The Verve
Urban Hymns

THE REVIEW

- In the history, there's a place for us. I don't know how long it will take, but I believe that by the third album we'll make it -. These are, essentially, the words of Richard Ashcroft, former leader of THE VERVE, given in an interview in 1993. At the time, the singer was nicknamed Mad Richard. And even if he wasn't completely mad, he certainly might have seemed slightly cocky, especially after his presumptuous statement. The problem, however, became significant for those who did not believe in him or for those who, even worse, mocked him as arrogant and immature. In fact, Captain Rock (as his friend Noel Gallagher called him) showed himself to be a great visionary, so much so that after the debut of A STORM IN HEAVEN (1993), an experimental album with concentrated psychedelia and shoegazing and the more pop-rock oriented attempt recorded in A NORTHERN SOUL (1995) (albums well-received by critics but not much acclaimed by the mass audience), THE VERVE hit the jackpot with URBAN HYMNS.

Released at the end of September 1997 and produced by the genius of Chris Potter, the "Urban Hymns" do not betray the expectations of the title. The start is simply orgasmic: BITTER SWEET SYMPHONY is probably the best hit ever made in the Britpop realm, a true anthem. The second single is THE DRUGS DON’T WORK, a melodic and moving love ballad, giving goosebumps. Very important and very original, in most of the songs, is the innovation brought by the introduction of violins among the "monotonous" basses, guitars, and drums that have always characterized rock instrumentation. The themes of the album, lived and interpreted by Ashcroft, are mainly love, life, death, excesses, and emotions. The atmosphere is melancholic and reflects the state of mind of the physically lean singer of Our band. However, in LUCKY MAN there is a comforting air of optimism and Richard’s sweet voice fully expresses the feeling of having become a happy man. URBAN HYMNS also includes attempts at psychedelic elaboration with NEON WILDERNESS (where the lyrics belong to the guitarist Nick McCabe) and VELVET MORNING, slightly hard-rock experiments yet decidedly very aggressive like THE ROLLING PEOPLE and COME ON, and more pop resolutions with the fourth and last single, namely SONNET.

Now, the Verve no longer exist. In 1999, the great success, stress, excesses, drugs, and the incompatibility between Ashcroft's ego and McCabe's made it impossible to continue one of the most beautiful rock realities in the British and global scene. Nonetheless, just one album was enough. Just one. And the Verve rightfully entered history. Just as Richard said ten years ago. Like in a fairy tale. Unfortunately, however, the end was not as happy as their fans would have wished...