My Vitriol

Finelines is a highly emotional, ethereal yet violent, burst of artistic creativity. Don't trust the official Amazon review, which says that Finelines is basically a "pretty good debut album". Honestly, My Vitriol have created songs and harmonies that are extremely innovative and pleasuring. If you're sick of always hearing music that sounds the same, get this album right now! To explain what I mean by "innovative harmonies", maybe think of The Mars Volta. Although My Vitriol definitely sounds more like My Bloody Valentine (only much, much better!)

I bought this CD a couple years ago when it came out and I STILL listen to it all the time. This band has emotion coming out its collective ears and combined with their uber strong sense of melody & dynamics, you have the makings of a killer record. But somehow it is more than that - the songs ebb & flow into one another, from an enraged diatribe into a reflective ballad, to a ridiculously good instrumental. I've heard comparisons to Catherine Wheel and I can see that...though this is darker than most Catherine Wheel stuff. Seriously, stop reading, stop thinking - just buy this. Buy it now.

Good hard rock band from Britain sounds very much like Foo Fighters.

If you look hard enough and closely enough at anything, you can put it into a formula. Scientists are still searching for the ultimate "Grand Unified Theory" that explains exactly how the universe works, right down to the last upwards-spinning quark. Because, in all truth, formulas work. Formulas are useful. Calling something fomulaic is a way of complimenting its cold efficiency at doing, frighteningly well, what it was designed to do.

My Vitriol have a formula, too -- though perhaps it would be more apropos to call it a recipe -- and it works flawlessly for 16 tracks and 48 minutes because, unlike so many others, My Vitriol take influences like Nirvana, the Smashing Pumpkins, and shoegazing in general, and synthesize them into something that puts those influences on prominent display, yet which is completely their own. This is what sets them apart from the pack.

They're a little bit Nirvana in the sharp sense of hard-rocking melody on tracks like "Cemented Shoes," a little bit Radiohead and Smashing Pumpkins with the chaotic tangle of interwoven lead guitar, and a little bit Catherine Wheel with Som Wardner's approaching-ethereal singing style. Not to mention the generous reverb splashed onto these songs, which is where all the "shoegazer" comparisons likely stem from. Still, if "Loveless" cost My Bloody Valentine half a million dollars to produce, My Vitriol's sound here is worth a million bucks.

Beginning with the embryonic, instrumental "Alpha Waves," which is really just a warm-up for the furious "Always: Your Way" and its many peaks and valleys, "Finelines" never fails to deliver anything less than incredible in its 48 minutes. Hightlights include the dynamics-laden "Infantile," the truly brilliant instrumental "Tongue Tied," which manages to very subtly reference pieces of "Always: Your Way," and perhaps the loudest moment on the record (aside from the not-so-subtle jab of "C.O.R. (Critic-Oriented Rock)"), "Losing Touch," which still manages to mutate throughout the course of its three minutes with the same impeccable melodicism as every track here.

On the aforementioned technical side of things, the remixing the album received for release stateside shines on tracks like "Losing Touch" where the most important elements are emphasized cleanly and crisply for the benefit of anyone within listening range.

I've been listening to this album for three years and its still constantly near the top of my list when in doubt. Simply put, "Finelines" is a fridge full of just desserts. If you have any sense, you will love this album to death-from-overconsumption.

My Vitriol fans should also enjoy records from A Perfect Circle ("Mer de Noms"), the Deftones ("White Pony"), and Year of the Rabbit, all of which contain parallels to My Vitriol's polished, sculpted guitar lines and ingenious songwriting on "Finelines."

Also check out their B-sides collection, "Between the Lines," which (as any devoted fan of any band would tell you) is better than 90% of other bands' A-side material.

Where was I when this group came out? I've been waiting for a sound like this for a LONG time. The songs are very well balanced (not so complex that they sound like a prog rock band, but definitely not simple or juvenile). The songs are addictive! They're filled with catchy lyrics and the whole album drives hard all the way until the end. I can't stop listening to it. This band is LOADED with talent and I can't wait to hear more from them. Buy this album. It would be worth it even if it cost $50. Having a hot female bassist doesn't hurt things either, does it?

I definitely hear MBV in the guitar sounds, but My Vitriol is harder, more serious, and definitely more vocal-based. 'Always Your Way' and a few other tracks do reveal a Foo Fighters-esque character about his voice, but without the tongue in cheek that for me has always detracted from their sound. The production is nicely layered with weird, spatialized stuff swirling around, popping out at the proximity of the soundfield, or just accenting the already good composition. The transition from 'Alpha waves' to the next track is breathtaking. 'Pieces' is a very good song, as are several others on here. But by far the most fascinating is 'Ode To The Red Queen' with its striking guitar riffs, awesome vocals, and a mood that truly sets this band apart from its progenitors. The bass player, Carolyn Bannister, is also probably one of the top ten most beautiful women on the planet. Surely that couldn't hurt the band's rise to fame. In July, a remixed and remastered version will be released in the US, along with a b-sides-bundled double album called "Between the Lines". The b-sides interest me, but I have no clue how you could improve the mixing and mastering of this disk, other than maybe just porting the original mix's master to Model 2 Optimized HDCD. If you've read my other reviews you know how anal I can be about sound quality, so I'm very suspicious of anyone who thinks this record needs any significant "adjustment". Just be aware.

I received this CD via a friend from England. This is an outstanding CD and it is strong all the way through. Rumor has it that they are planning to release the album stateside but that is all that it is at this time just a rumor.

If you get your hands on it you will not be disappointed!

cemented shoes was the song that made me like them, but infantile was the song that made me love them. this band has such an amazing power to their music. it's so free and clear and flows together in this beautiful sea of sound. their music is nothing like i have ever heard before. i recommend everyone give some songs a listen, any of them, they are all ace. i send all my love to my vitriol. finelines has definitely changed me.

Cómo se atreven a comparar a esta banda con foo fighters???? My vitriol es mucho mejor¡¡¡¡

This is a great album. It's definitely one of my favorites of 2001. Top 3 for sure.

Of all the bands I have known in my time on this planet, very few have made me turn my head and drop my jaw. This band manages to do this 10 fold. They have a new sound in the airwaves, one that isn't duplicated, merely a metamorphosis of shoegaze, rock, and indie. I can't really but this cd into words, but DO trust me when i say this; if u are a fan of rock, indie, alternative, pop, whatever, MUSIC IN GENERAL, this is a definite must own. One of the top 5 albums in my opinion. Not only is the original "Finelines" album brilliant, but the B-sides are to die for! Such great tracks, and so many of them too. It is a rarity, and this is why it is a must-have in you cd collection. Trust me, u won't regret it.

No me considero un buen critico de música, lo que si se es lo que siento al oir este grupo... multitud de sensaciones que no mitigan con el tiempo. Al principio pensé que eran un grupo más de chavales que se juntan para tocar la misma musica que el resto... pero ahí fue mi sorpresa al oir esas guitarras, esas canciones tan bien elaboradas, sin fisuras (de la 1ª hasta la ultima), esas letras... y fue uan sorpresa aun mayor al pasar al 2ºcd, INCREIBLE!!! Una recopilacion de b-sides, acusticos y versiones de un grupo que acaba de empezar... ¿como puede ser tan bueno?
Es una conjunción de frescura de grupos como "Ash" y "nadasurf" pero sin su sonido tan plano, añadiendo unas guitarras impresionantes, que llaman la atencion como lo hicieron grupos como "My Bloody Valentine" o "Ride" en su momento; junto con la dulzura de grupos como "Mew" o "Stars".
Te recomiendo "Ode to the red Queen" o "Windows & Walls" del 1ªcd y "spotlights" y "moodswings" del 2ªcd
Compralo, sobresaliente, está en mi TOP.10 !!!!

well.. i was introduced to My Vitriol by some friends. The blending of Alpha Waves & Always Your Way totally blew me off. This was indeed something new to check out, recommended. Highlighted tracks include Cemented Shoes, Pieces, Moodswings and the beautiful acoustic version of Always Your Way. Anyway, this double disc complilation is indeed worth the money. Check it out.

First off, the US remix and remaster of Finelines is indeed worth purchasing...much to my surprise. There's more low-end, a richer midrange, and the important layers of the music have been emphasized. Some of the tracks are also cut differently, including intros and outros that were not on the European release. The dynamic range has also been altered: certain portions suddenly become much louder within the song, while other portions have been slightly compressed. It seems that specific intricate samples have been thrown out in favor of the more prominent, generalized, and music-lending ones being enhanced and brought out in the mix. My first reaction is that the music is much more focused and attention-grabbing. It would seem Steve Thompson has the same affinity for certain aspects of the music as me, because I dig it. He hasn't messed up the songs I already liked, and those which were less interesting before seem amazing now. The master, like I said, is warmer, but also a tad less harsh in the high end and less thin. This may simply be a result of attenuating some of the highs, but I'm able to keep it at a higher volume than before. There does seem to be a slight loss in ambience and intricacy in spots (again probably relating to the new EQ and the deletion of certain arguably extraneous background layers), but I have the original mix so I can still revisit them. However, I think the spirit of the album has not only been preserved but taken to a more intense level. Between The Lines is a fantastic addition. The covers are good, the acoustic version of Always Your Way with piano is fabulous, and while some riffs seem a bit same-ish on a few tracks, it doesn't annoy me or become tiresome in the least. There's a great deal of subtlety going on here and a depth worth exploring. If you don't own the US version of Finelines, I highly recommend this double album.

This is one of the best bands from the UK period. They ROCK OUT WITH THEIR COCKADOODLEDOO OUT!!! Smashing guitars, great lyrics. Check it out.

Good album. This band should do well on the Indie Rock scene. Guitar is fun and trendy with good fuzz chords and stringy "cure like" counter melody from lead guitar. Good lyrics. Check out Gwen Mars, Echo and the Bunnymen and My Bloody Valentine for other good similar bands.

England's My Vitriol are a perfect combination of stunning melody, intelligent songwriting, and straight-up rocking that made the mid 90's some of the best (and sorely missed) era's in music. In an era of NOTHING BUT pre-fab packaged bands singing about fake anger or plastic souls, My Vitriol represent what makes music great in the first place: the music. If your a fan of bands such as the Foo Fighters (which they have been compared to) Deftones, or Feeder, You will love My Vitriol.

This band are really good, u can tell their influances straight away. Nirvana etc. this roc band are shaping up to be huge, and no btw they ain't a indie band like someone said above. there like kinda grungey and then metal influances ther and then a really cool drum beat in there too. i dunnno this band is just superb. go download or buy their music now. u will love it. like more than sheep. i know hard to believe yeh but seriously. this band it BETTER than sheep.

Britain seems to supply a never ending plethora of indie groups that continually shine far above their dull American counterparts. King Adora, JJ72 and My Vitriol are all fine examples of how some of the lesser known British rock can still prove to be as equally interesting as The Radiohead's and Blur's of the world.

"Cemented Shoes," the second of three singles released is by far the best thing they've put out so far. Not only because the A-Side is great but also because they have a genuinly soulful and delicious B-Side in "All of Me." "Cemented Shoes" delivers the usual indie thrills, crunching guitars, agressive vocals etc... The chorus of "I'm falling at your feet" will continue to resonate long after you turn it off.

My Vitriol release their debut album "Finelines" on March 5th. Here's hoping that they can keep this level of songwriting up on the album. This could easily be appreciated in America.

Fresh off the UK alternative scene emerges a band called MY VITRIOL. No doubt inspired by the genius of Nirvana, and no doubt reflective of other top UK bands like Muse, Coldplay, and Radiohead (although not as commercially contrived), My Vitriol is etching their mark and carving their niche in the alternative environment, reinforcing that organic rock music is alive and kicking. And still throwing some acid as well. Lead singer Som packs a vocal punch with confident guitar playing to match. Nicely swallowable, organic accompaniment to boot. These guys (and one gal) will definitely continue making headlines in the UK, if not make a sizable splash in the States when their debut album appears this Fall 2000. Keep up the guitar smashing!

'My Vitriol' is one of the best bands ever.They have been seriously understated. I saw them in Nottingham,UK in support of 'A Perfect Circle', they played three songs then the lead guitarist threw his guitar accross the stage and walked off the stage...This was followed by the bassist saying "I guess that's, Thak-you and Goodnight" followed by her throwing her bass at the flour and the rest of the band walking off the stage... They are an excellent band and everywhere should have more Info about 'My Vitriol'...