Classic Brit Rock, or crazy mentalist music? (Urban Hymns - The Verve)

Member Name: andyoz

Product:	Urban Hymns - The Verve
Date:	31/05/09 (28 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some real anthems

Disadvantages: Some complete trash

Well as I'm reviewing my favorite albums I can hardly leave this one out can I. This one gets up there in many people's Top tens. Not sure if it quite makes mine. I took me along time to get into the Verve and by the time I bought this album I had heard all the hype and was expecting something amazing. It was very good, don't get me wrong. But maybe not just as good as I was expecting! So this is what I make of the music;

1. Bitter Sweet Symphony - A masterpiece, quite simply. This has to be one of the most well known songs in British history, soon as that iconic violin kicks in, you know your in for a treat. Awesome! 10/10

2. Sonnet - I do like this song alot! Very simple, has a nice chilled out vibe. Very good. 9/10

3. The Rolling People - Bit of a weird start to this one. Is ok, but I never quite 'got' this song. 6/10

4. The Drugs Don't Work - People rave about this song. People say it's there best work. And it is quite beautiful. But come on! It's depressing as Hell!! I just wanna be that cat in the bag, waiting to drown!! Sorry but I hate this song!! 5/10

5. Catching The Butterfly - Another unusual song. Real spaced out kind of feel to it. Don't mind this one to much. 7/10

6. Neon Wilderness - Bonkers! I just don't get it. Maybe if I was on acid back in the 90's I would. But I'm not, so this is just tripe! 3/10

7. Space And Time - That's better. Back to normailty. A really good solid song. Typical Verve sound, not to heavy just pleasent. Some good lyrics as well make this a decent offering! 8/10

8. Weeping Willow - Now this I like! A really good upbuilding song. 9/10

9. Lucky Man - Another classic. Such a simple set of chords to make a briliant song. 'Happyness, more or less, it's just a change in me, something in my liberty'. Repeat till you smile from ear to ear!! One of the Verve's really classic songs. 10/10

10. One Day - A slow song, quite a nice one. Certainly not to the standard of Lucky Man, but still a good song. 8/10

11. This Time - Good again, but not great. Another slightly off the wall kind of song, but they get away with it this time. 7/10

12. Velvet Morning - Excellent song. Really slow start and it builds up nicely. Well done! 9/10

13. Come On - Why didn't they end on Velvet Morning? Well they didn't. This song is ermmmm, a wracket? Can imagine them playing this live at festivals back in the 90's and people just going bonkers. But on an album its just not very good. 6/10

Overall there are some flashes of genious on this album. But there is also some real weird crazy music! Maybe I'm getting old but this is just not as good as I was led to believe. So a good album, but not a great album.

Overall I would give it 8/10

Summary: If you skip a few songs, this is an excellent listen