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Rating: The story of ‘'The Verve’' begins in Wigan, Lancashire county, in the remote English province, in the summer of 1990 when a group of college students from Upholland with a passion for early '70s psychedelic rock came together: they are vocalist Richard Ashcroft (an intriguing hybrid of a young Mick Jagger and Patti Smith), guitarist Nick McCabe, drummer Peter Salisbury, and bassist Simon Jones. By the next year, they were already holding their first London concert, and record label scouts, always on the lookout for new talents, immediately set their eyes on them, just like the press, with Melody Maker leading the way, which began to praise them based only on their live performances. This is a critical aspect of Verve's music, a band that has done nothing in the studio but narrate and encapsulate their psychedelic and improvisational performances.
'A Storm In Heaven' marks their debut in 1993, a great year for the band. In their minds and hearts is the desire to break down the doors of perception as the Doors once tried; spinning on their turntables are the most beautiful albums of the '70s and psychedelic rock. Such a ‘splendid isolation’ that will lead them after just two albums to the heights of 'Urban Hymns'. Yet, it takes four turbulent, troubled, and creatively fruitful years before the band reaches its masterpiece, which, unfortunately, will also be their musical testament: the egocentric and problematic personalities of Ashcroft and guitarist McCabe clash one too many times, and around a year after the release of 'Urban Hymns,' the band disbands permanently.
The two had already decided to drop out once before in September of 1995, when a terse statement officially announced the group's breakup. Without McCabe, the surviving Verve members, with a new guitarist, Simon Tong, find themselves in the studio in 1996 without even knowing if it's to record a solo Ashcroft album or the Verve's new work. They record a lot of material, but things don't flow as they used to because the binding element of Verve's musical magic is missing: the ‘space guitar’ of Nick McCabe. Ashcroft drops everything, needing to earn some money, and goes to model in New York. It will be the darkest period of his life, when it seems the ancient dream of making music has vanished miserably from his hands.
At Christmas 1996, he swallows his pride and finds the strength to call McCabe back to the studio: with him, it’s a whole different music. With Nick once again involved, recalls producer Chris Potter, everyone felt more confident because he is a unique guy. He plays in a highly original way and has tons of good ideas. He completely changed many songs on the album. Nick was able to extract interesting things from feedback, things never heard before. It was difficult to control sounds and noises the way he did. If Verve’s previous albums were unique, long, insane jams probably recorded under the influence of hallucinogens, Urban Hymns does not forget this experience but prefers the song format, the classic kind, thanks to the compositional maturity Ashcroft has quickly reached, with surprising results.
The album opens with ‘'Bitter Sweet Symphony‘'. ‘You’re a slave to money then you die’: probably never has a song so prophetically and ironically told the truth. That success they searched for with years of hard work that finally arrived. A memorable hit, a perfect melody. Its driving rhythm leads the album to the top of charts around the world. This song opened many doors for the band and introduced their music to the entire planet. The track is the fitting swan song for one of the most interesting English rock groups ever. ‘'Lucky Man‘', "The Drugs Don’t Work‘' are great songs, effective reminiscences of the English school lesson a bit in the style of John Lennon and a bit of Nick Drake. ‘'Catching The Butterfly ‘' is an expertly manipulated extract of a jam originally over half an hour long: it is music that comes from nowhere, without barriers or limitations. The song was played first and then written. A process that allows freedom but is also challenging to achieve a compact sound that way. But this time it worked. In ‘'Velvet Morning Tong‘', he even plays a lap steel that makes it sound like a piece by George Harrison.
The Verve had a band capable of dreaming their music so strongly they soared above trends and passing fads to deliver to posterity a handful of songs, piercing feedbacks, ‘space’ melodies that will surely remain as some of the best and most original things played and recorded in the 90s.
In the end, "Urban Hymns" is the reconciliation of young generations raised on dance floors, with brit pop and the psychedelic vision of the 60s.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Bitter Sweet Symphony (05:59)
'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Try to make ends meet
You're a slave to money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
Where all the veins meet yeah
No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
But I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
Well I never pray
But tonight I'm on my knees yeah
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
But the airways are clean and there's nobody singing to me now
No change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
I can't change
I can't change
'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Try to make ends meet
Try to find some money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
Where all the things meet yeah
You know I can change, I can change
I can change, I can change
But I'm here in my mold
I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people
From one day to the next
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
I can't change my mold
No, no, no, no, no
I can't change
Can't change my body
No, no, no
It justs sex and violence melody and silence
It justs sex and violence melody and silence
(I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down)
It justs sex and violence melody and silence
(I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down)
Been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Have you ever been down?
Have you ever been down?
Have you ever been down?
02 Sonnet (04:23)
My friend and me
Looking through her red box of memories
Faded I'm sure
But love seems to stick in her veins you know
Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord
Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord
My lord
Why can't you see
That nature has its way of warning me
Eyes open wide
Looking at the heavens with a tear in my eye
Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord
Yes, there's love if you want it
Don't sound like no sonnet, my lord
My lord
Sinking faster than a boat without a hull
My lord
Dreaming about the day when I can see you there
My side
By my side
Here we go again and my head is gone, my lord
I stop to say hello
'Cause I think you should know, by now
By now
By now
By now
By now
By now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
Oh, by now
03 The Rolling People (07:02)
I got one more life
Can you see it wasting away?
But I got a plan
Do you understand?
The drugstore wife
I was dealing soul and other white
I won't shake your hands
'Cause death has no plans
But here we are the rolling people
Can't stay for long
We gotta go
So come alive with the rolling poeple
Don't ask why
We just know
I'm on a big jet plane
With my baby's crime in my veins
I'll be the first to toast
To my rowdy soul
But here we are the rolling people
Don't ask why
We don't know
So come alive with the rolling people
Don't ask why
We just go now
Yeah
Don't even know which way I'm going to
The lights are on and I am feeling blue
I hope you know which way I'm going to fly
Thank you for my life
I said good night, good-bye
You see me going
But here we are the rolling people
Can't stay for long
We gotta go
So come alive with the rolling poeple
Don't ask why
We don't know now
Yeah
04 The Drugs Don't Work (05:06)
All this talk of getting old
It's getting me down my love
Like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown
This time I'm comin' down
And I hope you're thinking of me
As you lay down on your side
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again
But I know I'm on a losing streak
'Cause I passed down my old street
And if you wanna show, then just let me know
And I'll sing in your ear again
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again
'Cause baby, ooh, if heaven calls, I'm coming, too
Just like you said, you leave my life, I'm better off dead
All this talk of getting old
It's getting me down my love
Like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown
This time I'm comin' down
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again
'Cause baby, ooh, if heaven calls, I'm coming, too
Just like you said, you leave my life, I'm better off dead
But if you wanna show, just let me know
And I'll sing in your ear again
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again
Yeah, I know I'll see your face again
Yeah, I know I'll see your face again
Yeah, I know I'll see your face again
Yeah, I know I'll see your face again
I'm never going down, I'm never coming down
No more, no more, no more, no more, no more
I'm never coming down, I'm never going down
No more, no more, no more, no more, no more
(Repeat and Fade Out)
05 Catching the Butterfly (06:27)
As though you were born
And so you thought
The future's ours
To keep and hold
A child within
Has healing ways
It sees me through
My darkest days
I'm gonna keep catching that butterfly
In that dream of mine
I'm gonna keep catching that butterfly
In that dream of mine
In my lucid dreams
In my lucid dreams
Something numb
Through life no fun
I want to feel
I want to run
I'm gonna keep catching that butterfly
In that dream of mine
I'm gonna keep catching that butterfly
In that dream of mine
In my lucid dreams
In my lucid dreams
I'm gonna keep catching that butterfly
In that dream of mine
Keep catching that butterfly
In that dream of mine
I'm gonna keep catching that butterfly
In that dream of mine
I'm gonna keep catching that butterfly
In my private dreams
In my private dreams
In my private dreams
My lucid dreams
My forgotten schemes
I see through you
You see through me
I see through you
You see through me
Be with me
Be with me
I see through you
You see through me
I see through you
You see through me
To be in your eyes
To be in your eyes
06 Neon Wilderness (05:38)
In a neon wilderness
He was restless
Escape loneliness
Find a new address
Stood before I sink
In a neon wilderness
Spill my last drink
Yeah, he was restless
Say good-bye to my new friends
Escape from loneliness
I found a new address
In the last room
I hear a boom
Someone else's distress
In a neon wilderness
Someone else's distress
In a neon wilderness
And I hear a boom
In a neon wilderness
He was restless
Escape loneliness
For a new address
In a neon wilderness
He was restless
Escape loneliness
For a new address
08 Weeping Willow (04:55)
When morning breaks
We hide our eyes and our love's aching
Nothing's strange
It was in our hands from 6 to 10
It slipped right out again
There'll be no better time
There'll be no better way
There'll be no better day to save me
Save me
Yeah, save me
I hope you see like I see
I hope you see what I see
I hope you feel like I feel
And the world don't stop
There is no time for cracking up
Believe me friend
'Cause when freedom comes
I'll be long gone
You know it has to end
There'll be no better time
There'll be no better way
There'll be no better day to save me
Save me
Yeah, save me
Yeah, save me
I hope you see like I see
I hope you feel what I feel
Someone to stand beside me
Beside me
Beside me
Beside me
Beside me
Weeping willow
The pills under my pillow
Weeping willow
Pills under my pillow
Weeping willow
The Gun under your pillow
Weeping willow
Beside me
Beside me
Beside me
Beside me
09 Lucky Man (05:04)
Happiness
More or less
It's just a change in me
Something in my liberty
Oh, my, my
Happiness
Coming and going
I watch you look at me
Watch my fever growing
I know just where I am
But how many corners do I have to turn?
How many times do I have to learn
All the love I have is in my mind?
Well, I'm a lucky man
With fire in my hands
Happiness
Something in my own place
I'm standing naked
Smiling, I feel no disgrace
With who I am
Happiness
Coming and going
I watch you look at me
Watch my fever growing
I know just who I am
But how many corners do I have to turn?
How many times do I have to learn
All the love I have is in my mind?
I hope you understand
I hope you understand
Gotta love that'll never die
Happiness
More or less
It's just a change in me
Something in my liberty
Happiness
Coming and going
I watch you look at me
Watch my fever growing
I know
Oh, my, my
Oh, my, my
Oh, my, my
Oh, my, my
Gotta love that'll never die
Gotta love that'll never die
No, no
I'm a lucky man
It's just a change in me
Something in my liberty
It's just a change in me
Something in my liberty
It's just a change in me
Something in my liberty
Oh, my, my
Oh, my, my
It's just a change in me
Something in my liberty
Oh, my, my
Oh, my, my
10 One Day (03:51)
One day maybe we will dance again
Under fiery skies
One day maybe you will love again
Love that never dies
One day maybe you will see the land
Touch skin with sand
You've been swimming in the lonely sea
With no company
Oh, don't you want to find?
Can't you hear this beauty in life?
The roads, the highs, breaking up your life
Can't you hear this beauty in life?
One day maybe you will cry again
Just like a child
You've gotta tie yourself to the mast my friend
And the storm will end
Oh, don't you want to find?
Can't you hear this beauty in life?
The times, the highs, breaking up your mind
Can't you hear this beauty in life?
Oh, you're too afraid to touch
Too afraid you'll like it too much
The roads, the times, breaking up your mind
Can't you hear this beauty in life?
One day maybe I will dance again
One day maybe I will love again
One day maybe we will dance again
You know you've gotta
Tie yourself to the mast my friend
And the storm will end
One day maybe you will love again
You've gotta tie yourself to the mast my friend
And the storm will end
11 This Time (04:59)
Lookin' back on my life
You know that all I see
Are things I could've changed
I should have done
Where did the good times go?
Good times so hard to hold
This time, this time
This time I'm gonna find
Lookin' back on my life
You know that all I see
Are things I could've changed
I could have done
No time for sad lament
A wasted life is bitter spent
So rise into the light
In or out of time
Gonna rise straight through the light
In or out of time
Woke up one other day
The pain won't go away
I am growing
In peculiar ways
Into a light I pass
Another dream, another trance
This time, this time
This time I'm gonna rise into the light
In or out of time
Gonna find my way in life
In or out of sight
I'm still seeing things in black and white
Gonna rise straight into the light
In or out of sight
I'm gonna see the light
I'm gonna see the light
I'm gonna see the light
'Cause I know there is time
There is time
There is time
There is time
There is time
There is time
There is time
There is time
This time, this time
This time, this time
This time, this time
This time, this time
12 Velvet Morning (15:13)
Yes
It's been long
And yes
I still feel strong
Into the half light
Another velvet morning for me, yeah
Time
Stands still
As you take
Your last pill
Into the half light
Another velvet morning for me
And now I'm trying to tell you
About my life
And my tongue is twisted
And more dead than alive
And my feelings
They've always been betrayed
And I was born a little damaged man
And look what they made
I said, don't you find
That it's lonely
The corridor
You walk there alone
And life is a game
You've tried
And life is a game
You're tired
Yes
I'm coming down
Your beauty is
A colour surround
Into the half light
Another velvet morning for me
And now I'm trying to tell you
About my life
And my tongue is twisted
And more dead than alive
And my feelings
My feelings, they've been betrayed
And I was born a little damaged man
And look what they made
He said, don't you find
That it's lonely
The corridor
You walk there alone
And life is a game
You've tried
And life is a game
You're tired
And life is a game
You've tried
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Other reviews
By claudio12
"BITTER SWEET SYMPHONY is probably the best hit ever made in the Britpop realm, a true anthem."
"Just one album was enough. Just one. And the Verve rightfully entered history."
By rebel1
I literally can’t find the words to describe the beauty and completeness of this solemn song.
The purity and beauty of those strings that begin the song are incredible.
By TONI E FURMINI
"Bitter Sweet Symphony" allowed Ashcroft and company to remain forever in the history of their genre and leap to the top of the world charts.
This album is very valid, certainly one of the best in the genre, and its main feature is that it easily spans between Britpop and psychedelia.
