclectic group of friends as it was over a decade ago w/ me (when I was a teenager!) As written above though, it isn't like their popular radio tunes. However, it is a must buy if you enjoy DMB, James Taylor, Toad the Wet Sprocket, or Jack-o-Pierce!

This has got to be my new favorite CD. I recieved it for Christmas, knowing that I sort of liked Vertical Horizon before that, and then i listened to it straight through several times in a row, and loved it. I have a wide variety of tastes in music, from new age to heavy metal, but i keep returning to VH because of their light sound with good harmonies and tunes. It always reminds me of the way my dad used to play the guitar when i was younger.

Saw VH at the Cubby Bear in Chicago back a few years ago. Great band, solid sound, and this, their first album is a great acoustic work. The words have meaning... see "On the Sea" Track 9

VH has always impressed me...This album is more acoustic and instrumental then Running on Ice. Check out "Trying to find a purpose" and "On the sea". When are you guys coming back to Oxford? Hurry!