Go is the fourth studio album by alternative rock band Vertical Horizon. The album, a follow-up to the band's double platinum Everything You Want, continues to expand upon the band's alternative and pop rock sound while moving into more hard rock directions as well. Recorded in early 2002, the album was ready as early as that August, but was instead delayed extensively due to restructuring at the band's label, RCA Records. The album was released over a year later on September 23, 2003. The singles off the album were "I'm Still Here", "Forever", and "When You Cry".
The album was well received by critics, who praised the album for being enjoyable despite not being especially inventive, but did not perform well commercially, with it not charting within the top 60 in its first week, and failing to achieve any RIAA certification. The album was later re-released as Go 2.0 in 2005 on Hybrid Recordings, with a new track "Better When You're Not There" and rearranged track listing.
Background
After the band's release of their double platinum album Everything You Want in 1999, the band had initially intended to record a follow-up right away. The band took a break from touring in early 2002 to move to Los Angeles and start recording sessions for Go. the band dynamic shifted to Scannell providing the majority of both for Everything You Want, and all of both for Go. The process started with Scannell writing material in solitude, and then presenting his ideas to the rest of the band. The band ended up under the jurisdiction the company's new CEO, Clive Davis. The album's production was wrapped up with mixing by Ben Grosse and Chris Lord-Alge along with mastering by Ted Jensen. Part of the inspiration for this approach were the difficult Everything You Want sessions, where band members stressed out over every little detail of the album." Go has specifically been described as alternative rock and pop rock.
Release and promotion
Go was released on September 23, 2003. The band was featured on television on multiple instances during the album's initial week of release, including appearances on CBS Weekend, CNN, Fox News and WGN. The band cited lack of support from their record label, with Scannell stating:
<blockquote>"Clive Davis had just taken over RCA Records and we knew he was not a fan of our band and certainly didn’t like me or our music much...We knew this album was going to virtually end up stillborn. I remember walking around to seven different record stores that day and finding only one copy of the new album."</blockquote>
On June 28, 2005, Hybrid Recordings, the label owned by Sony BMG, which bought out RCA in 2004 re-released Go as Go 2.0. The album featured a slightly altered track listing that included a previously unreleased track, "Better When You're Not There", and new cover art.