The Verve - This Is Music: Singles 92-98

Unless you have been deaf or dumb since 1997, you’ve probably heard “Bittersweet Symphony” about a million times, and maybe wondered to yourself “What ever happened to those guys?” Well, they broke up not too long afterwards. Lead singer Richard Ashcroft has gone on to release solo material, but as a band, they remain pretty unknown to most Americans. Hopefully, at the very least, this disc will show some people they were more than just a flash in the pan. “Slide Away” is a good atmospheric rocker, leading into “Lucky Man,” their other “hit” or rather “recognizable” song, which still stands as one of the best tracks on the disc. The band's sound is shown most audibly on “History,” a slow jam with trademark strings (strings that got them in trouble with a certain other British band). The strongest moments on the disc come when the band focuses on a song and really builds its melody. “On Your Own” is the perfect example, with great melody and a nice mood, while “Sonnet” backs up the case, showcasing the bands strong points: The slow, moody, ballads of a broken band. The piece de la resistance is the hidden gem “The Drugs Don’t Work.” Worth the price of admission alone, it is an infectious, beautiful song that is at once timeless and will have you hitting repeat a dozen times per listen Where the band sometimes falters is when they take their eyes of the prize and become a bit dull and wandering. “Gravity Grave” is an excruciatingly long and aimless piece, and “Monte Carlo” also falls into the trap of being aimless, meandering, and very forgettable. Lackadaisical moments pepper other parts of the album and can cause it to drag during some of the more forgettable tracks like “She’s A Superstar,” “Blue,” and “All In The Mind.” Of course we can’t forget “Bittersweet Symphony,” but there is not much more to say about that song. If you haven’t heard it a million times, then you must have been living in a cave. “This Could Be My Moment” is a very good, upbeat song, the likes of which could have been on a new U2 album, and it provides a nice shot of energy, something the album needs more of. In the end, the disc wraps up the career of the band nicely. At moments very entertaining and well done and at others a bit dull and meandering. The highlights are high, and the lows are only slightly low, resulting in a disc that you will enjoy from time to time but will be no means become a classic nor have you petitioning for a reunion tour. [www.theverve.co.uk]