Richard Ashcroft: Now it can be told. The Verve's swan song, Urban Hymns, was actually
frontman Richard Ashcrosft's solo debut. He name is above the title here, but one will not hear
much difference. Adding to my theory is the reappearance of pedal steel artist B.J. Cole --who
was part of the ill-fated final Verve tour after guitarist Nick McCabe and Ashcroft could not
reconcile --and Verve drummer Pete Salisbury who play on most of the tracks. One line of thought is that this shows the creative force of
nature that is Richard Ashcroft. No argument from me there, but Urban Hymns and Alone
with Everybody are so far removed from the Pink Floyd moments on the debut Verve EP and the
90s psychedelia that powered A Storm in Heaven and accompanying live shows of that tour,
that McCabe's contributions must be looked at anew. The "Bittersweet Symphony" strings are the
very first sound on Alone with Everybody. Not much is fresh or new and very little is sonically
challenging. Richard has, one hopes, found love and happiness in uncovering his semi-secret
relationship with My Bloody Valentine keyboardist Kate and the birth of their first child.
Most of the record can seemingly be easily applied to this union: "A Song for the Lovers,"
"You on My Mind in My Sleep," "On a Beach," "Money to Burn." If you're still awake by the time the second half of the
record comes along with "Crazy World," you've earned the treat of a handful of the album's
better tunes. But this reviewer wishes the "you" on Richard's mind was McCabe, if only to offer
some musical punch and a pinch of the tension that propelled Verve. Rating: 4
Alone with Everybody (Virgin)
- Tim Frommer
your
shot
Think you can do better? Email us your pithy comments on the
cd's and shows we
review, and the lists and essays we write.
We'll publish excerpts in future editions...