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
unmistakably sounds like the work of a full band, with its sweeping, grandiose soundscapes and sense of purpose.
The Verve
have toned down their trancy, psychedelic excursions, yet haven't abandoned them -- if anything, they sound more muscular than before, whether it's the trippy
"Catching the Butterfly"
or the pounding
"Come On."
These powerful, guitar-drenched rockers provide the context for
's affecting, string-laden
ballads
, which give
its hurt. The majestic
"Bitter Sweet Symphony"
and the heartbreaking,
country
-tinged
"The Drugs Don't Work"
are an astonishing pair, two anthemic
that make the personal universal, thereby sounding like instant classics. They just are the tip of the iceberg --
"Sonnet"
is a lovely, surprisingly understated
ballad
"The Rolling People"
has a measured, electric power, and many others match their quality. Although it may run a bit too long for some tastes,
is a rich album that revitalizes
rock
traditions without ever seeming less than contemporary. It is the album
have been striving to make since their formation, and it turns out to be worth all the wait. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine