Vertigo of Bliss

Great.

Biffy Clyro is what Foo Fighters wish they were! Take classic Nirvana and stir in a tasteful measure of math rock, add a large amount of originality. This has got to be the most overlooked band in the U.S. The Brits have all the fun!

This is what should be on rock radio.

good songs for a good price. I was very happy with the quality overall, and it's nice to get the early work.

This album is a little rough around the edges. I like their later stuff more, as it is more polished and fuller sounding. The guitars on this record sound like they are starcasters recorded in a tin can. That being said, their are still some redeeming qualities.

Not the Biffy that we know and love now. This is just not a great album

I wasn't sure about a 4 or 5 rating but decided a 4 just did not do this album justice. It may be the bet Biffy Clyro album, at least in terms of good creativity and inventive rock. I agree with the reviewer who said this is what the Foo Fighters probably wish they could do. In addition to incredible music, it's also very rough and loud at times, and yet balanced at other times with soft melodies and harmonies and extremely rich as an album. I can't imagine anyone giving it less than 4 stars, but those who like a more polished (produced) sound of mainstream pop might do that. And it's an album with a good variety of songs and sounds. Well done, guys.

So, you release a debut album as good as "Blackened Sky", which spawns four top quality singles, you have an insane and dedicated underground following which is growing bigger by the day and are receiving rave reviews in the press for intelligent and unpredictable grunge/emo/metal rock. What do you do next?Questions require answers, and when one of the newer songs you start playing live is called "Questions and Answers", people start expecting good answers.Well, Biffy have come up with them. Vertigo of Bliss is one of the most accomplished and varied albums I have heard for a long long time. From the thumping, shouting opening of 'Bodies In Flight' to the sudden heart-stopping climax of 'Now the Action Is On Fire', this album grabs you by the balls (or other sensitive areas) and implores you to listen. You just can't help yourself. Each track begins and you try to predict where its going to end up, usually ending up completely wrong as Biffy twist the songs this way and that with crashing riffs, furious shouting, funky melodies and fragile broken vocals. Examples - "A Day Of..." starts with heavy drums and thrashed guitars and ends up with the group singing choral harmonies, the anthemic "All the Way Down..." begins with quiet contemplation and ends with a repeated shouted catchy chorus with fantastic backing vocals - reminiscent of the old classic '57'.And what singles has this album spawned? Well theres the epic 'toys toys toys', the catchy, slightly more mainstream 'The Ideal Height', the irrepressible 'Eradicate The Doubt'("you are the summer I'll feel forever"), and the aforementioned masterpiece 'Questions and Answers'. Great songs all.However, look elsewhere for the truly magical as its the hidden gems that this album contains that make it so special. Gems like the hypnotic, breathy, dreamy surrealness of 'Diary Of Always', the magnificent closing track 'Now the Action Is On Fire', and the joyous glory of 'When The Faction's Fractioned' (just listen to the little 'huhs' and 'woos' in the background).Yes, so the album is chockfull of excellent songs, and the running order is well planned in my opinion. However, truly great albums for me always contain one song above all the others that I treasure. Can Vertigo Of Bliss score one final mark for this?Of course it can! 'Liberate the Illiterate' is one of my all-time favourite songs, from the hopeful start ("don't be sad, keep smiling"), through the building tension, to the quiet pensive moments just before the full-blooded screams and the final, glorious repition of the song's title. Wonderful.

I AM A BIG BIFFY FAN...BUT THIS IS AN EARLY 2003 CD. they have become far more melodic since, especially from Puzzle onwards.not complaining ,just stating a fact.... if you love OPPOSITES you may be disappointed with the somewhat staccato, unusual rhythms andbrash sounds on this cd. But then you may have preferred the early stuff.... musical tastes differ!

Bit more up & downy than expected - bit heavier than expected in bits & unexpectedly mellow in other bits - but still the Biff

In the top 2 album's Biffy have done, quite possibly THE BEST THEY'VE EVER DONE.I also have to say that in my opinion this album is so much better than Infinity Land (their following album) The album flows from start to finish, great guitar riffs, great drums and great vocals, what more could you want?!! Track after track of brilliant music, cannot stop listening to it in the car.Put it on and turn it up LOUD, this album deserves a 10 out of 5!!!

This album is sensational. It is a must buy if you are a Biffy Clyro fan.

Great