Time, own label heal Vertical Horizon's wounds

Vertical Horizon found platinum success in 1999 with the hit single "Everything You Want," but after an unhappy relationship with its record label, the band split ways.

Now, after a five-year break, founding members Matt Scannell and Keith Kane, along with Sean Hurley and Ron Lavella, have released a new CD, "Burning the Days," on their own label. The CD features Rush's Neil Peart and songwriter Richard Marx.

Scannell talked about regrouping and the new album.

Question: It has been a long time. What happened?

Matt Scannell: The honest answer is a little bit complicated. You know, we had some tough dealings with our record labels toward the end of that relationship. I kind of needed to take a step back and reconnect with the reason why I was doing this in the first place.

Q: You are on your own label now. How did that work?

MS: Major labels can be an absolutely tremendous way to get your music out there. I mean, our first four years with RCA was a clear indication of how incredible it can be to have that kind of a team behind you. Then the next four years or three years was almost the complete antithesis of that. I am certainly a believer in this day and age in having as much control over your music as you possibly can.

Q: What did Richard Marx teach you?

MS: He taught me not to overthink melody so much. I think I have in the past limited myself as a singer by choosing melodies that were easy to sing. He is such an accomplished singer that he tends to push himself to get better melodies and as a result becomes a better singer. So I was kind of limiting myself where he was pushing himself. And I have learned now as I was doing this record to try to push a little harder and come up with melodies that maybe I wouldn't have before.

Q: With the success with Third Eye Blind, there is clearly a 1990s rock resurgence thing going on. What do you think about that?

MS: It is great. We toured with Third Eye Blind for a while. They are clearly meticulous craftsmen of a pop-rock sound. And, yeah, there are bound to be some similarities there. And, yeah, if people are liking that style of music and embracing it, then come on, that is great. That is great for us.

AP