2008 Woodie Awards
Bittersweet second coming
The Verve's first album in more than 10 years isn't quite up to par.
by Dannielle Higginbotham
Issue date: 8/28/08
Section: Music
When Richard Ashcroft and the rest of The Verve announced they were reuniting after 10 years, Britain let out a sigh of relief. Although they formed one of the most influential bands of the '90s, walking along side other British acts such as Blur, Pulp, and their friends Oasis, The Verve wasn't able to survive long after its mega-hit "Bittersweet Symphony" and broke up, becoming the very definition of a band cut down in its prime.
So when the band reunited in June 2007 and announced a November 2007 tour, fans went wild. Tickets for the tour sold out so quickly (in 20 minutes, to be exact) that the band had to add extra shows and when it announced a new album, it quickly became one of the most anticipated comebacks of 2008.
"Forth," released August 26, offers fans a return to The Verve's "A Northern Soul" days, at times offering a window to the world of "Urban Hymns." The first single, "Love is Noise," starts off with an uncharacteristically electronic chorus of "Oooh oooh oooh, ahh ahh ahh," which is disappointing until lead singer Ashcroft launches into the first verse, reflecting on modern society with the line "Will those feet in modern times/walk on soles that are made in China?" While his voice has become older and more strained since "Symphony," it at least still retains the air of desperation and hopelessness that Verve fans fell in love with.
The album itself begins epically with "Sit and Wonder." While the lyrics soon get tiring, the music itself is like a dream that one wants to lose himself in. The second track, "Rather Be," keeps the same tone, but this time the lyrics, while simple, are much more captivating and match the music perfectly thanks to Ashcroft's voice as he sings, "Well I'd rather be here than anywhere/Is there anywhere better than here?/You know these feelings I've found they are oh so rare/Is there anywhere better than here?."
Later on comes "I See Houses," a song perfect for the days when routine rules. The background music is a simple rhythm until the song reaches its chorus and Ashcroft's epiphany that life is dull and repetitious. When it explodes along with the breaking realization that there's no break in routine.
While "Forth" is a good album, none of the songs on it stand out or have the same grandeur of "Bittersweet Symphony." None of the songs seep into listeners or stay with them in the same way "Symphony" does, which is something a group called "the greatest band in the world" should easily be able to do. That's disappointing for fans who truly believe in the group.
It's a good comeback album and an encouraging look at the future of The Verve, but the band didn't live up to the standards that it set for itself.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Dannielle Higginbotham is a Reporter staff writer
So when the band reunited in June 2007 and announced a November 2007 tour, fans went wild. Tickets for the tour sold out so quickly (in 20 minutes, to be exact) that the band had to add extra shows and when it announced a new album, it quickly became one of the most anticipated comebacks of 2008.
"Forth," released August 26, offers fans a return to The Verve's "A Northern Soul" days, at times offering a window to the world of "Urban Hymns." The first single, "Love is Noise," starts off with an uncharacteristically electronic chorus of "Oooh oooh oooh, ahh ahh ahh," which is disappointing until lead singer Ashcroft launches into the first verse, reflecting on modern society with the line "Will those feet in modern times/walk on soles that are made in China?" While his voice has become older and more strained since "Symphony," it at least still retains the air of desperation and hopelessness that Verve fans fell in love with.
The album itself begins epically with "Sit and Wonder." While the lyrics soon get tiring, the music itself is like a dream that one wants to lose himself in. The second track, "Rather Be," keeps the same tone, but this time the lyrics, while simple, are much more captivating and match the music perfectly thanks to Ashcroft's voice as he sings, "Well I'd rather be here than anywhere/Is there anywhere better than here?/You know these feelings I've found they are oh so rare/Is there anywhere better than here?."
Later on comes "I See Houses," a song perfect for the days when routine rules. The background music is a simple rhythm until the song reaches its chorus and Ashcroft's epiphany that life is dull and repetitious. When it explodes along with the breaking realization that there's no break in routine.
While "Forth" is a good album, none of the songs on it stand out or have the same grandeur of "Bittersweet Symphony." None of the songs seep into listeners or stay with them in the same way "Symphony" does, which is something a group called "the greatest band in the world" should easily be able to do. That's disappointing for fans who truly believe in the group.
It's a good comeback album and an encouraging look at the future of The Verve, but the band didn't live up to the standards that it set for itself.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Dannielle Higginbotham is a Reporter staff writer
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