Reviews (page 2 of 13)
It’s a high 3. Really easy and nice to listen to, but not much special besides a couple hits.
I have a history with this one. My college girlfriend, Dana, worked at T.I.S. College Bookstore in Bloomington, IN, and her coworker liked to call into the local radio station to win their "be the XX caller" stuff. He won this CD but didn't want it, so he ask her for my name and number and gave it them. I didn't want it either, and didn't pick it up, but I got a call a couple weeks later that I'd also been entered for and won an all expense paid trip to Chicago to see them. They flew us in from Indy, put us up at The Midland Hotel and the concert was at The Vic Theatre. We rode the El everywhere, and breakfast at Lou Mitchell's the morning after was one of the best diner experiences I've ever had. Oh, and the concert was pretty good, except some guy kept trying to bump up against Dana and I had to play human shield and thought for a while I was gonna get in a fight. I never got that CD. It's a bittersweet symphony, this life.
Znači ovako - album traje sat i 15 minuta, od toga je 10 minuta tišine na kraju; već na pola albuma mi se smučilo sve osim poslednje pesme. Svaki dan nova borba, već vidim da će i danas biti borba sa radio glavom... Ocena za album je ..... 2.5/5 samo zato što mi se dopala poslednja pesma
A mixed bag for me. Some obvious high-points but drags towards the end and therefore doesn’t quite live up to its iconic status. Some undeniable tunes still.
Velvet Morning was good but I am so incredibly sick of British alt rock. Gun to my head I could not tell the difference between this and Oasis.
Album cover = "Hey everyone! Look to your right! **takes picture** No, dude your OTHER right! Sheesh. . . . whatever. Print!" I only know the opener, which is great. Can it get better from here?? If "Sonnet" is any indication, then yes. This brings me back to that late 70's "Laughter in the Rain" soft rock, a genre wholly missing in music today (for the future aliens reading our reviews, that's 2024 BCE). "It's country or it's metal!!" Bad edit at 2:05 is jarring, throws off the mood. Otherwise this song would perfectly reach what it's going for. . . . Rock n' Roll can be all about attitude and delivery over good writing; style over substance. Luckily, "The Rolling People" is well written and avoids the standard trappings of the genre where the guitars are tastefully distorted and not trying to overcompensate and show how tough they can be, dude. The post-Jane's Addiction extended jam at the end doesn't seem overindulgent as much as just letting the moment ride. This song seems like it was well-tested live as the closer before being committed to tape. Bop-Bop Bana, Bop-Bop Banana-nana. These guys can really write a slow song; we find another perfection in the slow melody of "The Drugs Don't Work" where the production does a great job of re-interpreting what is essentially a country song. And what a great line: "like a cat in bag waiting to drown, I'm coming down." This is the first time I've heard this album. I'm not going to review this track-by-track, but by now I see where this is heading. Atmospheric, catchy, lush, and spacious, Urban Hymns is a great vibe, equally content as background ambiance as it is turned up and blasting, center-stage. The orchestration throughout the album adds majesty without overshadowing the fact that this is still guitar rock. Always on the verge of going into psychedelia, they remain grounded in their pop-rock formula, save for "Neon Wilderness" which goes a bit further out but stays too safe for optimal peaking. Yes, I'm a little late to The Verve party, but I contend that they're a little late to the 90's party. This album arrived when grunge and post-grunge were all but dead, and rap was reeling in a much-overdue golden age of creativity, and rightfully dominating the airwaves. Had this been released around 1994-1995 to help pick up the pieces when grunge started dissolving, The Verve may have been a heavyweight alongside Radiohead to push new boundaries of rock into the next decade. Each band member and the producer are doing exactly what they should to best serve these songs. Having heard nothing else by The Verve, I'm curious if they ever expanded their form from this triumphant jumpstart or if they stayed content constrained within their own walls. This album suggests that they have the skills to do something truly original and great, but as it is Urban Hymns remains a touch too safe and predictable.
Daydreaming under cold, grey skies. This album owes a lot to later Beatles and other acts of that milieu. Lush production, good use of sampling on the absolutely inescapable single, “Bittersweet Symphony.” Acoustic guitar strumming at the center, embellished with textures of soul, psychedelia, trip hop, and even old-school country & western at moments. Heavily layered yet somehow subdued. All sharp edges have been smoothed. Very consistent feel throughout the album, but by the end, I was craving a change of pace. Surprised this is in the top 20 top-selling albums of all time in UK – illustrates some of the deep differences in taste between the UK and the US. Perhaps this entry also helps to reveal the alleged bias this list has toward British acts and Britpop. I didn't find this album bad, but for whatever reason, I personally found it hard to truly connect to.
Of their time, for sure, but there are some excellent songs here, albeit with their influences front and centre. And I also think the band had a tendency to veer off into the self-indulgent. A star for each of the stand-out tracks.
I had a copy of this album when it first came out. Like so many others, I discovered The Verve due to 'Bittersweet Symphony'. It is undeniably a great song. The rest of the album was always just background music for me. Pleasant enough to listen to but nothing memorable. Revisiting this album many years later, it's much the same as I remembered it. The music is good enough but nothing really stands out. It's still great background music with one stand out single. But generally I just don't understand the excitement around this band.
Drone-y but not actively annoying. Nothing memorable except Bittersweet Symphony.
Bitterwet Symphony overshadows the rest of the album
A mixture of epic bangers and boring dross. Over rated, underwhelming 3.3
I actually expected this album to be better. But the most well-known songs are awesome.
To my untrained ear they sound like a cross between Oasis and a sort of beige Stone Roses. That’s almost definitely selling them short - not just because of their commercial success and critical acclaim but because they do sound like they’re trying to make their own unique sound. It’s hard to listen to these tracks with fresh ears due to the amount of airplay they’ve gotten over the years, but even the hits do nothing for me. Wikipedia said people likened Ashcroft to early-80s Bono and I agree, but like Bono he sounds like he heads off on a deeply emotional journey leaving me behind. I like the (over) earnestness of Ashcroft’s lyrics and the fact that the seemed to care about making a good record, but this is probably a 2.5 stars from me.
Kind of goes no where and does nothing for me. Brit pop
'And I'm a million different people from one day to the next.' Ashcroft has a bit too much of the Bono affect, - melodramatic, laying into something that doesn't exist - the songs are too long, and the music is often prosaic. 'The Rolling People' boringly channels Oasis. Listen: 'And here we ARE the rolling people' directly lifts Liam Gallagher's characteristic cadence. 'The Drugs Don't Work' is properly earnest but poorly written: 'The drugs don't work they just make you worse.' Obvious much? The best song here is the short 'Neon Wilderness,' but even that can't save the record from being a dispiriting drag. Dreariness is a necessary theme of our best art, but it's not a productive quality. 'We have existence and it's all we share.' Yecch.
Snooze
Bitter Sweet Symphony was beat to death on the radio, so I almost turned it off as soon as it started playing. I wished I had. The rest of the songs ran together and sounded the same. The only song worth listening to was Rolling People. It reminded me of early U2.
Spacey Oasis. I’ve not listened to this album before. The hits are the sound of sitting in a pub in the 90s. The rest was both more psychedelic and more boring than I was expecting. And as it went it got more and more boring. Boooooring. 2 stars.
2 okay songs do not make up for this 1-hit wonder.
Wow haha, u subotu smo Tihi i ja sjedili na kavi i svira Bittersweet i ja krenem pričati o toj pjesmi i bla bla - zaključimo da će sigurno biti na listi ovaj album 😂. Nisam slušala album, tako da me stvarno zanima (it better be good koliko traje 😂), ali Bittersweet mi je jedna od onih pjesama koje ću vječno moći čuti negdje usput i neće mi smetati, nego ću pjevušiti. Ta melodija mi je baš predivna i sjećam se kao dijete da sam odljepljivala. Možda znam još koju rendom pjesmu ovako, ali nisam njih slušala aktivno. Dap, toga sam se pribojavala, dosadni su mi i njegov vokal mi ide na kurac u drugim stvarima. Drugs don't work je okej pjesma. Na trenutke mi jako zvuče kao Oasis, ono, doslovce ništa originalno. A Oasis ne volim. Meni će ovo biti 2 ili 4/10.
I remember a stopover in Scotland on our way to (I think) Denmark years ago. We walked around for a few hours in Edinburgh to be exact. The weather was a constant overcast with clouds and light rain falling every few minutes. The sun was struggling to come out. The sky looked so bland. That is what this album sounds like to me. Bland....bleh. I don't think I had ever actively listened to Bitter Sweet Symphony the whole way through despite ridiculous amounts of playtime in the U.S. because the song just did not really pull me in. I feel the same way about the whole album. None of it really pulls me in despite was seems like an attempt to have a bit of a late Beatles sound. I tried to think back to some of what I was listening to back in 1997, that was out at the same time. What was in rotation for me was Deftones..Around the Fur, Incubus S.C.I.E.N.C.E and Tool had just released Aenima the year before in 1996 I think. That year I also went to see U2 on the Popmart tour. Maybe that's why seemingly mopey Brit Rock just didn't do it for me. This band has a lot of similarity to me to Oasis which was another band that didn't really draw me in. It's not that they are bad at playing, I just didn't hear enough dynamics and creativity in the music. From back then what I remember about the Verve was that they had a similar name to the band the Verve Pipe, and Keith Richards was trying to sue them. Again, not a terrible sound, just not my thing. Blur is an example to me of an interesting Brit Rock band. I am not sure why this album would be on a need to listen list and it's mind blowing that this is a UK top seller.
Bittersweet Symphony brings me right back to elementary school but I have not heard a single other song of theirs. "Sonnet" is actually awesome. "Drugs Don't Work" is nice. Neon onwards its all duds. I think that without having a real emotional or nostalgic connection to this album, it's just ends up sounding like pretty generic alt/pop-rock.
One hit wonders to me.
Not my favorite. I was familiar with the opening track but none of the others. Overall this album sounded generic and dragged on far too long. It’s not my favorite genre and this example of it I particularly disliked. I will not return this one.
I had to start on track 2, because I couldn't listen to track 1 another time in my life. I think I heard it every 5 minutes on the radio back in the day. These guys are good enough musicians to make the type of music on this album, which is to say uninspiring, basic shit. The fellas play their instruments well, but the singer's voice makes me want to stop listening. This has been done before by better bands. It's like a watered down U2, or Oasis, who were a watered down Beatles. The production is okay, but I'm annoyed sitting through this one. These guys got paid, so mission accomplished, I guess. I was hoping that Velvet Morning would be a cover of Some Velvet Morning by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood, but I was let down one more time. It was just another song. If I were forced to pick a favorite, I would give a nod to Neon Wilderness, probably because it doesn't sound like the rest of the songs.
This thing is so insanely boring. Its like U2 if they never tried to do anything exciting. The opener is decent enough, and the closer FINALLY brings some energy, but the rest feels like I’m being dragged underwater by someone moaning tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime every couple of seconds. There’s nothing interesting about this, and the only time I think I’ll ever think about this album is when Bittersweet Symphony plays for the one billionth time and I go “Oh! I know that one, it’s from that album I hated, who was it by again? Oh never mind, who cares.” I can’t overstate how great it felt to get to the end of this and have another song not by these guys come up.
I think it's really telling that the most popular song from this album, 'Bittersweet Symphony' is based off a repeated 4 bar loop from a 1965 Rolling Stones song. I don't understand the appeal of this kind of alternative brit-pop. The album makes no statements, takes no risk, and is unmistakably bland and boring. I actually had to do some research to find out what makes this album so respected, and I still didn't get a solid answer. I don't understand who the target audience is, who searches for music where you can't tell one four-chord progression pop song from another in the same album? I felt like I could fall asleep halfway through, wake up, and not even realize I'm five more songs into the album.
Well an absolute classic, you can’t say much more than that, Richard Ashcroft is his classic prime, beautiful lyrics over most amazing music - this album is class.
This album is revolutionary; to me The Verve is a "one-album-wonder." They made it virtually impossible to ever be able to top Urban Hymns because it's so innovative. This will be the shortest hour and 15 minutes you've ever listened to because the music is just soooo good; it sucks you right in. I could honestly rave and gush about this album for hours; it's the type of album that has me standing up and screaming "I love this song!!" after every track.
Excellent album with bangers all around. I only really knew bittersweet symphony beforehand, the rest of the album is equally good if not better.
Really nice
In a review of this album, NME, which was truly the leading British music magazine at the time, not a collection of gossip columns, wrote that the first five songs there pound all other guitar albums of 1997 — bar Radiohead's 'OK Computer' — into the ground. I would have laughed at that once. The Verve? What do you mean? They're a one-song band, and they didn't really write that one. Surprisingly, the journalist was right. Urban Hymns turned out to be an album that took the best of Britpop and thereby put a bold end to the genre. The epicness of Oasis, the looseness of Blur, the sensuality of Travis, the airiness of Lush, and even the psychedelia of Kula Shaker — all are here at their finest. The top five are truly bulletproof, and there are also the incredible, albeit very different, Weeping Willow and Lucky Man. An excellent album, and while not as successful as its peers, it's arguably the best in the genre.
One of the best albums of 1997, let alone the 90's. This album is packed full of great songs. For a band that, at this point, was having problems staying together, I am glad we got this collection of songs. I remember thinking I sounded like Richard Ashcroft when I would sing this while listening to it, especially on Lucky Man, which was my favorite song for a very long time, and still is right up there. Anyway I can ramble on about my childhood but the fact is this album inspires you, brings you down, and then picks you right up again. It's a good album to get lost in. Biggest Hit - Bitter Sweet Symphony Biggest Miss (if I had to choose ) - This Time Not So Hidden Gem - Velvet Morning
This is a classic album from start to finish. Five stars.
01) Bitter Sweet Symphony - 10,0 02) Sonnet - 10,0 03) The Rolling People - 9,0 04) The Drugs Don't Work - 10,0 05) Catching the Butterfly - 8,5 06) Neon Wilderness - 8,5 07) Space and Time - 9,5 08) Weeping Willow - 9,0 09) Lucky Man - 10,0 10) One Day - 9,5 11) This Time - 9,0 12) Velvet Morning - 8,5 13) Come On - 8,5 TOTAL: 9,23 (92/100) Current ranking: 41/952
9/10
I loved this when it first came out, but it is remarkable how many of the tracks are absolute classics in their own right. An incredible album.
Good stuff. Berne has been added to my listen list.
Peak
5 estrelas só pq tem a maior música do mundo (bittersweet symphony)
Man, I love this album, even with the emotional uppercut
I don't actually need to listen to this one, I've heard it so many times. It's one of those albums that immediately takes me to a time and a place in my life. There's a steady beat through the whole thing, so it's a great album to walk to, perfect to have on as you traverse the city streets. This is definitely in my top 100 of all time already. I love the way the tracks flow into each other and bring you on an emotional journey with high highs and low lows, but always that steady rhythm to keep you grooving on down the road. It's one I come back to regularly.
A fantastic album one of my absolute favourites from the 90s. Recently discover that Bittersweet Symphony is the best Saturday morning. It was also pointed out to me that some songs sound like Crowded House. Sad what happened to the band with that Rolling Stones licensing debacle.
Excellent album. Closer to 5 stars than 4,so that's wot it's getting.
I bought this CD when it first came out. Loved it then, particularly The Drugs Don’t Work, then drifted away from it. Another listen as part of this project reminded me how good it was.
Great songwriting. Great vibe. I only wish they maintained more od the fuzz and drone from earlier releases.
After a while i wished my ear canals would block
Took me back to my childhood. Always a special record to me, with so many songs I love.
9/10 Yeah Bittersweet Symphony is the big one but the guitar work and the strings throughout the album really clicked for me.
Didn’t get a chance to listen but I love this album
Banger.
Really liked this. Beautiful sounds and voice.
Fire
Bitter Sweet Symphony is one of the best songs of that damn decade so that song alone puts this album at 3 stars for me. The rest of the album is what elevates it to a 5. Every song was impactful, written beautifully and sonically arranged in a way that was pleasant to the ear. Finally a five star project, the first in a while for me!
masterful in every sense of the word
The marriage point between shoegaze and britpop, which makes for a shockingly wonderful swirl of sounds. Beyond the obviously brilliant opener, so many of these tracks feel like britpop pushing in such a uniquely psychedelic way, such as “The Rolling People”, “Space and Time”, and “Lucky Man”. This record really shows how The Verve are firmly among the britpop greats.
Have I listened to this album before? No How familiar am I with this album? I know one song How do I feel about this artist? I really like Bitter Sweet Symphony Pre-Listen Thoughts: I am excited to listen to The Verve more outside of the big hit Favorite track(s): Bitter Sweet Symphony, Rolling People, Catching the Butterfly Post-Listen Thoughts: I liked all the songs, it was on the longer side but it didn’t drag. Bitter Sweet Symphony is a great album opener. Usually the rest of the album is kind of a letdown when it starts with the hit this one just has such a great intro.
Lo escuché mientras caminaba
Tremendo álbum
beautifullll
Хороший альбом, мне понравился.
Pedazo de genio, telonero de la puta madre
¡Himnos urbanos, si los hay! "Dejo que la melodía brille, dejo que me limpie la mente, me siento libre ahora". y digo que su puesto entre los 1001 esta perfecto. Un álbum atmosférico, reflexivo, emocional en capas. tiene una apertura tipo manifiesto y después de algo tan arriba, el resto del disco juega más en lo íntimo.
I really, really like this album a lot! It can probably lose a few of the weaker songs, but there’s a lot of great depth tracks. Weeping willow, sonnet are really good songs. I’m flirting with giving this a 5.
Uno de los mejores discos de la historia, cada una de las canciones son sublimes! Mis favoritas: Bittersweet Sweet Symphony Sonnet Catching de Butterfly One day Lucky Man Come On Space and Time
Starts off strong with the iconic Bittersweet Symphony. The rest of the courses are similarly mellow yet engaging. Great album.
A good album. +2 starts for Bitter Sweet Symphony. I regretted I didn’t do this for Franz Ferdinand, but one excellent track makes an album a five. That’s a rule I decided before I started this list.
5 stars all day long
This was a 5 star before I even hit play. I love this album, have done since it first came out. The singles from it are brilliant even if Bittersweet Symphony has suffered a bit from years of being overplayed. Sonnet for me is an outstanding song though. I will say though as an overall album I think I would put A Storm In Heaven slightly ahead of it. Top Track - Sonnet
Such a good album!
Me re gustó, es mas mi estilo, el primero un TEMON
love this album
Brilliant music
close to perfection
no doubt late 90's + British bands are a match made in heaven.
I've heard Bitter Sweet Symphony, never realized it was part of an album
Honestly a pity 1 song eclipsed all the other ones. Love this music, sort of melancholic rock
Eriiiittäin hyvän kuulonen lätty! Hyvä sekotus rauhallista ja vähän menevämpään! Omaan kokoelmaan lisättävä.
One of the most underrated albums from the 90s. Bittersweet symphony was a curse for the band. From my POV, the band would be better with that song as a release on its own, leaving this album (and their rest body of work) a deserved room to breathe. It’s unfair that that song devoured the band. Anyway, make yourself a favor, skip track 1 and enjoy
Roll coaster of emotions. Die. Live. Pray. Reborn. Incredible. Like if you confessed to god all your sins in order to take that heavy bag out off your fucking mind.
Spectacular album. 90s Brit poppy excellence
Great. Seen it live
This was such a nostalgic pick for me! I listened to this album so much in high school, but haven’t really since. I really enjoyed listening to it again. I was struck by how many hits are on this album- I think it has 4 singles on the radio from this single album. My favourite is still The Drugs Don’t Work- so pretty and sad. It’s interesting how all the singles are the slower songs, when you listen to the whole album they are interspersed with more fast, louder songs- which makes for a great overall album experience.
All-time great classic stacked with songs that have only grown more and more popular through time
good chilling vibes! thanks !
Very nice album with some guitar-friendly songs that I enjoy to play
Loved it
favorites: bitter sweet symphony; sonnet; the drugs don't work
Top
Imperious. Right up there with the best albums of the decade. Hasn’t aged in the slightest 10/10
If I could describe this album it would be like telling your friends about a surreal evening you had in the 90s without video phones. Summary; finding yourself at a mulholland drive after party where the walls are textured and the furniture is furry. Robbie Williams decides to muster up the courage to leave the couch he’d sat in without moving for two hours, to start jamming with the band, who you later found out was Radiohead (before they’d dropped acid). It’s good. I’d say worthy of the list :)
i love this album so much, i can’t believe how many hits it has. the drugs don’t work is one of my favourite songs ever and it’s one i listen to a lot when i’m down. brilliant album and i had my shazam out the entire time
had my shazam out the whole time
One of My favorites ever. Bettersweet symphony just don't fit in the sound of the whole record. Since Drugs don't work, this record is a piece of art.
One of my all time favourite albums. Grew up with the sound of Mr Ashcroft, legend and this album is pretty much peak
Urban Hymns is the closing credits for the Britpop era. It's a band firing on all creative cylinders and the result is a melancholic masterpiece that shined brighter than their contemporaries in 1997.
Não foi a primeira vez que ouvi este álbum. Sabia perfeitamente que o álbum era muito bom, mas não me lembrava que era assim tão bom. É só grandes músicas. Noto influências de Stone Roses, o que só pode ser bom sinal. Aliás, prova disso é o álbum ter uma hidden track de longa duração, tal como o álbum de estreia dos Stone Roses. Álbum perfeito para hoje.
This is Brit-Pop at it’s absolute best. Maybe it's the nostalgia. Maybe it's the hits. Maybe it's the fact it's simply just a very well written album. I can't help but absolutely love it. Ashcroft’s vocals are iconic and land just as well on the heavier tracks as they do on the slower, mellow tracks. All round one of Britain's best.
Very good album. I’ve not listened to it for a long time. Remember when it came out and it was huge!!
Richard Ashcroft and the bad just don’t get the credit they deserve on this. Overshadowed by Oasis and Blur when this came out but this stand along side and better than some of their albums. Bittersweet Symphony is worth giving this a listen on its own. Lucky Man, The Drugs don’t work and Sonnet are also bangers. Will be back to this one time and time again. Incredible
An original classic!!
Very cohesive album which doesn’t feel as long as it actually is to me. I couldn’t stand Bittersweet Symphony and The Drugs Don’t Work when I was younger because they were very overplayed in my house, but I’m getting over it.
Super excited for this one! Obviously Bitter Sweet Symphony is a classic. I’ve heard it many times and it’s constantly referenced in other music I like! Sonnet is such a beautiful track. The way it ebbs and flows throughout just does something to my brain. The Rolling People was super interesting to me. There were a lot of different sounds but they ended up coming together really well. That guitar solo at the end slapped. I wasn’t sure about the track at first, but it really came into its own. The Drugs Don’t Work almost made me sob like a baby. I’ve had a rough week and this one really hit for me. When that chorus hit, oh my god, gorgeous. This is a song that is 100% going to go into heavy rotation. Unfortunately I didn’t love the next track Catching the Butterfly. There was just something about it. I think it was the way it’s sung, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Neon Wilderness and Space and Time were awesome. The end of Space and Time, brilliant. I am loving this album. Weeping willow continues on with the overall vibes of the album so far. Again, super cool guitar solo. The guitar in this album in general is great. Moving in to Lucky Man that is more than apparent. This track, so good. The strings in there bringing it back to Bitter Sweet Symphony. That was cool. One day was great. This Time wasn’t my favourite, but I didn’t mind it. Velvet morning was good, but at this point I felt I’d heard similar songs earlier in the album. Come on was a great closer. The hidden track… oh boy do I have something to say about hidden tracks. They’re great when you’re spinning a record, but please when that album goes on a streaming service, cut out the 5 minutes of silence. PSA over. Also points off because of the baby crying. I can’t stand that noise. This has to be a 5/5 ⭐️ album for me. I haven’t had one in a while but I think this one deserves it. I loved most of it, and even that I didn’t love, was still good. I needed this album today, and it came to me. 36/1089
The Verve follow the classic rock and roll tradition of a bunch of good musicians that make good music with each other while also hating each other with great equal fervor. Such classic bands like The Police or Ramones or Cream all made really great music tempered by the fact they all wanted to kill each other at some point. The Verve continued that tradition by breaking up before Urban Hymns was finished, then they came back together again because catching music talent lightning in a bottle is about as rare as being struck by lightning. Twice. The end result was their most commercially successful release, that most people probably know the biggest hit off the album, Bittersweet Symphony, although ball-knowers probably recognize Lucky Man and The Drugs Won't Work, the latter sometimes described as the most depressing song ever. I do really like this album, but I don't really want to write more about the songs on it: If you know the old Verve albums, this is a much more commercial (dare I say poppish but The Verve were always kind of doing their own thing not like a band like Sparks for instance that is more pop-centric). The sort of mix of britpop, alternative/"college" rock and shoegaze were three different lanes of 90s music that the most you'd see a combination of the two, but on Urban Hymns you can hear all three blend together to make an album that emotionally is a bit like a roller coaster but is sonically wonderful and really does sound like what the songwriting on paper envisioned. There was a good reason this album exploded in popularity, as 1997 is one of those really good years in music like 1967. In the end I do prefer The Verve's earlier works, but Urban Hymns is a much bigger album than the band even expected. Rolling Stones writing disputes aside (that would end in The Stones giving writing credits back to The Verve, ending one of rock music's more bizarre music lawsuits), the production on Urban Hymns is really top notch and makes each song sound big, the music really making the landscape of the dark, bitter world around us while illustrating sound like a rainbow appearing in the sky at the end of a bad rainstorm. It's this weird mixture of dark songwriting and light instrumentation (please forgive the purple prose I can't think of a good metaphor at this time) that you don't come across often. Urban Hymns certainly sounds like a post 9-11 world, but coming four years earlier as sort of this cautious optimism vibe that you know will waver into pessimism quickly.
Excellent album
Отзыв для Карины: Это просто бесподобный альбом от лучшей группы в мире после Oasis, он идеален во всем, он ломает привычную связь пространства и времени, чтобы создать нечто более прекрасное и совершенное. 12 из 10, удовольствие на кончиках пальцев. Карина, дальше не читай!!! Отзыв для остальных: Как бы ни хотелось засрать альбом для контраста, но как можно это сделать с аж 4 суперхитами, один из которых вообще выбрался из рамок конкретного жанра и стал одним из главных вневременных хитов целого поколения. Пусть он и целиком основан на заимствованном сэмпле, но этот сэмпл еще нужно было откопать в возможно самом обскурном сборнике Rolling Stones. Благодаря этому пику я наконец послушал альбом целиком, и остальные треки меня тоже не разочаровали. Многие из них оказались на удивление психоделичными, хотя я слышал, что группа начинала именно с психодела и шугейза. При этом они звучат не отталкивающе сложно, а, наоборот, интересно и притягательно. Мелодизм и атмосфера этого альбома запоминаются, и я точно буду его переслушивать. 4,5 из 5.
А теперь без шуток. Если кто-то поставит ЭТОМУ альбому ниже 4… Я достаю дробовик. Я переживу тройки Принцу, я проглочу двойки Боуи. Но здесь игры кончились…. Я начинаю стрелять. В этом альбоме идеально все. От великих бэнгеров на все времена до гигантских туфелек Ричарда на обложке. Люблю, ценю, обожаю. 100000 Лакимэнов из 5.
Peak 90s British psych rock. Don't ever remember listening to the full album. This is exceptional start to finish.
One of my favorites
Iconic Album. The added live versions are also just a little bit extra
Catching the butterfly is actually mega underrated
Bought this in '97 on cassette. Great album with all the singles.
Apart from the overall praise for "Bitter Sweet Symphony", I see a lot of very critical reviews here for this album. To me, this album was a classic in its heyday and still is great. It matches contemporary Britpop bands like Blur, Pulp, The Charlatans, or The Happy Mondays, to name a few, and exceeds Oasis by far. So, what's all the hate? Beautifully crafted ballads like "Bitter Sweet Symphony", or, in my opinion, the even better "The Drugs Don't Work", can't be to blame. So is it the psychedelic touch on "The Rolling People", "Catching the Butterfly", or the pounding "Come On"? Personally, it's these songs combined with their aforementioned ballads that make this album so great. So, 4 stars for the album as a whole, and one more for all the haters. 5/5
Class album
Just wow, damn. Gotta listen to Sonnet again some time. For some reason people love it, but it didn't quite enjoy it. Missing Come On/Deep Freeze. It's a 15 minutes track, so I was a bit lazy.
Classic
nostalgia
Good album
It’s been almost thirty years since I’ve listened to this album and boy have I been missing out. It’s aged well, and as each song played, song after song, I couldn’t see a reason not to give it five stars. It’s that unexpectedly good.
Kann man gut durchhören, oasis Style The drugs dont work / one day / Space and time / bittersweet symphony
Very good, most popular song is not even one of the best ones on the album
this album is very special to me, loved it as a child and a teen and as an adult. Space rock band reforms and makes britpop. Richard Ashcroft is COOL.
Verve EP > Urban Hymns But still, “Bitter Sweet Symphony” is a masterpiece. And overall album is a very very very good work.
Bittersweet Symphony is in the conversation for greatest opening track The mega singles (Sonnet, Lucky Man, Drugs Don’t Work) are as anthemic as ever Beyond that the guitar work and soundscapes are as intricate and interesting as their earlier, less accessible albums (I gave Northern Soul the full 5⭐️ as well but it’s a very different beast to Urban Hymns) And it all ends with Liam Gallagher doing one of the all time great rock cameos and yelling “This is a big Fuck You! COME ON!” The easiest 5⭐️ album
One of the best albums ever IMO
Classic album I don't know what people are chatting about
A more indie version of Oasis? Do both bands share the same influences? Excellent 90's alternative rock album, though, including the 2 band hits.
Belting album start to finish. Bitter sweet, sonnet and drugs are as about as good as this era gets
It’s too long, in truth, but damn if it isn’t filled with quality tunes throughout
banger after banger.
Nice to hear again
Probably the single best rock album of all time I love it.
1967: Sgt. Pepper, Are You Experienced, Axis Bold as Love, Piper At The Gates of Dawn, The Velvet Underground & Nico, The Doors, Disraeli Gears... 1997: Urban Hymns, Ok Computer, Homogenic, Homework, Fat of the Land, Dig Your Own Hole... 2027 is going to blow minds. You heard it here first
Wow
The first and only great album from the verve. In terms of a collection of songs possibly the best album alongside ok computer of the 90s. Drugs dont work is poignant and moving, sonnet is full of longing and a melody like and vocals that are off the chart. Lucky man is the sound of arrogance and hope. Bitter sweet symphony is the high watermark for those outsiders new to the band. The rest of the album is great too. Moody and magnificent
Album infravalorado del Sr Richard Ashcroft que demuestra sus habilidades para crear himnos como sonnet , lucky man,the drugs dont work y un temaso de epoca como bitter sweet symphony son la imagen viva del britpop que sigue vigente hasta el dia de hoy
Bss
One of the best albums of the Britpop era, nice blend of hits with some of their older more psychedelic sound mixed in.
A classic
9/10 - This album is class! - If you like 90’s indie Brit rock/pop, this is one of the best albums of that time. - The style of singing and the use of both acoustic and electric guitar make it an incredible listen. - Urban Hymns definitely inspired the sound of many bands in the late 90’s and early 00’s. - Bittersweet Symphony is still probably one of the most iconic songs ever released. - To sum up, this is an awesome album!
Easy one for me. Class all through. If u can get through without cutting your wrists it’s a straight 5.
Un clásico.
miluje dusu
Lucky man is one of my favorite songs ever. The Verve >>>> Oasis
Beaucoup aimé même si je n'aimais pas vraiment Bittersweet symphony, la seule que je connaissais. Les influences sont diverses, Stones, U2, Oasis. Le son de la guitare est vraiment cool sur certains morceaux, blues-rock-psychédélique.
Amazing
Great!
This brings back sweet memories from hanging out after high school, playing video games and drinking Coke.
Rock ballads and psychedelic rock are a great combination here.
One (or five!) for the memorie!
no notes, pure vibes, classic y2k feeling
имба. одна из любимых групп. из 13 песен уже были добавлены в любимое 9)) тем кто ставит единицы - хватит пиздеть, просто ощутите вайб.
Loved it
Yeah loved it. So much of the sound brings me back to my childhood.
Enjoyed it, relaxing
Another one of those albums where the singles feel like they’ve been so played to death that I’ve ignored the album for many years. I couldn’t remember what to expect but having listened again it’s a great album with a number of really good album tracks that will be going on the playlist. I really liked a Northern Soul and this is a continuation of that sound but it all just feels a lot bigger. Won’t be leaving it so long to listen again.
An epic album that introduced the serious side of Britpop with soaring melodies and a laid back vibe. Probably has became known as the album that contains Bittersweet symphony over the years, but is strong in its own right, with plenty of other great tracks. Can see why others might get bored with the album but it remains a great listen for me.
Mooi album, nutteloze hidden track op het einde wel
- Zeer aangenaam, toppertje - 1 nummer toegevoegd aan MMMM - 1 nummer al toegevoegd aan MMMM
This album really means a lot to me. I’ve listened to it more times than I can count and it’s one I often turn to whether im feeling sad, or my heads just in a weird place It captures a generation just as much as Oasis do. I’ve seen Richard Ashcroft live a couple of times now and when he drops into the Verve tracks you can feel it ripple through the whole crowd. The Drugs Don’t Work is probably my favourite. From what I know it’s about Richard’s dad when he was dying of cancer and every single time it leaves me in tears. Aside from Bittersweet Symphony the obvious big ones are Sonnet and Lucky Man but for me the next best track is The Rolling People. There isn’t a single song I’d skip. The whole thing is amazing, powerful and beautiful.
I got the urge for some reason to rate every song. Here we go Bittersweet Symphony - 5/5. I already knew this song. It's nothing crazy, but it just works. Sonnet - 5/5. Pleasantly surprised. I honestly liked it maybe slightly more than Bittersweet Symphony. The Rolling People - 3/5. Not bad, but I couldn't get into it. Kinda bland. The Drugs Don't Work - 5/5. This is a beautiful song. Very emotional and pleasant to listen to. Catching the Butterfly - 4/5. The verses are amazing, the chorus is fine. Neon Wilderness - ?/5. Can I really rate this with the others? It is good at what it does, just there to be an interlude/wind down. I like when an album does that. Space and Time - 4/5. It was very calming. Weeping Willow - 4/5. They're all starting to sound very similar. Of course it's a good similar, but I need more variety or the reviews are just going to say the same thing over and over. Lucky Man - 5/5. Different enough, also really good and powerful. This is definitely the type of song I'd usually listen to. One Day - 4/5. Another slow, deep and loud song. I still like it the 10th time, though. This Time - 3/5. Fine, a little short and a little bland. At least it's different. Velvet Morning - 4/5. Yeah.. it's good and loud and soft and the other things. Come On / Deep Freeze (Hidden Track) - 3/5. Come On was not my favorite on the album. Let's see how the Hidden Track holds up. What da baby doin? Overall, I thought for a while I would give this a 5/5. I liked all the songs early on and even later on in the album, the songs were still really good, just a lot of the same and it got boring over time. I would listen to each and every song again on its own though.
Timeless. I'd smoke some weed, listen to this album and my favourite track is the baby crying. But for real honestly I love Bittersweet Symphony. I remember listening to this when the internet was coming about and It was hypnotizing so glad I listen to these guys again and a full album too very lovely. No change I can change, I can change I can change, I am here! In my mode! I am here! In my mode! And I'm a million different people from one day to the next I can change... God I love it.
My face lit up when that first song came in, Didn't know where that this was where that song lived! This album screams early 2000s, something about the violins & the constant slow steady beat. Perfect album to walk your dog to on a warm autumn evening as the sun is setting. Pure vibes. The rest of the album did not let down either, with some bangers sprinkled throughout! Verve just earned a new fan. 9/10 Favorite songs: bittersweet symphony, The drugs dont work
This is a terrific album. Most people know this for "Bittersweet Symphony", which is great, but I think a lot of songs eclipse it here. It kind of covers a lot of the various genres going on in the British music scene in one album -- you get some baggy style stuff, anthemic Britpop, and some spacey proto-Coldplay all in one package. Highlights for me are "Bittersweet Symphony", "Sonnet", "The Drugs Don't Work", "Lucky Man", "One Day", and "Velvet Morning". 5 stars.
Richard Ashcroft pulled off a blinder here. Wrote so many good songs in one go that he ended up having none left for the entirety of his solo career. Urban Hymns is at once a towering masterwork of Britpop and post-Britpop. The link between Oasis in their pomp and early Coldplay. It has just enough in the way for druggy, tenacious rockers like The Rolling People and Come On, dreamy shoegaze numbers like Catching The Butterfly and then an overload of searing, heartfelt balladry plus some of the most iconic string-addled pop songs of the decade such as Bittersweet Symphony and Lucky Man. What with the likes of The Drugs Don't Work, Space And Time and Velvet Morning padding its ranks, there's just too many lovely songs. Easy 5 and best album from 1997.
One of the best albums of this era. A total classic
The last great Britpop album. Obviously Bittersweet Symphony is the highlight but it has a lot of great songs besides that.
An unbelievable, relaxing, and abstract experience! Spectacular!
# 🎵 In-Depth Review of The Verve's "Urban Hymns" ## 📀 Introduction *Urban Hymns* is the third studio album by English rock band **The Verve**, released on September 29, 1997. It arrived at a critical juncture in British music, as the Britpop movement was declining following Oasis's *Be Here Now* and Blur's shift toward experimentalism. The album became a cultural phenomenon, blending **anthemic grandeur** with **introspective lyricism** and **orchestral arrangements**. It sold over 10 million copies worldwide and remains one of the defining albums of the 1990s . ## 📝 Lyrics and Themes ### Emotional Depth and Personal Struggle - **Richard Ashcroft's** lyrics explore themes of **existential weariness**, **addiction**, **love**, and **redemption**. Songs like "The Drugs Don't Work" (reportedly about his father's death) and "Bitter Sweet Symphony" delve into personal and societal struggles, with lines like "I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind" reflecting a search for solace amid chaos . - **Vulnerability and Hope**: Tracks like "Lucky Man" and "Sonnet" balance despair with optimism, showcasing Ashcroft's ability to convey raw emotion without cliché. The album's themes resonate with listeners facing "real-life worries," making it a mature departure from Britpop's hedonism . ### Narrative Complexity - Ashcroft's lyrics often avoid literal interpretations, preferring ambiguity to invite listener immersion. As he stated, *"I’m not about to give it to them on a plate and say what exactly it’s about. I hate it when lead singers take all the mystery away"* . ## 🎶 Music and Sound ### Genre Fusion and Orchestral Elements - The album merges **alternative rock**, **psychedelia**, and **orchestral pop**. Strings arranged by Wil Malone (e.g., "Bitter Sweet Symphony" and "The Drugs Don't Work") add a sweeping, cinematic quality, while **acoustic foundations** ("Sonnet," "Lucky Man") provide intimacy . - **Psych-Rock Roots**: Tracks like "The Rolling People" and "Catching the Butterfly" retain the band's psychedelic edge, with **Nick McCabe's guitar work** creating textured, atmospheric layers . ### standout Tracks 1. **"Bitter Sweet Symphony"**: Built on a sample of an orchestral version of the Rolling Stones' "The Last Time," it combines **propulsive strings** with Ashcroft's defiant vocals, becoming an anthem for a generation . 2. **"The Drugs Don't Work"**: A poignant ballad featuring **acoustic strumming** and **heartfelt vocals**, highlighting Ashcroft's songwriting maturity . 3. **"Lucky Man"**: An uplifting, melody-driven track that balances hope and vulnerability . 4. **"Sonnet"**: A lush, orchestral love song with elegant lyrics . ## 🎛 Production ### Collaborative Efforts - Produced primarily by **Youth** and **Chris Potter**, the album benefits from a "loose discipline" that encouraged experimentation. Sessions at **Olympic Studios** in London incorporated spontaneous guitar additions from McCabe and refined string arrangements . - **Challenges**: Early sessions with producers John Leckie and Owen Morris were abortive, and guitarist **Bernard Butler** (ex-Suede) briefly joined but left due to creative differences. McCabe's return reshaped the sound, though his contributions were more integrated than dominant . ### Sound Quality - The production balances **grandeur** and **intimacy**, with strings and guitars layered thoughtfully without overwhelming Ashcroft's vocals. However, some critics note that the **second half** lacks the momentum of the first . ## 🧭 Themes and Influence ### Cultural Impact - *Urban Hymns* marked the **end of Britpop's hegemony**, offering a more reflective alternative to Oasis's bravado. Alongside Radiohead's *OK Computer*, it signaled a shift toward darker, more complex rock . - **Legacy**: The album influenced bands like **Coldplay**, **Travis**, and **Starsailor**, who adopted its blend of anthemic rock and emotional lyricism. "Bitter Sweet Symphony" became a cross-generational anthem, though its legal battle over royalties (resolved in 2019) overshadowed its success . ### Enduring Relevance - The album's themes of **struggle and redemption** continue to resonate, with *Urban Hymns* often cited as one of the greatest albums of the 1990s. Its reissues, including a five-disc expanded edition, reinforce its status . ## ✔️ Pros and Cons ### Pros - **Lyrical Depth**: Ashcroft's introspective and poetic lyrics elevate the album beyond typical rock fare . - **Musical Diversity**: Fusion of orchestral, acoustic, and psychedelic elements creates a rich, immersive experience . - **Cultural Significance**: Captured the zeitgeist of late-1990s Britain and influenced a generation of artists . - **Hit Singles**: Features multiple iconic tracks that remain staples of alternative rock . ### Cons - **Inconsistent Flow**: The second half of the album (e.g., "So Sister") is seen as weaker than the first, with some filler material . - **Over-Reliance on Ballads**: Some critics argue the album leans too heavily on slower tracks, occasionally sacrificing energy . - **McCabe's Reduced Role**: Despite his return, guitarist Nick McCabe's contributions are less prominent compared to earlier albums . ## 🎉 Conclusion *Urban Hymns* is a **masterpiece of 90s rock**, combining emotional depth, musical innovation, and production excellence. While it has minor flaws, its strengths—including timeless singles and profound themes—cement its legacy as a landmark album. It remains a testament to The Verve's turbulent genius and their ability to transform personal pain into universal art .
Solid mid-to-late 90s Brit rock sound. Reminds me of Oasis and (deeper cut) Kula Shaker, and the "bigness" of the best U2. I can see the path from something like Stone Roses to this album. Overall, cool vibes, lots of raw emotion and feelings of going nowhere and listlessness, but with a underlying feeling of hope as well, knowing it'll be ok even if it doesn't seem like it at the moment. "Bittersweet Symphony" is a masterpiece (song and video) Loving the vibe of "The Rolling People" "Velvet Morning" and "Lucky Man" "The Drugs Don't Work" is a heartbreaking realization that a relationship is over, and you can't escape the feelings any longer. Really great song of grief and personal loss. I'm thinking of Indy right now listening to this and getting emotional.
Good
Great album beyond their couple of hit singles.
If an album has 5-6 bangers I give 5 stars even though the rest are below average. This album got me into britpop some time ago and I refuse to agree that the Verve is one hit wonder.
Great album.
8,7/10 oasis type, goat
Such a classic 90’s album.
Some absolute tunes here. Have admired their singles for a while but first time listening to an (the) album. He was superb supporting Oasis as well! Simpsons: No
One of my absolute favourite albums ever. Here is nearly everything wonderful.
Britpop classic notable for its anthemic singles. The Verve's previous 2 albums are stylistically quite different, particularly the first which is a much more shoegaze/dreampop type sound. By Urban Hymns they leant on a slightly more 'commercial' kind of output and it paid off massively - Bittersweet Symphony is classic and the other singles would go on to become acoustic anthems in the late britpop era It's 5* because it's a strong album overall though, not just the singles - i also like Weeping Willow and Velvet Morning for example with some of these tracks echoing their more psychadelic background
Obviously love Bittersweet Symphony, and so far the album is excellent. Love The Sonnet. I love this kind of music. Some songs veer a little trippy (Neon Wilderness) Rating: 5 stars (will definitely listen again)
So.. The Verve, they had a bit of a rough start as a shoegaze/psychodelic rock act, they did a few standalone singles(Gravity Grave is a highlight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtCem7r4i2I) before their debut album A Storm In Heaven (Slide Away https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEqHAc1Y0NY)), since we have A Northern Soul in the list I wont talk about it too much, but after touring that album the band reached a break point and they enter hiatus. The singer/songwriter Richard Ashcroft starts to write songs for his next project and starts to recruit former bandmates, bar Nick McCabe guitar player, and instead call Simon Tong, they go to the studio and record an album, without a band name or a direction, just Urban Hyms as potential band name. After a while Richard realizes that the band lacks the magic touch of McCabe and gives him a call and the band gets the definitive 5 man lineup. The band was already on the brink of their goal of dominating the charts, but the rolling stone sample thing happen and they decide to go on anyways. And boy they delivered with this album, it might be too long for some people(not helped by the 7 minutes of silence between Come on and the hidden track Deep Freeze). So this album for me is a melting pot of everything The Verve did as shoegaze(Deep Freeze and Neon Wilderness), the rockers displayed on A Northern Soul(Come On and The Rolling People) and the singer songwriter stuff that Richard was brewing and would later do less sucessfully in his solo albums(Bittersweet Symphony, Sonnet, Drugs Don't Work, Lucky Man) or a combination of those previous categories (Catching The Butterfly, One Day, This Time). What a album, would love to hear it once again for the first time, the band would implode again after touring it for a year, here's the band playing at Pinkpop 1998 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb1jaj06UW4 5/5
Bittersweet Symphony is a masterpiece.
Great album
Great vocal
Is fantastic
Pretty Great record. Love the iconic opening, and the other standouts
This Is an incredible album, got tobe one of the best I've heard.
One of the all-time great lead tracks on an album. This is a perfect album listen. Start to finish. If this was Britpop's swan song as Apple Music suggests, then what a great way to end it.
More than a one-hit wonder, this album has so many great songs.
An album that played a big role in my life. It came out during my university years and I was totally into alternative rock, so yeah, how could I not like this. It's not perfect because it has some weak moments (Neon wilderness???), it is way too long including a stupid hidden track. But the great moments are so strong that it still deserves a 10 out of 10. 'Sonnet' is one pof the most beautiful songs of the nineties. Well there are many excellent songs, let's mention 'Space and time'. I love it.
I surprisingly loved this. I was like, “boo, another Britpop album.” But damn this was fun indie bops all the way through. Maybe I’m coming around on Britpop.
Favourite songs: Sonnet, The Drugs Don't Work, Lucky Man
Bardzo spoko chillout album
Saved to my playlist, really enjoyed!
Urban Hymns is a sweeping, emotionally heavy album that wears its heart firmly on its sleeve. While it’s best known for the massive hit Bitter Sweet Symphony and fair enough, it’s a great track. The rest of the album digs deeper into late-night melancholy and psychedelic-tinged introspection. Tracks like The Drugs Don’t Work and Sonnet show Richard Ashcroft at his most vulnerable, while Catching the Butterfly and Weeping Willow expand the soundscape with moody textures and layered instrumentation. It's an ambitious album that straddles the line between Britpop and something more spiritual, even cosmic. There are moments where it meanders a bit, and it could’ve done with a slight trim, but the highs are undeniable and often deeply moving. It’s both a product of its era and something timeless, achingly sincere, beautifully produced, and easy to get lost in. A high watermark for late-'90s British rock.
This album has cropped up for me just after (4 albums in fact) I was served "(What's The Story) Morning Glory", which is quite bizzare as I've always considered them as very similar musically. It's a great album, there are 5 absolute standout tracks for me, and the rest are all very good - not one weak track on the album. It's a very easy 5 stars!!
Es ist ein Meisterwerk britischer Rockmusik. Mit Songs wie *Bitter Sweet Symphony* und *The Drugs Don't Work* verbindet das Album emotionale Tiefe mit epischer Soundlandschaft und zeitloser Melancholie. Die atmosphärische Produktion, kombiniert mit kraftvollem Gesang, macht jeden Track zu einem Erlebnis. Von gefühlvollen Balladen bis hin zu hymnischen Gitarrenriffs – Das Album fängt die Essenz der späten 90er perfekt ein und bleibt auch heute noch faszinierend. Ein Album, das Generationen überdauert. 😊👍
This album grew on me so immensely hard that I really want to give it a 5. It didn’t hook me until around the 3rd listen, but when it finally resonated with me I absolutely loved it. It turns out these guys are good friends with the guys from Oasis. Go figure. They sound like them so much, and I mean that as a massive compliment. “Bitter Sweet Symphony” is an absolute classic which I had never even heard before listening to this album for the first time. What really surprised me though is “The Rolling People”. I honestly wish the rest of the album was like that, but it’s not even a problem when the rest of the album is still so good anyway. My only nitpick is that there’s a multi minute long dead air during the final song that makes listening on repeat rather annoying, and I didn’t particularly like the song “The Drugs Don’t Work”. I don’t think that’s enough to dock it an entire star though. Yeah. Sure, it’s another 5 star.
I mean classic album. Bitter Sweet Symphony and The Drugs Don't Work.
Zomg i liked this album. A lot. Felt like it was speaking to me and my possibly-neurotic obsession with death and introspection. Instrumentation was overall good, singing was the real highlight. Drums ehh. Overall.. FIVE!
Really pleasant Britpop.
Really good
British classic. Moody, questioning, psychedelic (less so than their previous two albums) and melodic. Massive singles surrounded by a set of songs with a cohesive mood and feel. Brilliant.
good uk rock
Mindes dem som ett one hit wonder med Bittersweet Symphony. Men halva plattan är ju så bra eller bättre! Riktigt schysst 90-tal. Femma!
Loved. I always enjoyed bittersweet symphony, but had not given the rest of the album the listening it deserved. Lucky man is a jam.
I always loved The Verve and this album is amazing. My auntie gifted it to me because she didn’t like it. I saw them live in London, they were amazing. “Bittersweet Symphony” has been over played, but there are so many other great tracks on this album.
Love this album
Drittes Studioalbum der britischen Rockband The Verve, das 1997 veröffentlicht wurde. Es wurde größtenteils in den Abbey Road Studios in London aufgenommen und markiert einen Höhepunkt der Bandgeschichte. Die Produktion übernahm die Band selbst, wobei sie Unterstützung von Chris Potter erhielt. Die Nationalität der Band ist britisch, und die Mitglieder kamen aus verschiedenen englischen Städten. Das Album lässt sich dem Alternative Rock, Britpop und Psychedelic Rock zuordnen. Zu den bekanntesten und erfolgreichsten Songs zählen „Bitter Sweet Symphony“, das durch sein markantes Orchesterarrangement und die berühmte Streicher-Sample von The Rolling Stones bekannt wurde, sowie „The Drugs Don’t Work“, das zu einem der größten Hits der Band wurde und melancholische Themen behandelt. „Lucky Man“ ist ein weiterer herausragender Titel, der mit seiner eingängigen Melodie und den introspektiven Texten glänzt. Die Produktion des Albums, kombiniert mit Richard Ashcrofts markanter Stimme, trägt dazu bei, dass „Urban Hymns“ oft als das Meisterwerk der Band betrachtet wird. Die Lieder sind teils introspektiv, teils weitreichend und eingängig, was dem Album eine breite Anziehungskraft verschaffte. „Urban Hymns“ ist ein gut ausbalanciertes Album, das sowohl mit seiner musikalischen Tiefe als auch mit seiner zugänglichen Melodieführung überzeugt. Es vereint Rock-Elemente mit britischer Melancholie und bleibt ein einflussreiches Werk der 90er-Jahre.
I really enjoy this album because I love the singer's voice. I also feel like the lyrics are very powerful.
i like this album because it sounds really nice. I love the lyrics and his voice. His voice flows well with the background music. I really would suggest this album to friends and family.
I rock with the verve so heavy, love this album.
there's one thing I'm a bitch for, and it's sad british men
Wonderful. This is The Verve at the peak of their powers, there is not a single weak track here - many bands would kill to have a opening fourfold as good as Bitter Sweet Symphony, Sonnet, The Rolling People and The Drugs Don't Work. And they don't rest on their laurels, Catching the Butterfly, Space and Time, Lucky Man... I could go on. Just put it on and be transported.
One of the greatest ever. Faultless.
Couple good ones. Nostalgic
This was great late-90's brit-pop/alternative sound that I grew up on. Loved it. Hadn't heard anything on here outside of Bittersweet Symphony, but I love their sound and it's very Oasis for me, which I also love. I listed to it twice -- five stars.
Indie Banger.
Been listening to this for years.
Absolute classic brilliant album containing some iconic tracks love it
Brilliant!
One of my fave albums ever!
Classic, well written tunes. One of the biggest earworms in musical history on this record. So good.
Sensational album full of anthems. Weirdly, ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’ turned me off of this band at the time as it was just too morose. But, I was blown away by ‘Lucky Man’ and ‘Sonnet’. The album has songs of real beauty and melody, and has the rousing anthems too. ‘Space and Time’, ‘Weeping Willow’ and ‘Velvet Morning’ are the stand outs from a consistently incredible album. Full of reverb, and groove, and inspiration. I was lucky to see them at their hometown gig in Wigan - what a night 🧡
This is the culmination of a wave of psych rock from the early 90's, where unknown bands suddenly became popular. Spiritualized were on TOTP, and this lot had a number 1 single! Madness! If LAGWAFIS was the heartbreak album, then this, the 3rd best NME album of 1997 was the happy 'I've got the girl' album. Lucky man indeed. Even though it is heavily watered down psychedelia for the masses, it is a gem of an album. Anything that brings public attention to these underground bands is a good thing, as they need to earn cash to keep going. Ashcroft must have known he was on to a winner, but also he should have checked to see if that violin sample was out of copyright ©️. Pretty much perfect from start to finish.
Fantasy album
Favourite tracks: bittersweet symphony; sonnet; lucky man; drugs don't work; space and time; one day
Smashing album that I forgot was so good. Great reverb guitar reminiscent of the 60s/70s psychedelic rock.
What a great album. 90s Britpop at some of its finest. The only song I didn't like was "This Time." Every other song I dug. I really only have the popular songs from this album in my regular rotation, but will definitely be adding more.
Great
favourite song - bitter sweet symphony favourite lyric - happiness, more or less / it's just a change in me, something in my liberty / happiness, coming and going / i watch you look at me, watch my fever growing / i know cover - 7/10 album overall - 5/5 love
Drug inspired Britpop. On one hand this album has some filler, and might be a track or 2 too long. On the other hand, the best songs on this album (Bittersweet Symphony, The Rolling People, The Drugs Don’t Work) are incredible. I’ll give it a 5 since it’s my favorite britpop album
I was afraid to look at reviews for this, and I was right, so I have to leave one on this one. I'll give this 5 stars but this is nowhere close to the best Verve album or what they sounded like on previous albums. This is like half a Richard Ashcroft solo album. I always liked this album, but it's a chore to listen to due to the length of it. And yeah, there biggest hit is on here so it was a top selling album. Always loved Catching the Butterfly on this album, and Lucky Man is a great secondary hit on this album. Sonnet and Drugs Don't Work (while good songs), ruin the album flow for me. Would highly recommended A Northern Soul and A Storm in Heaven if you want some good psychedelic 90s rock, that doesn't sound like generic "Britpop" that you reviewers describe. A Storm in Heaven is in my top 10 albums of all time and highly recommend smoking some weed before starting that album.
One of my favourite albums, a perfect blend of Britpop / Indie / Psychedelic music
BSS is one of greatest songs ever written in my honest opinion
Everyone knows song #1 but the rest of this album is awesome too
Was für ein Album! Hatte es etwas vergessen aber hat mich sofort wieder gepackt!
Loved this album when it was released and it’s even better now.
An undisputed heavyweight classic of an album! There is not a bad song on this record. Absolute masterpiece.
Holy shit, what a year for music 1997 was! I’ve loved this album since I heard it in maybe… 2004. So - happy 20 years, Urban Hymns. An easy 5 stars.
Good starting to the album, well its actually good for chilling with blunt on hand idk
Although the tend to drag with some of their songs, the bulk of this is still an unmatched level of infectious.
No private session need for Spotify, I enjoy this album, and that over played song in conveniently the first track so it's easy to put in CD player, hit play and then the skip button.
It is my personal belief that sad british dudes in the 90s understood 60s music better than anyone in the 60s did (and probably anyone ever has since), and I think their version of 60s music is usually better than most actual 60s music. It's the whisper subtle integration of punk, prog, electronica, all influences too quiet to really even notice, but they color the inbetweens that fill out this sound so much. The implied Trip Hop of Bittersweet Symphony clears so far beyond anything Jagger-Richards could ever put to pen (even if legally they Did put it to pen [fuck copyright law part 205776]). The youthful hazed out ruminations on oblivion and hopelessness are made all the more emotionally destructive by the fact that Richard Ashcroft kinda, tries to rap sometimes? And he really doesn't know how to rap, so he just ends up spewing all his thoughts out breathlessly, and it's honestly gutwrenching at times. The Verve have a much better grasp of psychedelia than Oasis do also, that's for sure. There's a much needed looseness and spaciness to their playing, appropriately cosmic. I suppose you could argue they're a tad too indebted to their influences as a throwback group to really be considered visionaries (I counted references to at least three 60s rock bands, Stones, Aphrodite's Child, Velvet Underground), but like, they mostly out do and one up their influences anyway, so who cares.
Flera bangers som jag lyssnat på mycket tidigare. Har även lyssnat på skivan innan. Då var den väl helt okej men nu var den riktigt bra. Schyssta låtar bara. Det blir kanske lite halvtråkig mot slutet men t.ex The Drugs Dont Work gör denna till en skitbra platta. Det är en egen del av britpopen och väldigt ikoniskt. Kommer säkert lyssna igen. Omslaget är ganska snyggt också.
Iconic
While the title track is overplayed on so many platforms and is seemingly inescapable in my algorithms, this album is packed with gems from start to finish. Great listening to the whole thing for the first time in ages.
Was für ein Album. Allein "Bitter Sweet Symphony" ist schon den Kauf wert. Wer aber glaubt, das sei schon alles, der die das irrt. Es ist ein unglaublich melodisches Indie-Rock-Album mit sehr gelungenen Arrangements. Es ist nie langweilig, es sind Hymnen für die Ewigkeit. Nur als Randnotiz: es ist besser als "Morning glory" von Oasis
I think this is a brilliant album, and every time I listen to it, I'm amazed at the number of amazing songs on it. The album is obviously known for bittersweet symphony, but there are so many other amazing tracks like the back-to-back "Sonnet" into "The Rolling People" into "The Drugs Don't Work." I'd probably give it more of a 4.5 than a straight 5, but a 5 will work for this scale.
Less drugged out and shoegazey than the earlier records but still has the combination of delay and reverb. Love Nick McCabe's guitar tone and Richard Ashcroft has the best slacker singer voice in rock.
DU SKOJJJJJAR DETTA ÄR ETT AV MINA ALL TIME FAVORITALBUM!!!! Lyssnat genom hela livet, mamma har blastat i bilen hela barndomen, på riktigt även idag när jag åkte till tandläkaren. Denna musik bara OMFAMNAR mig på ett sätt!!! HELT omöjligt att välja favoritspår. Alltid totalälskat bittersweet symphony, sonnet och the drugs don’t work. Space and Time, Lucky Man och One Day är låtar jag började digga senare i livet men ojjjjj vad jag älskar dem. Detta album känns som hemma och texterna och soundet är för mig typ så nära perfekt man kommer. Fattar ni hur mycket jag gråtit till detta album, brit-pop när den är som bäst!!! Kan nog skriva en bok om min kärlek till detta album 😻😻 Cd:en sitter fint på rummet, känslan fint i lurarna och musiken fint i hjärtat 10/5 😩😩😩😩
The singles are outstanding
Was shocked about the hidden song
bittersweet symphony !
Another classic
Magnificent britpop album by The Verve. Various songs are absolute bangers ("Bitter Sweet Symphony", "The Drugs Don't Work", "Lucky Man" and "Sonnet").
Aivan loistava
I know this one! See how it holds up. Love Sonnet, wasn't expecting that to be honest. Even filler tracks have a nice sound, surprisingly solid when I thought it was just about the singles.
I had only previously known bittersweet symphony. I didn't think the rest of the album sounded like that song but I did love it. Classic 90s!
One of the greatest albums ever written. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Het album begint met de wereldberoemde hit. De rest bevat ook wel goede nummers. Leuk album. *****
Banger.
you know this ain't getting anything other than a 5/5 mate additionally, the rolling people is the best song on this album. i will die on this hill. it's a masterpiece and the best song the verve ever made.
Great album. Maybe a bit too long but several great tracks and even the less popular ones are good.
Great album.
I guess a lot of what you like and think about an album can be contextual. This is definitely the perfect album for coffee on a rainy day in a Melbourne cafe.
Awesome album start to finsh
It was a classic when it released and still a classic now.
9/10 Title is a great Description
I’m happy about today’s album. I’m not sure that I know too much by The Verve, but I do really like the songs I’ve heard. This is an era and genre of music that I tend to really take to, so this should be a fun one. Let’s listen! I’m hopeful with this one. Songs I already knew: Bittersweet Symphony, Sonnet, The Drugs Don’t Work, Lucky Man Favourites: Bittersweet Symphony, The Drugs Don’t Work This was exactly what I was hoping it would be: soft, miserable 90’s brit pop. That is certainly not a bad thing when you like to bathe in that misery! The music here isn’t overly complicated (also of note, is that they only recently started earning money from Bittersweet Symphony as they used a Rolling Stones sample a bit more than they were supposed to), but it definitely sounds nice. The vocals are nothing amazing, but they suit the music perfectly. As easy recommend today.
Sometimes, single songs can make an album great. \"Bittersweet Symphony\" may be one of those songs. It was a break-out hit, and could be make the band a \"one-hit wonder,\" but the rest of their work was far too good for that classification. Urban Hymns includes another hit song, \"Lucky Man,\" and a collection of great, alt rock songs. The album was the band's most successful, and got near-universal critical praise. The Verve embody the sound of 90's alt rock: strong vocals, well produced tracks, and rich orchestrations to support their engaging sound.
Great album, with more potential singles, as well as some neo-psychedelic workouts as a reminder of their previous efforts. It was a pleasant surprise that this album was such a huge hot in the UK, and it still hits the spot for me 27 years on.
There may not be a lyric that passes through my head more often than “try to make ends meet, you’re a slave to money then you die.” Bittersweet indeed. Psychedelic/shoegaze band The Verve injects some pop into their formula, and the results are incredible. Sonnet is a beautiful ballad. The Rolling People brings back the psych rock sound. The Drugs Don’t Work is, of course, a devastating and beautiful song. Weeping Willow is a new highlight to me with this listen - another excellent blend of old and new for the Verve. This album is a masterful blend of psychedelia, existential songwriting, great playing with just the right amount of Britpop sprinkled in.
Great alternative listen for casual listening.
Drugs Don't Work is one of the best songs written
I think The Verve just clicked for me for the very first time? The hits are of course there, but more impressive is the direct inspiration from Radiohead (The Bends) and the introspective parts blending perfectly together with the exploration of British music history. A tad too long, but pure and beautiful.
Álbum muy bien logrado.
amazing album, very U2 sounding
"Urban Hymns" by The Verve is a masterpiece of 90s alternative rock, blending ethereal melodies with gritty lyrics. The album's iconic track, "Bittersweet Symphony," sets the tone with its majestic orchestration. Each song offers a unique journey, from the melancholic reflection of "The Drugs Don't Work" to the dreamy ambiance of "Catching the Butterfly." "Lucky Man" and "One Day" provide moments of hope and resilience amidst the album's introspective themes. With tracks like "Weeping Willow" and "Velvet Morning," the band creates a serene atmosphere, while "Come On" injects energy into the mix. "Urban Hymns" remains a timeless classic, captivating listeners with its hypnotic soundscapes and emotive storytelling.
Love Sonnet! Great album!
This album is unapologetically 90s. My favorite track is Weeping Willow, but you could close your eyes and pick any track and it’s bound to be good. And you can’t forget the bittersweet symphony sample.
I thoroughly enjoyed the album. It is the quintessential 90s alt rock album. It makes me nostalgic for a time I never experienced. A lot of review said many of the songs were forgettable. And to be fair a lot of the melodies did not stick with me. But the feeling did and that's the most important thing I think.
Perfect 90's alternative album.
Me ha gustado más de lo que pensaba que me a gustar. Venga, un 5! The Drugs Don't Work se lo merece.
I really enjoyed the Verve here. I am sad that the revenue for bittersweet symphone, that is arguably one of the most iconic songs in my life goes to the Rolling stones because some composer made a song that sounds enough like this that they managed to win a copyright lawsuit. it is part of the reason I refuse to listen to the stones because it is a greedy money grab by them where they put in zero effort and make money. even if the Verve sampled the Symphony version of that song as it is claimed it should not be revenue for the stones it should be for the producer. as for the rest of the album. very enjoyable. captures the point in time it came out very well and hold us all these years later.
Sindssyg åbner.. Nej vent.. De 3 første er eminent! Og det fortsætter bare! Vildt album 5 ud af 5!
Good rock album
Listened once, not enough to fully digest.
This album is a masterpiece of the 1990s Britpop. Listening to it it now, it transports me back into a different time. Some people called The Verve and their frontman Ashcroft a bit of a buffoon here and there but I think that just was - if at all - true for the latter's solo albums. 'Urban Hymns' is a definitely one of the more sophistcated Britpop albums that surpasses the musically-not-that-complex works of Oasis but also Blur very easily. It surprises you how psychedelic some of the indeed longer songs are. Still, the album could've been a bit shorter, two or three tracks in the latter half maybe. But that is one of the only nitpickings I have. Definitely check this one out!
Amazing album
Phenomenal songwriting.
Still a masterpeace after all those years.
Masterpiece.
I knew bittersweet symphony was a great track, but I didnt expect the rest of the album to be this good! Its a bunch of fantastic dreamy pop rock tunes, with really creative guitarwork and a really strong a beautiful atmosphere. Maybe the best sellout album ever.
Already knew I loved this album!
Plenty of songs on here that would have been stand out songs in their own right overshadowed just because they're on the same album as bittersweet symphony. The drugs don't work, sonnet, lucky man etc. All top tier songs front to back. Easiest 5 so far.
Sheer impossible Not to have this on the list. Timeless, beautiful, easy going songwriting. A feeling close enough to kitsch only The Verve could fabricate and get through with because it’s packed into so much reverb cotton that you just want to sink in.
Qué buenos recuerdos. Este disco me lo regalaron y le tengo cariño. Además de los bombazos más conocidos "Bitter Sweet Symphony", "The Drugs Don't Work" o "Lucky Man" también me gustan bastante "Sonnet", "The Rolling People", "Catching the Butterfly", "Space and Time" y "This Time". El "Come On" me ha recordado a Weekender de Flowered Up algo en lo que no había pensado nunca. La canción fantasma "Deep Freeze" es ese invento típico de los 90 para hacer una gracia con el tiempo sobrante de los CD frente a los LP de vinilo. Le voy a dar 5 estrellas aunque entiendo que son más bien 4 para el resto del público.
love the verve bitter sweet symphony of life...