checkthemeaning
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My Forth Review - a bit longTo paraphrase a great Lennon quote, "It's just another mirror, not another miracle."
To the generation that's hearing the Verve for the first time I imagine this album will go down a storm - it manages to be
unique compared to what's out at the moment, while still being surprisingly accesible. It's not gonna alianate people the way ASIH or to a lesser exten NS did, where you had to be into proper indie music to 'get it.' And although Forth isn't as massive as UH was, I get the feeling this is where new fans that probably know fuck all about the band will start to latch on to the Verve and feel like "whoa I discovered something here." So in that sense, you can call it a success.
But for those of us that know what the band is capable of, it leaves us wanting a bit more doesn't it? You can't call Forth a failure. There's enough quality moments to more than justify its existence, but you get the feeling they may just be that -moments. The record as a whole very much feels like a work in progress. Highly ambitious, full of undoubted potential, but again whether it's down to the quality of past material, or down to the huge expectation - you're left wanting a bit more. You're left waiting for the big bang...that ultimately never comes.
There's enough album quality material in here, but where are the big songs, the classics? Sit and Wonder is immense and Valium Skies is really good, but clearly more was needed. The coolness of Columbo, the beauty of Judas and the catchy-you don't know why but it's part of the consciousness Love Is Noise still make it a good, strong record. A record that's still very much Verve and unlike anything out there. But is it great?
Track by Track
Sit And Wonder - So clearly the highlight, absolutely immense and MUST be a single. It evolved from a 25 min jam much like This Is Music and I think it's been edited and produced to perfection. I've got no problem with the album version, it's as good as the live if not better. There's not only a tune in there but the classic Verve psychadelic groove that you can get lost in and rock out to. You just turn it up and you can hear everyone involved(and so much going on too) - everyone on top of their game. Songs like this and This Is Music you can listen to over and over repeat.
Love Is Noise - It's already an anthem live and like I said part of the consciousness so you can't argue too much with it, plus it's a bit groundbreaking for the band and just works really well here. It's simple as fuck, I would assume Richard wrote it acoustic first, it very much sounds like it and obviously the band reworked it completely. I'd be curious to hear it acoustic actually, I think it'd be just as good. I'm surprised Richard hasn't introduced it as "This is another modern day blues song" ...... That's what it is lyrically at least.
Off to a flying start
Rather Be - Disappointing. I had high hopes for it hearing the live versions, thought it would be better on the album surely. You hear the opening bits on the album and you think you're in for a classic, but it's slow and stale as fuck. It drags on and fails to climax in any significant way(something a lot of RA solo suffers from). Poorly produced and poorly sung, Richard doesn't sing it with the same conviction he does live. Decent chillout track but nothing more. Verve classic? Surely not. The 'Music Is Power' of the Verve. Actually I prefer Music Is Power. Great lyrics though. That this may end up a single is indicative how badly the album misses big, classic songs.
Judas - Really strong. Has lots of Verve qualities about it with the dreamy, ambient feel and brilliant vocals and lyrics. There's a beauty to it but it also has a somewhat depressing feel to it. "But there must be/some answer/I keep seeking/ Coz I've gotta know/We are numbers/ And we are labels/Do we ever break our mold?" - probably the best lyrics on the album. You can only imagine how much stronger this will be live when Nick is fully unleashed towards the end, should be upped another notch.
Numbness - I've got no problem with this song at all. Perhaps one of the rare Verve songs where Nick is unleashed for the longest, where he actually is doing licks and solos. Moody, down and gritty and very Pink Floydish. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. It's never gonna be a single but another really fucking strong album track. Doubt it would be played live, but you almost want them to coz who wouldn't want to hear Nick go full out like that?
Certainly a strong first half save for one glitch and everything is going well but momentum starts to be lost with the next two songs - the worst two of the album.
I See Houses - Lets hope this doesn't get released as a single! Very heavy but almost irritating and painful to listen to all the way through. Uninspiring chorus and we almost have to wait 5 minutes to hit some sort of abrupt climax that suddenly crashes. It's a mess of a song that really ruins the momentum of the album. How people can claim it resembles Check the Meaning in any way is beyond me, it's so drastically different.
Noise Epic - This is where things get overly ambitious and overdone. It's another mess, maybe bigger than I See Houses. Yeah we get to hear heavy jamming once again by the end, but by that time the song is far too ruined. An experiment gone bad unless it's drastically better live. It just doesn't work on the album and will be skipped 9 times out of 10. Worst song on the album.
Valium Skies - Badly, badly needed at this point and it comes like a breath of fresh air. Say what you will about the lyrics, but would Richard give a fuck? Not one bit and with the delivery with which he sings it and the quality of the song he totally can get away with it. It's gotta be a single. It's more On A Beach than Lucky Man. I would take this over Rather Be any day. Total sing along live, put your arm around your girl/mate feel. True it could've been made even bigger, but then it might turn into something like 'Angels' (We don't want that do we)... Bottom line is it's still more than good enough, and borderline classic. Who fucking really knows if this won't go #1 if it's released as a single?? It's a really fucking good pop song!
Columbo - Cool as fuck, don't get me wrong, but as good as any Verve song? Bit of a stretch. It's more breaking new ground, something experimental than like a definite Verve classic like Sit and Wonder is. Basically 3 songs into one isn't it...The best bit coming 5 minutes(long time coming) in with the "Fame" part, you're in a total groove but you kinda want it to go on a bit longer rather than end with "Love's like oxygen." Should've edited/worked on it more and just kept the good bits, doesn't need to go on 7,8 minutes when just 3,4 minutes of it are the real magic bits. Mr Jones shines here and I would imagine he would even more live. Really curious if they can improve on this live coz there's obviously mass potential in this tune.
Certainly the momentum has been regained. The question is can we end on a high note?
Appalachian Springs - Probably most indicative of the album as a whole - highly, highly ambitious with great potential but something's just not quite right. Maybe it's overdone, maybe it just doesn't climax quite right ... I can't put my finger on it. It's certainly not bad by any means, but it's not among my highlights. Having said that once again (bit of a pattern) I can see this being pretty epic live. To be honest Stormy Clouds on NS and Stormy Clouds at the Roundhouse was like night and day - fucking massive live. Hope this is the case here too.
Like NME my top three are Sit And Wonder, Valium Skies, Columbo in that order with Judas&Love Is Noise&Numbness right after. Rather Be&AS right after in no particular order there
Worst two are clearly Noise Epic&I See Houses
Is this the best album they ever made? No, but it's still a fuckin good one. And it doesn't tarnish their legacy.
"Just another mirror, not another miracle"
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vervecovers
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With a few small exceptions it's almost impossible for me to agree more with your assessment.
The way I would sum it up is that they weren't on autopilot, but their hearts didn't seem totally in it.
And RA's lyric style is starting to grate on my nerves, but I included all of that in my full review.
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Lucky Woman
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Great review CTM.
Didn't agree with it all, (Noise Epic is great imo - took me a while to get into the 2nd part but I like that too now).
And Appalachian Springs I like a lot more that you!
But I agree with a good deal of what you've said, especially Sit And Wonder - the studio version better than the live versions, & I think LIN is much better live, it has incredible energy which does come across on the studio version.
Agreee totally about Valium Skies and most of what you say about the rest of the songs.
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MadSoul
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nice read mate, thanks for sharing.
Rather Be has grown on me a lot, after hearing it many times loud in the car!  Can't get enough of it. The melody's stuck in my head for days. Give it another chance mate 
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