Richard Ashcroft | ||
| Allmusic Biography : As the frontman for the epic British drone-pop band the Verve, Richard Ashcroft proved himself the spiritual descendant of rock & roll icons like Mick Jagger and Jim Morrison -- rivetingly charismatic, menacingly serpentine, and possessed of an almost shamanic intensity, he embraced and articulated the anthemic fervor of rock music with a power and eloquence unparalleled by any of his contemporaries. Ashcroft was born September 11, 1971 in the Wigan suburb of Billinge, attending Upholland Comprehensive School alongside future Verve mates Simon Jones, Simon Tong, and Peter Salisbury .After losing his father at age 11, he fell under the influence of his stepfather, a member of the ancient secular order of the Rosicrucians, who regularly performed experiments in mind expansion and the healing arts. While a student at Winstanley College in 1989, Ashcroft co-founded Verve with bassist Jones, drummer Salisbury, and guitarist Nick McCabe; signing to Virgins Hut imprint to issue their 1992 debut single, "All in the Mind," Verve earned widespread praise for their majestic, oceanic guitar pop, with the eminently quotable Ashcroft earning the dismissive nickname "Mad Richard" from the U.K. press. Despite their critical acclaim, Verve often seemed at the mercy of forces outside their control -- while touring with the Lollapalooza festival in support of their 1993 debut LP, A Storm in Heaven, Ashcroft was hospitalized after suffering from severe dehydration, and within months the band also entered into a protracted legal battle with the American jazz label Verve, which resulted in an official name change to The Verve. Recorded under the influence of a massive intake of ecstasy, 1995s brilliant A Northern Soul effectively split the band apart, although Ashcroft re-formed the lineup a few weeks later. The re-formed Verve achieved international success with 1997s celebrated Urban Hymns, scoring a series of hits including "Bittersweet Symphony," "The Drugs Dont Work," and "Lucky Man"; however, legal hassles awarded 100-percent of "Bittersweet Symphony"s publishing rights to ABKCO Music -- the song was built on a Rolling Stones sample -- and as friction between Ashcroft and McCabe resurfaced, the guitarist quit the group. Following a final tour, the Verve again disbanded, this time for good. Ashcrofts solo debut, Alone with Everybody, followed in mid-2000. Later that fall, Ashcroft celebrated his solo success with a ten-date sold-out American tour. Two days prior to kickoff in Chicago, the entire tour was postponed due to Ashcrofts illness, and speculations were quickly linked to his previous drug-using behavior with the Verve. Those rumors were also wiped out quickly, and the U.S. dates were rescheduled for January 2001. The following year, Ashcroft returned with his soul-searching, spiritual second album, Human Conditions. Over the next few years, Ashcroft returned to living a quiet life with his family. He also inked a recording contract with Parlophone after his longtime label home, Hut, went bankrupt in mid-2004. Ashcrofts long-awaited third album, Keys to the World, was released in March 2006. Shortly after the release of Keys to the World, rumors started circulating that the Verve were set to reunite. The band confirmed these rumors in 2007, playing a brief tour at the end of the year and then setting to work on a new album. Punningly entitled Forth, the record appeared in the summer of 2008 and was a reasonable success, yet the bandmembers didnt weather their reunion well, splitting once more in the summer of 2009. Ashcroft then formed the solo project RPA & the United Nations of Sound, whose debut appeared in the summer of 2010 in every territory but the U.S., where it was released in early 2011. Ashcroft followed this up six years later with his fifth studio album, These People in 2016. The release was recorded in Ashcroft’s home studio in London and features orchestration from erstwhile collaborator Wil Malone. Lyrically focused on conflict and bereavement and composed of lush strings and delicate textures, the record was preceded by the single "This Is How It Feels." Ashcroft quickly followed These People with the 2018 release of Natural Rebel. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 6 Title: Alone With Everybody Released: 2000-06-26 Tracks: 11 Duration: 1:00:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 A Song for the Lovers (05:22) 2 I Get My Beat (06:04) 3 Brave New World (06:01) 4 New York (05:32) 5 You on My Mind in My Sleep (05:10) 6 Crazy World (04:59) 7 On a Beach (05:11) 8 Money to Burn (06:16) 9 Slow Was My Heart (03:46) 10 C’mon People (We’re Making It Now) (05:05) 11 Everybody (06:34) |
| Alone With Everybody : Allmusic album Review : He experienced what could have been a traumatic blow to his inventiveness and creativity as a musician but ex-Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft is fresh. He has moved on from the effervescent prettiness of his former band to make music for himself -- something the Verve might have done somewhere in time, but it wouldnt have been so honest or stripped as this solo jaunt, Alone With Everybody. Another look into the shoegazing mind of this singer/songwriter, this record is not a comeback. Ashcroft is optimistic, hauntingly spellbound on the album opener "A Song for the Lovers." It is a signature love song, flowing with its illustrious string arrangements and simple brushing percussion. His drawl is naturally smooth and one cannot help but to be pulled into the seductiveness behind his words. "Brave New World" and "You on My Mind in My Sleep" are also songs that can carry emotion to another level, weighing in on something surreal. He also gets poppy with a sarcastic twist on the trippy groove "New York," and the twangy sounds of "Money to Burn" clap alongside folk-rock guitar riffs. Richard Ashcroft is still tastefully infectious. He still believes that music has a soul -- with or without his former band. He is certainly a rock star and a believer in love, death, musical spirituality, and individuality. That is what made the Verve a great rock band in the first place, but Ashcrofts superior drive to do something real only makes him and his music more endearing. He is looking ahead, not wishing for past adventures. He celebrates life, pure and simple. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 6 Title: Human Conditions Released: 2002-10-21 Tracks: 11 Duration: 58:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Check the Meaning (08:04) 2 Buy It in Bottles (04:39) 3 Bright Lights (05:15) 4 Paradise (05:37) 5 God in the Numbers (06:58) 6 Science of Silence (04:15) 7 Man on a Mission (05:29) 8 Running Away (04:16) 9 Lord I’ve Been Trying (05:23) 10 Nature Is the Law (04:56) 11 The Miracle (03:50) |
| Human Conditions : Allmusic album Review : Richard Ashcroft is a deeply inquisitive man, probably too much for his own good. His regimen of frequently questioning God and overanalyzing the theories of love naturally work for him, so the design of Human Conditions isnt any different from what hes done before. But thats not necessarily a bad thing, either. Human Conditions is, in a literal sense, Ashcrofts sonic bible of beautifully crafted melodies and lyrical mysticism. The warm, honeyed tones of a hushing brass section and string arrangements set the mood on album-opener "Check the Meaning." A battle of search and fight is realized almost immediately. God is female and Ashcrofts lyrical character struggles with trust. Sweeping acoustic guitars drive the lilting paranoia of "Buy It in Bottles" and "God in the Numbers," but the bluesy feel of "Bright Lights" is much more gritty. Ashcroft might be a bit preoccupied with finding a good life, but who isnt? Hes playful in presentation and actually pretty sweet when it comes to delivering a pop hook. "Nature Is the Law," which features harmonies from Beach Boy Brian Wilson, is a testament of that. Whereas Alone With Everybody was lush in emotion but musically over-produced, Human Conditions stays within the boundaries. Its a decent second album and longtime Verve enthusiasts should leave it at that. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 6 Title: Keys to the World Released: 2006-01-17 Tracks: 10 Duration: 44:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Why Not Nothing? (04:09) 2 Music Is Power (03:58) 3 Break the Night With Colour (03:56) 4 Words Just Get in the Way (04:53) 5 Keys to the World (04:42) 6 Sweet Brother Malcolm (04:51) 7 Cry Til the Morning (05:04) 8 Why Do Lovers? (04:45) 9 Simple Song (04:05) 10 World Keeps Turning (03:55) |
| Keys to the World : Allmusic album Review : Richard Ashcroft deserves kudos for his, um, balls. But then again, a man who claims his last recording, 2002s Human Conditions, was the artistic equal of Marvin Gayes Whats Going On is tough to like, too. While many thought he had slunk into the murky depths after the critical and commercial drubbing of Human Conditions, Ashcroft was simply pondering what happened and deciding it was everybody elses fault the record tanked. Three and a half years later, the Verves former frontman is back with a record not terribly different, though certainly more pastoral and perhaps more middle of the road. Those who fell in love with 2000s Alone with Everybody will have a tougher time here just as they did with Human Conditions. But really, its not the records fault. Ashcroft uses a burping horn section and a few layers of raw, rusty electrics on "Why Not Nothing," the opener on Keys to the World, a nefarious anti-religion rant. His snarling vocal riding down inside the rock & roll cacophony is such a breath of fresh air, its a true departure from his solo work thus far. The messed-up fuzz tone guitar break is glorious. Ashcroft can strut and swagger with the best of them. At least here, Ashcroft reveals he can spit out the rage with the best of rocks big-time frontmen (Jagger, Stewart, et al.). "Music Is Power" reveals the true surprise. Its a Northern soul workout with -- are you ready? -- samples! from Curtis Mayfield no less. (Actually its from Walter Jacksons "Its All Over," produced and written by Mayfield.) Yep, the guy who ripped off and got raked by Jagger and Richards lawyers for the royalties to "Bittersweet Symphony" has dipped his foot into the digital ocean once more. Its a cool groove, and he rides it well, though there is a bit too much sonic separation between singer and musicians (the set was produced by Ashcroft and longtime mate Chris Potter, whos worked with the Rolling Stones). "Break the Night with Colour" is full of strings, a concert grand piano, some synths (including treated backing chorus), and a patch of guitars to make it a beautifully layered soft rock tune. Nothing "indie" or alternative here, folks, except perhaps his disconsolate lyrics. Its a fine comeback single, but either of the aforementioned tracks would have fared better to lure punters to the album. Other standouts on this well, if leisurely paced, slab include "Words Just Get in the Way," with a set of lyrics that are near narrative (read: not mind-bogglingly nonsensical) for a change. Its a sleepy folk-rock tune with its lonely piano and vocal intro before the muted guitars enter. The strings come in on that second verse and one could close their eyes and picture hearing "Bridge Over Troubled Water" as a bona fide rock song, or early-70s Neil Diamond being a Brit. The programming blitz on the title track breaks the interior mood a bit and rocks it up. But the sampling is rather dreadful and boring. The rest of the disc simply follows a formula, though its a pleasant one. Ashcroft introduces everything else here with skeletally placed guitars, pours on the strings, and keeps the tempo on slow, slower, and slowest until the final track, "World Keeps Turning," which is slick, mid-tempo pop/rock. Theres nothing wrong with that; its just a curious way to send a record off. Its got a fine hook, a cool guitar part in the mix, and Ashcrofts vocal is back to being the British Bobby Dylan. What was learned from Keys to the World is that after nearly four years, Ashcroft, despite his own proclamations to greatness, is at the place where he delivers almost entirely what youd expect -- even if its execution is more attractive. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 6 Title: United Nations of Sound Released: 2011-03-21 Tracks: 13 Duration: 58:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Are You Ready? (04:05) 2 Born Again (04:57) 3 America (04:20) 4 This Thing Called Life (05:27) 5 Beatitudes (04:25) 6 Good Lovin (04:48) 7 How Deep Is Your Man (03:30) 8 She Brings Me the Music (04:18) 9 Third Eye (04:53) 10 Royal Highness (04:16) 11 Glory (03:12) 12 Life Can Be So Beautiful (05:29) 13 Let My Soul Rest (04:58) |
| United Nations of Sound : Allmusic album Review : Rebounding from the dissolution of the Verve’s reunion -- not too difficult a task considering he instigated the split -- Richard Ashcroft assembled the United Nations of Sound, a group that at the very least shook him free from the drowsy strumming of his proper solo efforts. RPA & the United Nations of Sound is painted on a larger canvas than any of those albums, attempting to approximate the cinematic grandeur of the Verve by using a different palette. Ashcroft swaps out psychedelia and guitars in favor of very, very bright surfaces, hippie sentiments, surging sampled strings, melodies that are just shy of being insistent, and a rhythmic trick bag stolen from the rave era. Apart from the loops soaring so high they touch a skyscraper, all of these signatures are items the Verve deliberately eschewed during their heyday, so it’s a bit of a surprise that this album sounds like a watered-down diluted Urban Hymns, with all the romantic darkness turned into something cheerfully dippy. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 6 Title: These People Released: 2016-05-20 Tracks: 10 Duration: 51:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Out of My Body (04:31) 2 This Is How It Feels (05:06) 3 They Don’t Own Me (05:49) 4 Hold On (05:40) 5 These People (04:50) 1 Everybody Needs Somebody to Hurt (04:40) 2 Picture of You (04:47) 3 Black Lines (05:10) 4 Ain’t the Future So Bright (04:47) 5 Songs of Experience (05:48) |
| These People : Allmusic album Review : Six years after forming the United Nations of Sound -- a pseudo-group that lasted no more than a single record -- Richard Ashcroft pushes himself back into the spotlight on These People, a 2016 album that finds the former Verve singer reuniting with Wil Malone, an orchestrator who worked on Urban Hymns and Northern Soul. Malones presence suggests These People may achieve a certain symphonic heft, yet Ashcroft sidesteps the churning psychedelia and progressive majesty of the Verves prime. In its place, the singer/songwriter taps into a certain insouciant sophistication, favoring insistent arena anthems and finely tailored Eurodisco. Often, Ashcrofts intentions are apparent -- its evident whenever hes following the blueprints of "Bittersweet Symphony" and "The Drugs Dont Work," just as its clear that the dance beats and electronics are a bid for hip credibility -- but he winds up with sounds that arent the ideal vehicle for whatever vague sociological protest Ashcroft attempts to mine here. If the music is separated from the message -- which is fairly easy to do, due to its slippery shimmer -- These People functions as a pleasing adult alternative record. True, its an album that favors mood over form but after several somnolent solo records, not to mention the botched ambitions of the United Nations of Sound, the cool assurance and shiny veneer of These People is quite welcome. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 6 Title: Natural Rebel Released: 2018-10-19 Tracks: 10 Duration: 46:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 All My Dreams (04:27) 2 Birds Fly (03:57) 3 Surprised by the Joy (05:37) 4 Thats How Strong (04:44) 5 Born to Be Strangers (04:13) 6 Thats When I Feel It (04:02) 7 We All Bleed (03:58) 8 A Man in Motion (05:03) 9 Streets of Amsterdam (05:20) 10 Money Money (05:02) |