Vertical Horizon - Everything You Want (CD 2003)

I first heard of Vertical Horizon when I bought a compilation album which featured You're a God back in 1999. Immediately I fell in love with the catchy tunes and memorable lyrics. After a bit of searching (Vertical Horizon weren't as popular in the UK and as a result are harder to find) I finally discovered the album that first song I heard came from. I am always sceptical about buying albums when I have only heard one song from it, as I have done so in the past and the other tracks have been sub standard and just buying the single instead. With Everything You Want, however, I was not disappointed in the slightest. The first four tracks on the album is what became the band's singles/promos and it is quite easy to see why. The punchy-but-not-too-heavy We Are kick starts the CD well, followed by You're A God. The title track is next, and it's easy to see why this is most people's favourite. One of the best things about Vertical Horizon and in particular Matt Scannel's writing. Even though often it is rather melancholy a lot of the themes in the songs are very easilly identifiable, and the music is very easy to listen to and sticks in your head without becoming repetitive and annoying. Normally with albums you'll find that even though you like the artist and their musical style that there will more often than not be a track which you don't reguard as very good or just plain dislike, but I cannot think of a single track on this album which fits that description. The quality of the music is consistent all the way through from We Are to Keith Kane's Shackled, which is another of my favourites. Vertical Horizon have since upped the ante with their latest album, Go, and have previous albums that are also worth checking out, but Everything You Want is definitely up there with their best work, and is absolutely worth owning.