I had this cd years ago. Can’t tell you how many years ago, but I played it constantly. Vertical Horizon, maybe their first album? It’s the one with the upside down girl on the cover. Anyway, I overplayed it or something and I kinda forgot about it. Seems they had other albums, later? Before? Oh who knows. Here’s my favourite song off that one album. Turns out it came out 2009. Trawling their catalogue. They released maybe 4-5 albums, but somehow I missed it. Guess they never got airplay in U.K. How could I forget this song? I loved it then and I love it now. This version has an awesome intro.
Everything You Want (1999) was their 4th album, but their first on a major label. (Debut was There and Back Again (1992), then Running on Ice (1995), then there was a live album, Live Stages in 1997.) There were some label shenanigans and the follow-up Go was delayed a couple years but eventually came out in 2003-04. They toured pretty continually after that (I saw them 10ish times between 2000-2010) but didn’t get another album out until 2009, Burning the Days. After that the other co-founder of the band left, and Matt (the singer of EYW) continued on with some other guys, and they did get a couple more albums out, though I’m not really familiar with those last couple.
Oh, and note their pre-EYW music is split between songs written & sung by both of the original guys, Matt and Keith. Keith fell away from songwriting later on, and the EYW album has 10 Matt songs and 1 Keith song. After EYW it’s all Matt.
And continuing with the theme and actually fitting the thread, here’s Keith playing a song you’re probably not going to find on Spotify since it was never officially released:
I saw them play it about a month after that video which is a favorite concert memory.
Wicked song! I wonder why VF never recorded it. I love the concept of waltzing on glass. I feel that way sometimes, but a waltz is a couple. Doing a jazz routine on glass sounds like it would be terrifying and awesome at the same time. There would be falls and bruises for sure, but it still is tempting… why do you think they never released it?
Thanks for posting.
ETA — Song For Someone is beautiful. On a different album. Never heard it before. Wow.
Squirrel Flower on KEXP. I was recently led to them thanks to Babehoven, who’s song “Ella’s From Somewhere Else” was partially inspired by Ella O’Connor Williams of Squirrel Flower as well as Maya Bon’s (of Babehoven) childhood dog, Ella, that she named after Ella Fitzgerald.
I think it got lost in their transition from indie/acoustic-oriented music to major-label/rockin’ music. They had a lot of songs including that one from that time in the mid-late 90s that were only ever performed live, and they all kind of disappeared when EYW came out. (Glass Waltz coming back for a few shows in 2009 was unexpected and greatly enjoyed by dedicated fans, which is why it’s a favorite concert memory of mine.)
There is a leaked studio recording of Glass Waltz that used to circulate among fans – I think it was recorded for the EYW album, but they and/or the label decided it didn’t fit. EYW is all rock songs or power-ballad-type songs, and Glass Waltz doesn’t fit either of those.
Searched up some of the other 90s VH unreleased songs that I remember, and found this, apparently Matt did a live online performance of one called “Slow in Time” a couple years ago:
(Looking at the youtube channel video list, looks like those acoustic live online concerts from 2020-2021 have several unreleased songs – I see “Can’t Be All Wrong”, “Promise of Tomorrow”, “Down to You”, as well as “One Time Around” which did come out as a bonus track on something.)
well, thanks for letting me geek out about VH for a bit. they were a foundational part of my music journey. also i sat in a boat stop once with the girl who i would eventually marry and played a VH song on my guitar for her, so you know. i told keith that once after a concert, he said “i’m glad i could help with the love connection”.
and now for something completely different:
today was apparently the 10 year anniversary of the Netherlands Bach Society’s “All of Bach” project, where they plan to play and film every JS Bach composition. I think they’re still well more than 10 more years away from completing that. Bach is not the most prolific Baroque composer, but prolific enough.
here’s a favorite, a concerto for four(!) harpischords, after Vivaldi
Saw Jake Bugg recently. My clever daughter managed to get 2 cancellation tix to this sold out gig. Liked Jake Bugg from stuff I’d heard. This, though blew me away. Dumbstruck with EVERYTHING. Writes all his own material, fantastic guitarist from gentle ballads to gritty rock about gangsters knifing people. This was filmed when he was 18. Unique voice with great range. Judge for yourself.
I really like this band, although I’m pretty sure they broke up. There was a death of a leading member and other problems. Obviously influenced by R.E.M. with the jangly college rock thing, Gin Blossoms came about in the 90’s. Anyway, their stuff’s interesting and melodic.
This is for Etty. @SweetFannyAddams
Trey Anastasio & band played tribute to Steely Dan’s Walter Becker & Donald Fagen who were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame this week along with R.E.M.
I’m guessing this was filmed sometime around the release of her debut album, Sprained Ankle in 2015 or possibly 2016. It was only recently uploaded to YouTube.
Icky thump. Looks like I deleted both posts.
I am surprised and alarmed that Donald Fagen didn’t even manage to collect the award. The fears about his health haven’t completely gone away, and he was really loving getting out there and gigging until last summer. He cancelled the remaining dates of the tour and was in the hospital for 2-3 days, after which he downplayed the issue. We lost quite a bit of money on the non refundable train tickets and deposit for the hotel. Goodness knows, I want him in great health and good voice. The one standard Steely Dan put above everything else was pristine perfection in sound on their recordings. They were roasted for hiring entire bands just to audition, and showing them the door if they didn’t like what they heard. I’m talking top notch musicians and session players. I can’t imagine DF, the only person who owns the name/brand Steely Dan since Walter Becker passed being happy with that one guy performing one of SD’s most loved songs. I think he did OK, but take a listen to Kid Charlemagne by Steely Dan. The contrast is shocking. Not the fault of the guitarist. I’m so confused.
ETA - Kid Carlemaigne is from The Royal Scam album, but you can find it on YouTube.
ETAA — Even better . A live version with I don’t know how many top musicians contributing. Fagen looks and sounds good. Yes, it’s almost a quarter of a century ago, but still. Check in, Donald!
