No Longer Bitter, Just Sweet

The last time we heard from The Verve, the band was in the midst of a heated legal battle that, when all was said and done, left them stripped of any of the royalties they would have garnered from their most popular single to date, '90's anthem, "Bittersweet Symphony". This was ten years ago, and although we've encountered some of frontman Richard Ashcroft's solo exploits, nothing he's done has really left a longlasting blip on our radar. Well, it looks like time sometimes really is the best medicine. The band reunited in 2007 for some gigs, and this apparently got the creative juices flowing. Less than a year later, we are given the appropriately titled Forth, which just happens to be (surprise, surprise) The Verve's fourth studio album. Gotta appreciate the play on words. And while on paper this appears to be just another check in the old comeback album column, you'd better think again. Afterall, this was the band that many a music critic felt should have been Oasis. In any case, it looks like the guys have put their tumultuous past behind them, and are ready to move on with their lives -- all the while taking a stab at making some pretty great music. And in true Verve fashion, this one is anything but forced. Forth picks up right where Urban Hymns left off; the leadoff track "Sit And Wonder" is trippy shoegaze bliss. The outstanding single "Love Is Noise" is better than anything we've heard from Chris Martin and crew since 2000. But buyer beware: if it's three and half minute Britpop you're looking for, you'll be a little disappointed. Most tracks on Forth thankfully surpass the five minute mark, which allows the band to further explore the expansive space rock they introduced to us fifteen years ago. Case in point -- standout track "Noise Epic". Building up slowly, this one blasts out like canonfire before unleashing an all-out assault of distorted guitars at around two-and-half minutes. From then on, it is epic indeed. You'd be hard-pressed to find a track on Forth that doesn't match up with some of their best material from their trio of '90's albums. And unlike their contemporaries Oasis, this band wisely took the time to not release forgettable drivel. Hell, "Mover," a throwaway b-side that they gave away for free on their website, even strikes my fancy. While this year has had its host of music highlights, I am gonna go ahead and award these guys the "feel good" story of the year. Because quite honestly, The Verve are one of the most underappreciated bands of the past twenty years. For them to come back with such quality material is living proof that that this industry might just very well be on the upswing. I'd say that's pretty sweet.

My Rating: 8.2/10