Logo
DiS Needs You: Save our site »
  • Logo_home2
  • Records
  • In Depth
  • In Photos
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Search
  • Community
  • Records
  • In Depth
  • Blog
  • Community

THIS SITE HAS BEEN ARCHIVED AND CLOSED.

Please join the conversation over on our new forums »

If you really want to read this, try using The Internet Archive.

Biffy Clyro

Vertigo of Bliss

Label: Beggars Banquet Release Date: 16/06/2003

4227
sean by Sean Adams June 11th, 2003

[the intro]** Whatever way you look at it, Biffy Clyro have made their mark. People have an opinion on them but until recently, when ‘Questions and Answers’ danced into the charts at 23, they didn't have the commercial evidence to back up their fire-juggling, coal-walking vitality. Sloshed with intelligent musicality, they've inspired many a band and made the rock underground more accessible. So, album number two, what've we got 'ere then?

[the overview] Their angular, lottery ball-bumbling popcore is special. So special that it seeps from the heart and strides from the speakers like a swimsuit model; glistening, all hair flicking and perfect smiles. Elements of this on their debut ‘Blackened Sky’ existed, but a lot of the magic was lost under Chris Sheldon’s hazy production. Once again though, Sheldon’s at the desk. Fear not..

[the propaganda] This is an adventure into tidying up chaos. A hurricane hoovering up the crazy senseless world devoid of reason or reality. A tornado in a land where serpents chase regret, and ghosts put the boot in; where we’re dressed by monsters, fed useless needs by fat cats, and demons rummage noisily at 3am. There’s no real refuge to disappear into. No nothing. Only commercials, brands and excuses.

And then there is Simon Neil, sitting in the corner next to your stereo, translating Generation X. Rhyming, sighing, and fronting a three-piece screaming barbershop triplet (completed by the Johnston brothers), who rocket so far outta their souls they can barely balance.

[the guts]** You’ll have been teased by the chugga-chugga dih-dih doo-doo-doo-ooh post-freestylejazzrock-pop of ’The Ideal Height’, and transfixed by the half-Foos, half-Kyuss-pop of ’Toys, Toys, Toys, Choke, Toys, Toys, Toys’. That’s without mentioning the rampaging chainsaw-in-a-library, Kevin Smith soundtrackish, crowd bobbing ‘Questions and Answers’ which will leave you eternally out of breath. But what of the ten other tracks not previously singles? Well, in typical Biffy style, it’s a strangled mess of confusing angular car crash melodies with bones poking seemingly randomly from the bassy hum and the skin of the drums. Soft bits give way to barbaric screaming. And then back to sweet and innocent again. Schizo-Emo? Here's some bits about the choice tracks...

‘Liberate The Illiterate / A Mong Among Mingers’_ is another killer single in waiting... it’s got that alarm clock battling, dream-breaking urgency of Foos’ ‘This is A Call’ and the anthemics to get sweatband-adorning bodies filling rock-clubs again.

’A Day Of...' is an all-screaming Haydes-laced explosion of hand grenades and choir boys. It’s got the ‘KA-POW KA-POW’s and the rising ‘aaaah-ahhh-aaaahs’. It pulls your bowels and licks your face. Please don’t waste your time considering if it makes sense.

’When the Factions Fractured’ is an apocalyptic heartbreaker full of disturbing Justin Timberlake-y “Oohs” and “Uh-Uhs” skewed with whirring symphonies a washing machine noize, with filthy guitars set to dry rinse.

‘Diary of Always’ is a monotone Blues Brothers ballad, doused in sleepy pianos and dripped electronica. Lush. A view to the future of the Clyro?

[the honest conclusion]** A full dissecting deconstruction is not called for. Like getting it on, tipping the velvet, falling in love; the chase, the discovery and the rolling around gleefully fondling (the artwork) is part all of the experience and it ain’t for me to take that away.

‘The Vertigo of Bliss’ is everything you want it to be and more. Promise. Spread the love, instil it into the hearts of all you know, give it time, and enjoy.

P.S. There’s something else going on here and I don’t quite know if everyone’s prepared for it.

  • 8
    Sean Adams's Score
Log-in to rate this record out of 10
Share on
   
Love DiS? Become a Patron of the site here »


LATEST


  • Why Music Journalism Matters in 2024


  • Drowned in Sound is back!


  • Drowned in Sound's 21 Favourite Albums of the Year: 2020


  • Drowned in Sound to return as a weekly newsletter


  • Lykke Li's Sadness Is A Blessing


  • Glastonbury 2019 preview playlist + ten alternative must sees



Left-arrow

Tes

New New York

Mobback
4223

The Vines at Camden Electric Ballroom, Camden, Thu 19 Feb

Mobforward
Right-arrow


LATEST

    news


    Why Music Journalism Matters in 2024

  • 106145
  • news


    Drowned in Sound is back!

  • 106143

    news


    Drowned in Sound's 21 Favourite Albums of the Y...

  • 106141
  • news


    Drowned in Sound to return as a weekly newsletter

  • 106139

    Playlist


    Lykke Li's Sadness Is A Blessing

  • 106138
  • Festival Preview


    Glastonbury 2019 preview playlist + ten alterna...

  • 106137

    Interview


    A Different Kind Of Weird: dEUS on The Ideal Crash

  • 106136
  • Festival Review


    Way Out East: DiS Does Sharpe Festival 2019

  • 106135
MORE


    news


    The Neptune Music Prize 2016 - Vote Now

  • 103918
  • Takeover


    The Winner Takes It All

  • 50972

    Takeover


    10 Things To Not Expect Your Record Producer To...

  • 93724
  • review


    The Mars Volta - Deloused In The Comatorium

  • 4317

    review


    Sonic Youth - Nurse

  • 6044
  • feature


    New Emo Goth Danger? My Chemical Romance confro...

  • 89578

    feature


    DiS meets Justice

  • 27270
  • news


    Our Independent music filled alternative to New...

  • 104374
MORE

Drowned in Sound
  • DROWNED IN SOUND
  • HOME
  • SITE MAP
  • NEWS
  • IN DEPTH
  • IN PHOTOS
  • RECORDS
  • RECOMMENDED RECORDS
  • ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
  • FESTIVAL COVERAGE
  • COMMUNITY
  • MUSIC FORUM
  • SOCIAL BOARD
  • REPORT ERRORS
  • CONTACT US
  • JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
  • FOLLOW DiS
  • GOOGLE+
  • FACEBOOK
  • TWITTER
  • SHUFFLER
  • TUMBLR
  • YOUTUBE
  • RSS FEED
  • RSS EMAIL SUBSCRIBE
  • MISC
  • TERM OF USE
  • PRIVACY
  • ADVERTISING
  • OUR WIKIPEDIA
© 2000-2025 DROWNED IN SOUND