Sadly missed (Urban Hymns - The Verve)

Member Name: tommy7

Product:	Urban Hymns - The Verve
Date:	08/05/01 (144 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great album still listen to it regulary 3 years later, great lyrics, Catchy Tunes

Disadvantages: May not be to all tastes

The Verve released Urban Hymns in 1997 to great reviews from the public and the critics. Three years on I still regularly listen to what I consider to be in the top 5 albums of the nineties. This was the follow up to “Northern Soul” and was released after the band had reformed.

Bitter Sweet Symphony (Single)

This is a great track to open the album with. It starts off quietly and builds up into a great tune that you can’t help humming along to. The lyrics are also great as they explain the problems that make life a “Bitter Sweet Symphony”. This is a tune that most people will recall and it’s a pity that The Verve lost all of the royalties because the Rolling Stones copyright owners sued them for using the strings from “The Last Time”.

Sonnet

Sonnet is another track that starts off quietly and builds up. Again it has a very catchy tune and a memorable chorus. This really is the secret of The Verve’s success in my opinion, similar to Travis, the first time you hear a song it is immediately familiar.

The Rolling People

This track is a bit more upbeat and is more of an album filler than a stand out track. It is still a very good track and it is not one that I ever skip past, it’s just not up to the excellent standard that a lot of the other tracks achieve.

The Drugs Don’t Work (Single)

This is a magnificent track. It is emotional and Ashcroft’s voice has seldom sounded better. It could be argued that it’s a depressing track but that wouldn’t do it justice. The fact that it got to number one in the charts is evidence of it’s popularity. Worth buying the CD for this track alone.

Catching the Butterfly

The pace picks up again with this track. It is another Verve sounding track in that it is instantly recognisable as one of their songs. Another that I would say is more of an album
filler as it rambles along.

Neon Wilderness

This is another track that rambles along. It is one of the poorer ones on the album. It is the only track that I regularly skip past. A bit of a disappointment but I suppose there is always at least one weak link on any album.

Space and Time

The album immediately jumps back to the heights it was previously at with this superb track. It is a personal favourite and I would have liked to have seen how it would have got on if it had been released as a single.

Weeping Willow

This is another standard album track which is very enjoyable if you like The Verve sound. It is another that is easy to sing along to.

Lucky Man (Single)

This may well turn out to be the last release from The Verve. It is a fitting finale to any band. The track is a lot more positive than the rest and it gets used a lot on TV as the tune is very recognisable and popular. Another excellent track.

One Day

Back to the more downbeat after the sole uplifting track! This is another track that is very enjoyable and easy to listen to.

This Time

This is a different type of sound for the Verve and it works. There is a lot going on in the song which can prove to be a distraction but it is another high quality track.

Velvet Morning

This would be the best track on any other album. It is an excellent track that is quiet throughout the verses and builds up to the chorus.

Come On

I imagine this must be a fantastic song to hear live. It is full of energy and is almost a rant from Ashcroft. A good way to close the album although this track could easily bring the parental warning for some of the lyrics.


The Title was one that impressed me. Fellow dooyooers will know how difficult it is to come up with an apt title. Although The Verve had a lot longer to come up with a title than we do it is still an
excellent title that captures the album.

It is a pity that The Verve have split up as this CD leaves you wanting more. However, given their past, another reformation may not be out of the question. Thankfully Ashcroft is now producing solo material but I prefer the sound of The Verve. If you don’t have this CD I would recommend buying it immediately as it is a truly great album.

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