The Vertigo of Bliss

The Vertigo of Bliss
Studio album by Biffy Clyro
Released 16 June 2003 (2003-06-16)
Recorded 2002–2003 at Great Linford Manor (Great Linford), Eden Studios (London), The Church Studios (London) and Sanctuary Westside Studios (London)
Genre Alternative rock, post-hardcore, experimental rock
Length 62:04
Label Beggars Banquet
Producer Biffy Clyro, Chris Sheldon
Biffy Clyro chronology
Blackened Sky
(2002)		 The Vertigo of Bliss
(2003)		 Infinity Land
(2004)
Singles from The Vertigo of Bliss
  1. "Joy.Discovery.Invention"/"Toys, Toys, Toys, Choke, Toys, Toys, Toys"
    Released: 15 July 2002
  2. "The Ideal Height"
    Released: 24 March 2003
  3. "Questions and Answers"
    Released: 26 May 2003
  4. "Eradicate the Doubt"
    Released: 22 September 2003

The Vertigo of Bliss is the second studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Biffy Clyro. Produced with the band by Chris Sheldon, it was released by Beggars Banquet Records on 16 June 2003. The album reached number 48 on the UK Albums Chart, and spawned four singles. A deluxe remastered edition was released in 2012, which featured, in addition to the original 13 album tracks, a number of B-sides from the album's singles.

Cover artwork

The album cover for The Vertigo of Bliss was designed by comic book artist Milo Manara. Despite raising some controversy, the artwork was praised by music magazine ShortList who named it in their list of "The 50 Coolest Album Covers Ever", explaining that the "erotic and controversial" cover "only endeared [Biffy] more to the small but loyal fanbase they were beginning to cultivate".[1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian[2]

Critical reception to Biffy Clyro's second album was generally positive. Writing for newspaper The Guardian, Betty Clarke awarded the album four out of five stars, calling it "inventive and sublime".[2] Praising singles "Questions and Answers" and "Eradicate the Doubt" in particular, Clarke praised the band for "juggling anger with adoration as they take indie sensitivity and embolden it with blistering rock fury", and said that the album "crackles with certainty".[2]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Simon Neil; all music composed by Biffy Clyro.

No. Title Length
1. "Bodies in Flight"   5:17
2. "The Ideal Height"   3:41
3. "With Aplomb"   5:29
4. "A Day Of..."   2:24
5. "Liberate the Illiterate/A Mong Among Mingers"   5:28
6. "Diary of Always"   4:04
7. "Questions and Answers"   4:02
8. "Eradicate the Doubt"   4:26
9. "When the Faction's Fractioned"   3:36
10. "Toys, Toys, Toys, Choke, Toys, Toys, Toys"   5:28
11. "All the Way Down: Prologue Chapter 1"   6:43
12. "A Man of His Appalling Posture"   3:25
13. "Now the Action Is on Fire!" (features hidden track "Ewen's True Mental You") 8:01
Total length:
 62:04

Personnel

Biffy Clyro
Additional musicians
Production personnel
  • Chris Sheldon – production, recording and engineering (all tracks except 17–20), mixing
  • Phil English – engineering
  • Sam Miller – engineering
  • DP Johnson – production (tracks 17–20)
  • S.A.G. – production (tracks 17–20)
Additional personnel

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalog Ref.
United Kingdom 16 June 2003 Beggars Banquet Records CD album BBQCD233 [3]
LP record BBQLP233 [4]
11 June 2012 Double LP BBQLP2090 [5]

References

  1. ↑ "The Vertigo of Bliss". The 50 Coolest Album Covers Ever. ShortList. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Clarke, Betty (13 June 2003). "CD: Biffy Clyro: The Vertigo of Bliss". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  3. ↑ "Biffy Clyro - The Vertigo of Bliss (CD, Album)". Discogs. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  4. ↑ "Biffy Clyro - The Vertigo of Bliss (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  5. ↑ "Biffy Clyro - Blackened Sky (Vinyl, Album, LP)". Discogs. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
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