Ashcroft's Best (Keys To The World: Parental Advisory - Richard Ashcroft)

Member Name: tommy7

Product:	Keys To The World: Parental Advisory - Richard Ashcroft
Date:	21/09/09 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some truly excellent tracks

Disadvantages: Two/Three Weak Ones

Richard Ashcroft is best known as the lead singer of English band 'The Verve'. After one of many break ups of the band, Ashcroft decided to go it on his own and 'Keys to the World' is his third solo release and in my opinion, easily his best.

Unfortunately, whatever Richard Ashcroft does, he will always be compared with The Verve's 'Urban Hymns'. This is an extremely high bar to be gauged against, especially when the rest of The Verve's stuff couldn't get near that album. It's never a bad thing to be forced to attempt to achieve great music but I can't help but feel Ashcroft's solo material would be far more popular if he didn't have that millstone around his neck.

The album deals with a lot of heavy topics. Dealing with, amongst other things, depression, politics, death and failed relationships. Ashcroft has also moved away from every track having to be an eight minute epic which helps with the pacing of the album.

I like the level of variety that is throughout this album. The opening track is an upbeat angry rant which works brilliantly. It is full of intensity and energy and opens the album on a real high and is quite different from anything I've heard from him before.

The sound throughout the album is immediately recognisable as being Richard Ashcroft with his unmistakable voice. The quality of his voice is especially evident in the magnificent ballads 'Words Just Get in the Way' and 'Why Do Lovers?'. These tracks have consistently been my favourite on the album.

However, I always find the real strength of an album is how your favourite track can change to suit your mood. I would say that over half of the tracks on this album have been my favourite tracks over the last 3 and a half years.

That's not to say the album is consistently strong throughout. 'Music Is Power' was a surprising choice for the second single, to me it is very much a standard album track. The real weakness though is 'Sweet Brother Malcolm' which is a bit of a dirge that goes nowhere. The final weak track is the bonus track '75 degrees'. This is listed as a Japanese bonus but it's on the version I have on my ipod. However, I wouldn't go out of my way to ensure it's on your copy.

The lead single is the excellent Break the Night with Colour which deals with depression, something Ashcroft has repeatedly suffered from. Lyrically it's outstanding covering the depths before rising beyond them

'The corridors of discontent
That I've been travelling
All alone in search for truth
The world's so frightening
Nothing's going right today
Cos nothing ever does
Ooooh, I don't wanna know your secrets
Ooooh, they lie heavy on my head
Ooooh, let's break the night with colour
Time for me to move ahead'

Once you catch the meaning of these tracks your appreciation grows hugely for them.

The title track was perhaps chosen for its name rather than the quality of the track. It's a good song but it's not a standout in this collection.

Of the remaining songs Cry 'Til The Morning starts off like a ballad before evolving into a slightly faster paced track. It's quite emotional with a repetitive finish and is well placed on the album.

The final two songs close the album. Simple Song almost brings us back to the pace of the album opener in places. Another quality song which always puts a smile on my face. Perhaps as upbeat as Ashcroft gets!

'Yeah, I'm happy to feel this way.
Don't know another way.
I'm happy to feel alright.
Oh, it's the only thing that gets me through the night.
I'm not scared, 'coz I know I can survive.'

The closer (ignoring the bonus track) has this is the final track written all over it. Again, it appears to deal with failed relationships.

'It's been too long since we sat down here & talked
It's been too long, you know we separated
It's been so long I wish that I could build a bridge
It's been so long, how can I see through it?'

All in all, an excellent collection, with a couple of poor tracks. It provides a lot of encouragement for the next solo album.

Although this has a parental advisory warning I have only heard one use of 'The F word', there isn't much on here to worry about in that regard.

Released in January 2006

Tracks
1. Why Not Nothing? (4:09) (Fourth single)
2. Music Is Power (3:58) (Second single)
3. Break the Night with Colour (3:56) (First single)
4. Words Just Get in the Way (4:53) (Third single)
5. Keys to the World (4:42)
6. Sweet Brother Malcolm (4:51)
7. Cry 'Til the Morning (5:04)
8. Why Do Lovers? (4:45)
9. Simple Song (4:05)
10. World Keeps Turning (3:55)
11. 75 Degrees (4:48) (bonus track)

Summary: Highly Recommended.