Verve: S/D ?

The Leckie produced Storm in Heaven is also magic - Butterfly and Blue being the standout tracks for me. Less an album experience, this and the B-side collections show the Verve not only to be fine songwriters and manipulators of mood but also tripped out and wide-eyed, which I dig. As has already been said, check A Man Called Sun and Gravity Grave.

Fuck Urban Hymns. Bittersweet is a good single but the album is really a cheery-bite from Ashcroft - it's Ashcroft impersonating the Verve. Well, it worked from a marketing point of view, but that doesn't make the music any good. It always sounds to me like McCabe's heart isn't in it. Either that or Ashcroft has asked the producer to keep him on a leash in order to open up the band's prospective audience. Utter speculation I know but the only track on the album that recaptures any of the majesty of the band's previous work is the overlooked Catching The Butterfly, where you can sense the band cutting loose a little.

I haven't rushed out and bought everything else, but storm in heaven is top-notch if you're into shimmery reverb-drenched guitar, like I am. Also search "no come down" just for the song "where the geese go", one of my all-time faves and one of verve's best imho.

I did see them a lot round that time and it was always disappointing to be honest, in part because you were hoping for something like Ned describes above; the reality of standing in a puddle of beer in a goth club in Glasgow does little to help.

Seriously though, I think they're great. Urban Hymns is largely rubbish; however, some of the b-sides from the time contain belting tracks (more like their early stuff such as "The Longest Day", which is probably their best track since "A man called Sun"). First two albums are great and most of the singles too. The problem with Urban Hymns appeared to be the fact that Nick McCabe had little to do with it. His John Martyn-esque stuff is amazing... Richard Ashcroft's crap attempts at the Stones is rubbish give or take the odd tune. I would argue that it's nothing to do with the "The" and more to do with Nick McCabe.

Then finally saw the emasculated version live in Seattle. What a crummy show, first Massive Attack drops off the tour, then McCabe leaves and then our drugs certaintly did not work. Oh well the legend is still there. I'm curious what the shows with the Black Crowes, Smashing Pumpkins and Acetone were like.

Leckie made them beautiful and hazy, Morrison made them ugly and nasty and painful and AWESOME. Not sure which I prefer, but the latter certainly does weirder things to me.

Just grabbed Storm for a relisten today, is all.

I did get to see the Verve at CBGBs once back in 93-4. Totally psyched the way out, nothing like they were on record. Ashcroft squaking around sticking his head into the bass bins.

mainly i'm listening to she's a superstar over and over.

They were the first show I saw in San Francisco when I moved there in July of 1995 and end up seeing them six times total. They were the highlight for Lollapalooza 1994 along with the Boo Radleys. Even if Urban Hymns isn’t as great as their past work, it still is a really good album especially on road trips.

*INSANELY JEALOUS*

Oh...wait a minute...you're talking about THE Verve, purveyors of 1974-style soft rock?

the debut, i never could fully embrace

Denise Johnson

They started with Super Stupid

Surprisingly, McCabe speaks out on the 20th anniversary of UH and the box set release.
http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4151276-urban-hymns-at-20--dis-meets-nick-mccabe

Whoa, will have to read THAT.

These are words I would have never associated with Nick McCabe before now, and yet.

Steve Perry from Journey is on it alongside loads of other bizarre and interesting people.

McCabe sadly suffers from that most common of musician disorders, recency bias

In any event, happy to hear whatever he eventually puts on Bandcamp.

Just finished reading that McCabe interview and man, Ashcroft is such a twat.

The other three should just form an instrumental combo, I could listen to that band jam for hours.

McCabe and fellow Black Submarine member Amelia Tucker now have a two person project, litter and leaves:

https://litterandleaves.bandcamp.com/album/autumn-is-come

https://nickmccabe1.bandcamp.com/album/sankey-brook-rat-lab-n-o-s?

a northern soul is bizarre, I get the impression they had basically no material before they entered the studio? History especially sounds like it’s being made up as it goes along. I remember reading that they were fucked up on ecstasy the whole time they recorded this. The band themselves sound absolutely amazing, of course.

Album is boring af as befits lads in the studio on x

its a brilliant album

The recording sessions were dysfunctional and tense to put it mildly

"History" could have been a Bon Jovi song.

would (the) verve have actually been better with a capable lyricist?

feel like urban hymns might have been improved(?) but the earlier stuff is better off with random pablum largely buried in the mix

also gaunt motherfucker walking down the street bumping into people is a pretty iconic video

nah lyrics on Storm in Heaven are classic

IM GONNA DIE ALONE IN BEEED

You can do anythin' you want to
All you've gotta do is try
I thought the best days had left me
My best years had left me behind

same : /

Album is boring af

So otm

IM GONNA DIE ALONE IN BEEED

“stormy clouds” is otherworldly, kinda the most “storm in heaven” sounding one so it sounds extra WHOA in the context of the rest

its a brilliant album

OTM

I was a huge fan in the 90s and even love Urban Hymns but will admit it's their worst release. Not counting Forth as I never gave it a fair shake.

urban hymns is better, but different. incredible second half. never really listened to forth either.. I do remember Ashcroft singing “ a latte, a double shot for Judas”

“weeping willlow” ffs

Fourth is an album where you can easily tell when Rich and Nick are and aren't getting on. But when they are its sometimes top drawer Verve for me, esp. "Sit and Wonder".

Actually the writing credits for the first three songs in order are The Verve, The Verve/Ashcroft and Ashcroft. And it is easy to tell.

ANS was my first Verve and I love it. The guitar textures are scrumptious. I like it as much as ASIH.

forth is great, worth checking out the numerous outtakes too, as is verve tradition

Forth really is great. Also Nick said it was the most enjoyable experience they had making an album.

cool, I will definitely dig into it