Vértigo (La Ley album)
Vértigo is La Ley's fifth album. The album is separated from the band's other albums because of its electronic sound, machined-style rhythm, and particular cover. The album was completed with the same people as in Invisible, but just before the release, Rodrigo Aboitiz left the band due to a drug problem. The quartet then split with Luciano Rojas for good when he left in the middle of the tour.
| Vértigo | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 17, 1998 | |||
| Recorded | 1997-1998 Chung King, House of Metal (New York City, United States) | |||
| Genre | Rock, Pop | |||
| Length | 50:08 | |||
| Label | WEA | |||
| Producer | La Ley, Joe Moskowitz | |||
| La Ley chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Vértigo | ||||
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| Review scores | |
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| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
Background and reception
Due to the success of Invisible, the band hardly found time to record what would be their next album. However, in 1997 they began recording and announced the album's release date for the middle of that summer, but it was later delayed until 1998. During this time, Rodrigo Aboitiz (the band's keyboardist) caused a series of troubles, missing the first weeks of recording. After the album was finished, he left the band.
One month before the release of the album, the first single, "Fotofobia", was released and slashed by critics. After that, the album "Vértigo" was released and brought the least success of all the band's albums. According to the band members, they had high expectations about it, but it was proven to be a failure in comparison to Invisible. The album was notorious for its electric and machine-style sounds that surprised and outraged most of the fans. Still, the album sold fairly well, as it sold 100,000 copies in Mexico.
The band released two more singles "Vi" (the album's best known song), whose video was banned from MTV for the use of guns, and the much less notorious "Tanta Ciudad". They also released the single "Sed", which did not have a video and was only played by a few radio stations.
In the middle of the tour, bassist Luciano Rojas, was nowhere to be found. He was replaced by J.C. Cumplido, who had to learn the songs in less than five minutes before the beginning of the first concert. Later, though fans thought the band was breaking up completely, Luciano simply left the band, making La Ley a trio. After the end of the tour in 1999, La Ley dropped their dark-style image and began working on their album, Uno.
Though the album did not well do with sales and is often considered by many their worst record, the album's prestige has grown considerably. Some fans now consider it their best album for having such an unusual sound and a different, more experimental, style. The songs "Ciclos" and "Vi" are considered by many the best songs of the album.
"Ví" controversy
The music video for "Ví", directed by Argentinian Stanley, was banned from MTV Latin America because of the use of guns. This was a big shock for the band, since MTV was its biggest promoter. It also affected the sales of the record, being the first single released (although "Fotofobia" was the debut single of Vértigo, it was more like a preview of the album released several months before).
Track listing
All tracks are written by Rodrigo Aboitiz, Mauricio Clavería, Beto Cuevas, Pedro Frugone, Luciano Rojas.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fotofobia" | 2:57 |
| 2. | "Guerrillero" | 4:00 |
| 3. | "Ví" | 4:14 |
| 4. | "X Ti" | 3:47 |
| 5. | "Tanta Ciudad" | 5:15 |
| 6. | "Sed" | 4:24 |
| 7. | "Ciertos Civiles" | 3:53 |
| 8. | "Krazyworld" | 4:02 |
| 9. | "Opacidad" | 5:21 |
| 10. | "Shygun" | 1:59 |
| 11. | "Ciclos" | 3:58 |
| 12. | "Solitaryman" | 6:20 |
| 13. | "Fotofobia" (Extended Version) | 4:29 |
| Total length: | 50:08 | |
Personnel
- Rodrigo Aboitiz - Keyboard
- Mauricio Clavería - Drums
- Beto Cuevas - Vocals
- Pedro Frugone - Guitar
- Luciano Rojas - Bass