The Verve - Forth
Monday, 01 September 2008 18:00 | Written by Tracy Farnsworth | 
Artist: The Verve
Album: Forth
Release: August 26, 2008
Label: On Your Own
Rating: 6 of 10
Web Site: www.theverve.co.uk
Hailing from England, the Verve have seen tremendous success in past years with “Bittersweet Symphony,” (#12 on U.S. charts) and, “The Drugs Don't Work,” (#1 on U.K. charts.) After a number of break-ups spanning years, the Verve reunited in 2007 and released their fourth album, aptly titled Forth, this August.
I loved the melody in “Bittersweet Symphony,” and after ten years wasn't sure what to expect with the Verve's latest. It's not bad, but sadly I don't find many songs stick in my head. The one exception, “Love is Noise,” is the best track, in my opinion on the album. Love is Noise has a great rhythm that gets you tapping your feet and interested in listening to the song over and over.
Other tracks I feel make this an album worth checking out include the piano-rich “I See Houses.” Oddly, the line "I get this feeling that I've been here before…" makes me think I've heard the melody in the past. I'm not sure why, but the music is vaguely familiar. Offerings that are more melodic include “Valium Skies,” a song with the potential for becoming a hit, and “Appalachian Springs.”
For those who prefer faster, rocking songs, “Noise Epic” is good, though I don't find the vocals as impressive. “Columbo” features a strong bass line that should appeal to guitar/bass fanatics.
In the end, the Verve's Fourth is a decent album. It's not as memorable as their past efforts, but it has, at times, a U2 feel that makes it worth checking out.
Album: Forth
Release: August 26, 2008
Label: On Your Own
Rating: 6 of 10
Web Site: www.theverve.co.uk
Hailing from England, the Verve have seen tremendous success in past years with “Bittersweet Symphony,” (#12 on U.S. charts) and, “The Drugs Don't Work,” (#1 on U.K. charts.) After a number of break-ups spanning years, the Verve reunited in 2007 and released their fourth album, aptly titled Forth, this August.
I loved the melody in “Bittersweet Symphony,” and after ten years wasn't sure what to expect with the Verve's latest. It's not bad, but sadly I don't find many songs stick in my head. The one exception, “Love is Noise,” is the best track, in my opinion on the album. Love is Noise has a great rhythm that gets you tapping your feet and interested in listening to the song over and over.
Other tracks I feel make this an album worth checking out include the piano-rich “I See Houses.” Oddly, the line "I get this feeling that I've been here before…" makes me think I've heard the melody in the past. I'm not sure why, but the music is vaguely familiar. Offerings that are more melodic include “Valium Skies,” a song with the potential for becoming a hit, and “Appalachian Springs.”
For those who prefer faster, rocking songs, “Noise Epic” is good, though I don't find the vocals as impressive. “Columbo” features a strong bass line that should appeal to guitar/bass fanatics.
In the end, the Verve's Fourth is a decent album. It's not as memorable as their past efforts, but it has, at times, a U2 feel that makes it worth checking out.
