The Verve - Urban Hymns

Format:	2LP
Label:	UMC
Catalogue Number:	4787014

Not long after the release of A Northern Soul, the Verve imploded due to friction between vocalist Richard Ashcroft and guitarist Nick McCabe. It looked like the band had ended before reaching its full potential, which is part of the reason why their third album, Urban Hymns -- recorded after the pair patched things up in late 1996 -- is so remarkable. Much of the record consists of songs Ashcroft had intended for a solo project or a new group, yet Urban Hymns unmistakably sounds like the work of a full band, with its sweeping, grandiose soundscapes and sense of purpose. Although it may run a bit too long for some tastes, Urban Hymns is a rich album that revitalizes rock traditions without ever seeming less than contemporary. It is the album the Verve have been striving to make since their formation, and it turns out to be worth all the wait.

Tracklist

Bitter Sweet Symphony 
Sonnet
The Rolling People 
The Drugs Don't Work
Catching The Butterfly 
Neon Wilderness 
Space And Time 
Weeping Willow 
Lucky Man 
One Day
This Time 
Velvet Morning 
Come On 
Deep Freeze