Reviews (page 6 of 14)
Reminds me of childhood
This album's pretty alright. It's definitely not bad, in my opinion. I'd call it good even. The album started off very strongly with the band's most famous song by far "Bitter Sweet Symphony". And yeah, that song's an absolute classic. The other songs aren't bad though. Some of them drag a bit, like the back-to-back "Catching the Butterfly" and "Neon Wilderness", but most of the others are good. The singing is somewhat hit or miss, but when it's good, it's good. It's almost a concept album of sorts, all about life. I think it works well. I like the inclusion of a secret instrumental at the end, but why is the break in between so long? Overall, I think "good" is kind of how I feel about this album as a whole. I don't feel super strongly about it either way. It's just a decent album. light 4/5.
Good and rocky
Never have sought out The Verve outside of Bitter Sweet Symphony, I was surprised by how Radiohead-influenced about half the tracks were. I found those more engaging than the more ballady-type tracks, but all in all it was an enjoyable new listen
1997. The year Josh and I got together. Paris. Bitter Sweet Symphony.
Heel nice! Wel nog beetje rustig voor wat ik nu chill vind merk ik maar wel een album die ik vaker ga opzetten en echt luisteren
The 90s is when garage bands began to try harder. Despite the controversy and copyright issues regarding the famous 1st track, the album itself has many other great tracks.
Better but still not exactly my style
Bittersweet Symphony is always a bop, but the rest of the album I was quite surprised. Kinda taking a page out of the Oasis book but also gave me some Radiohead vibes even though OK Comp released the same year as this album. If I ever feel like vibing I might go to this.
Fav songs: Bittersweet Symphony, Drugs Don’t Work
Proper music - written with the melody and music first, not just a computer beat with samples on a doggerel lyric. So although it's not all perfect, at least it starts from the right place - and some of it most certainly is perfect. Let's have more of this, please.
Pretty pretty pretty good
Bittersweet symphony is already a favourite of mine. I also enjoyed Sonnet and the rest of the album.
The Brit pop albums on this list have been hit or miss for me, but I enjoyed this one. As an album, it's a bit too long, but there are some great catchy 90s punk pop hits on here! A lot of songs that were familiar from my FM radio listening days, but I didn't realize they were all on one album. This is one I really could've gotten into back in 1997, but I never did. At any rate, a happy surprise. 4/5
1997 was when I first started listen to music properly so this was right in the sweet spot, I’ll probably rate it higher than it’s worth but that’s nostalgia for you. Also it was way longer than I thought it was gonna be.
Very 90s Brit Rock. Bitter Sweet Symphony is definitely the best song on the album. The rest is good, but not memorable. 4/5
Wigan's finest. And possibly Wigan's only. My heart sank a little when I had this, maybe because of having to hear the intro to Bittersweet Symphony during every single terrible England game for 20 years, but actually it's very good. The singles are great, and album tracks like Catching The Butterfly catch you off guard a bit. All in all, very enjoyable, and took me right back to buying it on tape aged 13 and wearing a fisherman's hat.
Highlights: Bittersweet Symphony, Sonnet, The Drugs Don't Work, Catching the Butterfly, Neon Wilderness, Rolling People, Come On if it wasn't packaged with the extended silence/hidden track. JUST SPLIT IT FFS!
Really great overall sound and flow to the album.
heard did but didn't know it. Liked it but didn't love it
Three absolute classics on this.
I never actually listened to the full album when it came out because I really didn't care for "Bitter Sweet Symphony" at the time. I still don't, really, but there are some really good songs on here. "The Drugs Don't Work" and "The Rolling People" were probably my favorites, but most everything was solid. I totally understand why this album made the list.
7/10
Groovy, I’ve been listening to bittersweet symphony for a while, and though it starts a bit from the rest of the album, overall I liked the pace and feel.
Nice chill album, really enjoyed the lyrics. It’s definitely a laid back album, so not one I’d probably put in a running rotation, but a joy to listen to.
Better than I thought. More than a one- (or two-) hit wonder.
Pretty enjoyable as a whole.
Pretty good jams. First track will be stuck in my head for 3 weeks but that's okay
The verve did successfully what Oasis were attempting to do with “Be here now”. A few songs in the first half drag a little longer than they need to but the record is a britpop classic that I won’t soon get tired of no matter how overplayed Bittersweet Symphony is.
The only song I ever knew of theirs was bittersweet symphony before listening to this. I was not expecting the rest of the album to have songs as good or even better than it. Very good album that I will look forward to repeat listenings.
Oh I remember this one. Bought and returned the CD several times because it would NOT work on my CD player. It was a kinda cheap CD player, but it played all of my other CDs. Something about this CD kept it from working. The last time I returned it I ended up buying Reel Big Fish instead. Which is ironic, because they have a song about being "Trendy" and that's exactly what I was doing by getting the Reel Big Fish CD. Got rid of that one pretty soon too. Anyway, I guess my point is that this is better than Reel Big Fish. Even though it was more memorable than The Verve.
Here’s an album with numerous classic tracks, yet an album that I remember mostly for being so inoffensive: there’s just nothing to dislike here. Guess that’s why it sold so many copies.
Personal rating: 7.4/10
83 / 100 Really really liked this. “Bitter Sweet Symphony” is an obvious highlight, but it’s far from the only one as “The Drugs Don’t Work” is a close second for me. Actually the first half of this was often times close to perfect. My only real complaint is that 75 minutes is a bit too long for the project as I usually start to lose interest towards the end. But overall this was great.
Good album, but other than Bittersweet Symphony there is nothing special on it. The record sounds extremely British and in the same mold as Oasis, Blur and all of the rest bands like that. Quite pleasant listening to this album, but it won't stay with me any longer than that.
I enjoyed this album throughout its relatively long run time. Solid.
I'd heard a few of the songs on this before but never listened to the whole album. Impressed by this one and will probably listen to it again
Si tot el disc estigués al mateix nivell de 'Sonnet', 'The Drugs Don't Work' i 'Bitter Sweet Symphony', 'Urban Hymns' seria un dels grans clàssics del pop contemporani. No és el cas, és clar, i la resta de temes baixen entre una mica i bastant la qualitat dels singles. Tot i així, i malgrat ser massa llarg, la proposta de pop rock psicodèlic de Richard Ashcroft i cia és força consistent i excel.leix com el millor treball de la banda i un dels millors del brit pop d'aquells anys
would be a solid 5 but Bittersweet Symphony rules so hard it can’t help but make the rest slightly pale
These guys were heavily overplayed back in the day, but they don't rub me up the wrong way nearly as much as Coldplay or the like. Still, though, the presence of those too-familiar tunes means I prefer "A Northern Soul" to this one. Fave track - quite like the psychedelia of "Neon Wilderness" blending into "Space & Time"...
Some good music right here. Some would say it's classic and it wouldn't be far from the truth.
Pleased to say that this is more than just Bittersweet Symphony. It offers up a darker, more melodic side of '90s britpop and I'm here for it. Standout tracks (besides the obvious hit) are Sonnet, Lucky Man, Space and Time, and One Day.
It's pretty good so far. First song is a classic. Made it four songs in. Got tired of the style of the music.
Amidst breakups and reunions they still managed to improve on their second album and produce excellent pop songs and groove jams. Timeless soulful and groove based rock.
I was very surprised, I only knew Bittersweet Symphony going into the album, and the rest of the album was very good. Standout track for me was The Rolling People
This album is quite nice to listen to. I only knew one song but the others have the same style.
Fun album!
This is great. always only knew bittersweet symphony but it turns out they got other good songs too!
Singles are deadset smashes. The rest was more psychedelic than I’d imagined
I loved this
Referência enorme do final dos anos 90, com MTV e FM tocando os hits. Realmente é bem construído, começa com mega hit e sustenta o interesse na sequência das músicas.
Bittersweet Symphony is a great song - one of the best of its era, IMO. That elevates this otherwise pleasant, but not great, album for me.
I hadn’t heard the bulk of this album so I didn’t expect much after Bitter Sweet Symphony. I was pleasantly surprised that much of the rest of the album is as good as the radio hit. Solidly a britpop album without being formulaic.
If someone tells you they don't like Bitter Sweet Symphony, you shouldn't trust that person. I'm not huge on the euro-indie-pop of the late nineties, but this song deserves all of the respect. Classic string intro with one of the catchiest god-damned choruses that makes everyone think they can sing. Sonnet is kind of a boring handover after BSS... The Rolling People picks up with a big room guitar / drum combo. The Drugs Don't Work is a comfortable little ballad. Solid little song. Catching the Butterfly is my second favorite song on here so far. Digging the spacious, noodly atmosphere of the second half. Very open and almost psychadellic with the synth tones poking around under a haze of drum and reverberated guitar. Neon Wilderness is another sparse number. Feels initially like a B-side instrumental number from Modest Mouse with some atmospheric guitar and drums with vocals floating overhead. I had this in the background for the remainder of the album, but I honestly can say that I enjoyed this album way more than I expected to. Especially closer "Come On;" that was an unexpected jam. All around this is a 4/5 for me. They cover a lot of ground and had way more variety to their sound than I expected going in -- ballads, pop, jam / psych influences.
Bittersweet Symphony is a great way to start this album. It is the only song I know by them and it was cool for it to be first. Catching the Butterfly and Neon Wilderness are a nice trippy twist in the middle of the album The strings that are featured in a lot of songs really lift this album up a notch The album ended pretty weak in my opinion but still a very good album all around
I completely forgot this album existed, I listened to it a lot as a kid. Bittersweet Symphony is one of my favourite songs. The rest of the album is less memorable, but still good. 4/5
I’m pretty over Bitter Sweet Symphony, but fortunately the rest of the album is great
I LOVE IT. Just great
Even if you strip away the single releases, this is an album with a lot of depth.
Slow but easy to listen to
Listened Before? N Wow, this took me by surprise. Bittersweet Symphony is by far their best known work in the US and it's all I'd heard by them. Imagine my surprise when I realized it's an outlier and sounds nothing like the rest of the album. This album is fantastic. Hooky, acid-drenched, 90s fun. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Sonnet
Didn’t know anything other than ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ but really enjoyed this album.
Ikonisk åpningslåt. God fortsettelse også, heldigvis. Nostalgisk på en måte.
A familiar album. I really like it but feel it is let down by the final track
Millions-selling depression? Sure.
Iconic Britpop album Favourite Tracks: Bitter Sweet Symphony, Sonnet, The Drugs Don't Work
i’m a sucker for these nostalgia ridden albums. bittersweet symphony is close to an all time banger lowkey
this rock ROCKED !!!
Great late 90s vibes
I wonder why The Verve never made it further.
really liked!
nice
Perfect starter!!! And finisher! +1. But nothing special in total. But not so bad.
4.0
Pretty Good, nice 90s album, fun listen all the way through. Need a few more listens before I think off adding to collection. I like Bitter Sweet Symphony a lot so would be cool to enjoy the rest of the album as well.
first listen this album is just great
I was wondering how long it would take to get here on the list, to the first album I bought, nostalgia is hooked directly into my veins as cascading memories wash over me as I shed a single tear of blissful adoration. After all this time? Always.
Fedt album. Bittersweet har man hørt 100 gange, men Drugs og Lucky Man er virkeligt gode sange.
Classic
I've mostly just heard the Sweet Symphony, but I gotta say I was positively surprised and really enjoyed the album as a whole. Very high bar overall in my opinion.
Was not in the mood for soft rock and knowing only "Bittersweet Symphony" and "The drugs don't work" I was not looking forward to it. Surprised by the heavier tracks such as "The Rolling People" and "Come On" were very good and generally enjoyed the album.
RateYourMusic rating 4.0 8/10 pepeJAM
I searched out this album ages ago purely for "Bitter Sweet Symphony", but I didn't remember much of the actual album outside of that track and "The Drugs Don't Work".
Rating: 8/10 Britpop essential, some top top tunes on this.
Some solid songs on this! There are a few that let it down otherwise could’ve been back2back 5*
I enjoyed this, some really good songs on here.
Score: 70 Album art: 60 The bends Guess I'll get this out of the way right away. It is very hard to shake off the comparison to Radiohead while listening to this. Like extremely hard. With that being said it is different enough to have its own sound. Bittersweet symphony is for some reason the first song. I'm guessing this is because a label wanted it right in front but it makes no sense for the flow and feeling to be first. It's a great song but I think the 3 song stretch from the rolling people to to pimp a butterfly is better. Those songs are great. Sadly after this the album falls off slowly and ends up being uninteresting by the end with the exception of the last track which is pretty good. Sadly it's not a good song to have in your Playlist because there's 8 minutes of silence to hide a bonus track. I really hate this style of bonus track listing on Spotify and I wish they would stop doing it. None of the music here is bad and it's all well mixed and produced. But it does drag in the second half. It's between a 3 and 4 so I'll round up
This has a lot of low reviews, I'm surprised. This genre might be tiring for some people, but holy crap do I love this sound. It makes me happy. I fit right in here, 90's take me home. Clear, sort of experimental production, though it's too long and can become generic and monotonous because they tend to end every song the same. This reminds me of past times and therefore I feel comfy all the way through. Fave Songs: Bitter Sweet Symphony, The Rolling People, Lucky Man
Brings back memories of high school
Extremely good album.
Whoa, this album surprised me a LOT. I was definitely put off by the length going in, but it turned out to be a highly enjoyable listen. I think if I were in a worse mood, I would have found this to be kind of derivative, but something about it felt fresh and novel enough to be enjoyable. Standouts: Bitter Sweet Symphony, The Rolling People, The Drugs Don't Work, Catching the Butterfly
I have this album and it was always my preferred Verve album. I love all these songs and videos for the singles too. I don’t care that people hear Richard Ashcroft as a whiny northerner. I love his voice and it works as an instrument on its own.
So, I wasn't exactly looking forward to this one due to the recent Verve listen. Seemed a little soon, and I didn't love the last album. I referenced that I owned this one in that review, and that I had struggled getting my teeth into it, despite numerous attempts. I wonder if hearing another of the band's album gave me a new perspective on what they're all about, or maybe I was in the right frame of mind (which is a little scary, considering how depressed these blokes are), but this was a much more connected experience than previous listens. Funny, also, that I was familiar with most of the material. Yes, I had listened to it, but it all seemed to wash right over me. But much of it was still there. Now, I heard lyrics in new ways, and the line about the bag of cats waiting to drown was pretty grotesque. This dude obsesses over some pretty dark feelings. Was he raised in a basement without windows or something? Anyway, it was nice to hear him almost get giddy on "Lucky Man." Hold on, was that a ray of hope buried in there? Despite the depressing vibe, I found this to be a really solid album, much more enjoyable than A Northern Soul for my tastes. And they cap it off with a bang on "Come On."
Finally something from my era and wheelhouse! Not my favourite band but still an enjoyable stroll down memory lane. Starts out on a high and does unfortunately taper off in quality but still something I really enjoyed. May revisit the 90s BritPop era again soon thanks to this.
nije njihov najbolji, ali mislim da dam ovdje trojku da bi bio loš čovjek
A pretty, pretty nice album. Some classic singles.
Very good
"Urban Hymns" is the third studio album by English alternative rock band The Verve. The band split up after their second album and then reformed. Original guitarist Nick McCabe was not in the band when they started recording "Urban Hymns" but eventually rejoined as the band was struggling with the writing and recording. With three guitarists, there is lot guitar layering. This falls in the Britpop stylewise. Some songs I would just classify as rock. It was their best-selling album and won the 1998 Best British album at the Brit Awards. For the most part, the album received very positive reviews. There were some mixed ones as well. The Andrew Oldham Orchestra sample of The Rolling Stones' 1965 "The Last Time" starts off the album and "Bittersweet Symphony." BTW, the band eventually got their royalties from the in 2019 after legal issues. The sample continues and is layered with drums and vocals. Being trapped and powerless to change your behavior beyond control. I liked the video and remember this being a very big song. There's scratchy and easy-sounding layered guitars in "Sonnet." More background keys and strings. A love song. I sort of like their more rockin' songs and Nick McCabe finally in the house on "The Rolling People." Sounds very Black Crowes-esque. "The Drugs Don't Work" hit # 1 in the UK. Acoustic guitar, strings and keyboards. Admittedly autobiographical for lead singer Richard Ashcroft. One of their best songs. "Space and Time" is a nice sounding song with acoustic and electric guitar. At times, this music is a dead ringer for Oasis. More layered acoustic and electric guitars in "Lucky Man." My favorite song on the album. The orchestral bscking music and vocals build to the end. I think it's about finding inner peace and love." "Come on" ends the album. Guitar feedback, wah-wah guitar and drums. More rockin.' It gets more chaotic and fades out. This is more like it. This is a very well-produced album with the layered guitars. Their hits are good and well-deserved success songs. I like the two rockin' songs pointed out. It would have been interesting to see a whole album of that. Maybe, that's what their earlier stuff sounds like. At 75 minutes, there is some filler that could have been trimmed but, overall, a good album.
It really soft, ballad like and focus on the lyric on some first songs. Not my kind of music. 5th songs sound more psychedelic. Really cool
Essential brit-pop record with several memorable classics and their great hit "Bitter Sweet Symphony" written by The Rolling Stones.
Big of nostalgia
A fine 90s brit-pop indie album that misses something. Richard Ashcroft is a very good songwriter with an ear for a satisfying melody and he has an arrogant self-assuredness that is satisfying as much as distancing. The album is the equivalent of a britball 442 - tracks are all normal lengths, the singles are spaced out reasonably equally. The album feels like the euros 96. It lacks a romance or imagination to push it into greatness. A pragmatic album with some good songs. The drugs don't work is a highlight in my view.
Bittersweet Symphony was one of my first "favourite songs" of my childhood that I remember clearly, I was around 7 or 8 at the time and it always takes me back. The rest of the album never really clicked with me, but listening to it again now, it is very solid.
Good album, but doesn't speak to me as much as I hoped. Sure, Bitter Sweet Symphony, Sonnet and the Drungs Don't Work are timeless classics, Lucky Man is quite memorable, but of the rest, not much stands out. 3.5/5
Really good album in its day.
O :4.0 M: 4.2
Great album, best one so far on this list. Some hidden gems
Our ban hims? Political.
Bought it back in the day
Although this isn’t totally up my street, I can appreciate that it’s a great album.
Very solid album. Too bad the Stones screwed them
Peak 90's nostalgia that still does the business.
I love how this album goes from huge anthems, to tender songwriting, to expansive almost experimental compositions. Only criticism is the expansiveness means the album it long, too long. Otherwise, cracking set of tunes.
Sonnet remains an absolute classic. Nice to revisit the whole thing again
Very much of it's time but has aged surprisingly well because many albums from that era really haven't. A couple of great tunes.
Another album that I had never heard of but enjoyed a lot. Now I'm off to my friendly local record store to see if I can find it. Wish me luck!
(Most of the album) but especially Catching the Butterfly is very Radiohead (like amnesiac or ok computer ) not a fan of lucky man and bitter sweet symphony though =/ Weeping willow is cool tho! Space and time is so good The drugs don’t work reminds me of some song but I can’t for the life of me remember 😤
Didn't listen to this very much when it came out but it's aged well and is packed with great tunes. A bit bloated perhaps, but some of their finest melodies are on here. Anyone who likes this should check out the first two albums which are peerless for their time. Great stuff!
Kind of samey but enjoyable
Overall I found it pretty good. A few misses in the middle of the tracklist but other than that I like the spaceiness of the songs. They're all quite long but most don't really get old. 7/10
Pretty solid, harder rock than I remembered (still not hard rock though!)
I really enjoyed this album. I had only ever heard BSS before. I really liked The Rolling People.
Nice, mostly the second half.
I was a little surprised to see a band synonmyous with one hit single from my high school days show up on 1001 albums you must hear before you die. As it turns out, there was another single from this album that I recognized as soon as I heard it. But otherwise, the Verve (at least in my world) faded into obscurity after the obssession with "Bittersweet Symphony" died down. Imagine my surprise when I fell in love with this album! Sure, the aforementioned hit song opens this album up with great fanfare, but there's truly nothing else that sounds like it on the rest of the album. Instead, I'm met with an interesting mix of psychedlic Brit-pop tunes. The first five songs really had me thinking this would be an absolute masterpiece, perfect album, but then the middle kind of descended into mediocrity for a bit. Overall, I found myself getting sucked into almost every track and really digging the layers of sound and variety of styles presented by The Verve here.
Adorei o álbum e descobri que não é uma banda de uma música só! Muito bom, tranquilo de ouvir, o tempo passa voando. Uma delícia. Melhores músicas: a clássica Bitter Sweet Symphony, The Drugs don't work e One Day.
peaceful
Classic Britpop album which suffers from the excesses of the time. Some absolute bangers on here but by Christ it needs some editing. That late 90's coke must've been fucking great. Best Tracks: Bittersweet Symphony; The Drugs Don't Work; Lucky Man
Ok
I had a copy of this album back in high school but never really listened to it.of course, Bittersweet Symphony is the best known track, but to be honest, I’m so sick of that song. Listening to the rest of the album, I actually liked it. Gives a lot of Robbie Williams and maybe Jane’s Addition type vibes.
Still a great album with some top tunes
Classic depression
Classic soft rock album! It is nothing special but for me it works. I listened to the album while taking a walk and that was perfect. Just easy going and that’s all. Favourite songs: - Bitter sweet symphony - The drugs don’t work - Lucky man
Got a lot of sentimental love for this album, but not quite 5 stars
Better than I anticipated. I had always felt the Verve was Bitter Sweet Symphony and not much else, but the whole album is a decent listen. 3.5/5
A hair of bloat for my tastes, but everything on it was tasty enough, and had an overall aesthetic I enjoyed quite a bit.
it is an album filled with hymns of my generation, but it can get a bit repetitive after a few listens, 8/10
For some reason I had to listen to this twice to decide how I felt about it. I think it's good but not great, it's too long and kind of blends together
classic
Was an overall good album, kept my attention and had some great melancholic songs although I felt like it dragged on for too long
Surprised
Legendary Brit pop album
nothing new but still good
I wonder if you have to be British to get on with this album, there's something of the overcast skies, chewing-gum-pavement, mangy pigeon vibe to it. In a good way. I think.
Will listen again. Solid album. No complaints. Best songs: The Rolling People, Space and Time, the Drugs Dont Work
Interesting album. Not something I'd normally go for but I liked it
An excellent album from my childhood. Not quite top drawer but still an excellent listen.
Probably my favorite album when I was living the late 90’s. Reminds me of nightlife in the city, winter. As for the music, I always like the synth and vocals, echo effects. I didn’t notice all the reference to pills earlier. Go back and listen to Slide Away, the bass line and “So take your time…” it’s a vibe.
I was pretty shocked how much I liked this.
good for work(?. really urban Hymns ha
Way better than I was expecting! I forgot about all their old hits and the rest of the songs have aged well.
Bitter sweet symphony isn’t even the best song on this album.
The vibe of all of these sounds similar to BSS, but less brooding and sad maybe. I'd listen again.
Remove the 4 big singles and you are still leaft with a consistently good album, the final refinement of the Verve sound (mid-paced winding and wistful with the occasional outburst of pissed off vocals and angry guitars). Only four stars because it is only one song, a great song, done in 10 slightly different versions.
Bittersweet symphony opening track. what a banger. I know I've listened to this whole album before but I'll sit down and pay attention this time. I added a couple of these songs to my spotify, pretty solid mix of psych, shoegaze and britpop. Didn't know that bittersweet symphony sampled rolling stones!
This was far better than some of the bland pop that mimicked it.
Cosmic indie. Gets well derided this album… but that’s unfair. Very special LP!
-"Bitter Sweet Symphony" was pleasant -"The Rolling People" gets pretty heavy -End of "Weeping Willow" with the echoey vocals under the main vocals is cool -Super cool and heavy in "Come On." The mix of the guitar and keyboard and drums grooving along is super solid -I really hate hidden tracks in this style. "Come On" is a great track but there's just 6 of silence before the "Deep Freeze - Hidden Track" starts -The hidden track, "Deep Freeze - Hidden Track" is an interesting spooky, computery, squeaky thingy -Overall, cool slightly chiller alt-rock album. Does not fall into the common pitfalls of some music like this where it is just super boring. There's enough dynamics and instrumentation and stuff to keep it interesting
Cool sound, much more my style than Bruce
very vervey
I know this album well and listened to it on earphones this time around. It’s a masterclass on creating atmosphere.
idk, it’s okay I guess WAAAYYY too derivative of U2, imo but still pretty good I guess it’s a 7/10 for me
Britpop muy animado. Un megahit. Un 4.
I’ve herd this one once before and my god it’s long ( not bad though)… The album starts with bitter sweet symphony an extremely powerful orchestral rocker initially I found it odd as the album’s opener but one I listened on seemed like there was no other option! Sonnet is a solid acoustic rocker with an explosive arse chorus whats not to like? Then is the rock heavy song the rolling people it’s amazing to some extent as because of the songs sheer length you’ll probably know the chorus off by heart in listen one but it just seems too long for this song. The drugs don’t work is the verve’s intensely beautifully amazing swan-song it’s not my favourite track but it’s the best you know! (For the next 4 songs the album takes a psychedelic turn) Starting with catching the butterfly like the rolling people this one does drag a little but it’s still a fine psychedelic rock song and one of the albums best. Neon wilderness is this trippy interlude showing we’re fully plunged in the drugs for a while. Unique but not a fan. Well space and time is less druggy than I remember it still is a little druggy but it’s mostly brought on by the guitars in the verses.The best bit is the rocking chorus though. Weeping willow is still how I remember it though an amazing dramatic little psychedelic rocker with an amazing chorus to end off this section of the album. Then is lucky man an odd duck in the tracklist feeling like it should be on the more acoustic/ rock based first third but actually being placed in between the psychedelic second third and the somewhat forgettable last third. The song itself is my favourite of the album though amazing chorus! One day starts this mixed bag of a final third thing one is one of the worst ones just a dull little sad song nothing really appeals to me here to be honest. This time is oddly unique yet generic as it experiments with more hip hop sounding instrumentation which is cool but the song just feels so dull. Velvet morning picks up the quality of the album being a slower beautiful little acoustic song with a thundering chorus could’ve closed the album on its own. As the closer come on is the oddest pick to close an album with its a heavy psychedelic 6 minuter but somehow it works don’t get why great tune. I think one the generator it’s overall a little overrated compared to the rest of britpop being an average of around 3.5 while which is similar masterpieces like pulps different class and oasis and blurs albums and somehow greater in rating than both suede’s album’s which were ultimate gems of Britpop. But rant aside it’s good but with way too many tracks that dull it down from being as good as the album’s I mentioned previously… Oh I forgot deep freeze is shit!
I once listened to A Storm in Heaven about a year ago in my car and it just flew by without me paying attention to any of the songs. I quickly realized it's an album I'd have to sit back and listen to... I have yet to re-visit it. But here we have Urban Hymns, a later album I had only known for the hits "Bitter Sweet Symphony" and "Lucky Man." Reading up on the band, they shift from shoegaze into pure Britpop. Two comments: (1) I've heard this trend plenty of times before in early Suede (Drowners) and Blur (Oily Water), and (2) this is complete bullshit. These songs are still very heavy in psychedelia, having a fuzzy space sound reminiscent of Flaming Lips or Spiritualized. Combined with Will Malone's strings produce a symphonic effect in the hits which explains the impact they have on people. I'm personally a bigger fan of the psychedelic deep cuts. It's slow, melancholic, and atmospheric, with his somber vocals staying consistent throughout the entire ride. Despite being over an hour long, there are only 13 tracks, each well fleshed out. They all left an impression on me, although I do admit I started to lose attention in the final stretch after "Lucky Man." But honestly "This Time" (so energetic!) and "Velvet Morning" (that country influence!) are both awesome tracks, so that confirms "One Day" is the weak link that should be cut. Whoever says they're generic is just a flat liar... they're clearly Britpop but it's too cloudy to be lumped together with anyone else. People already complain about how different the Big 4 of Britpop sound from each other, no need to pull The Verve into this label too. I could see why one might think that though, as the songs didn't innovate much and mostly stuck to a formula that I assumed followed from their only earlier work. Sure, I like the effects, violin(?), and swirly guitars, but I couldn't say much about the riffs, bass, or drums beyond they're fine and mixed well. The only other complaint I can offer is to reduce the length, as the hour+ is a bit too uncomfortable. I can only understand how unbearable it can be for people who are not as crazy as I am about their sound.
C'était bien
Bitter Sweet Symphony, Lucky Man, The Drugs Don't Work, Sonnet...what tunes!! The rest might not be everyone's cup of tea but I enjoyed them. A solid album of very 90's vibes.
It's strange to listen to an album that I never heard about, even recognizing almost every song. This could be good or bad depending on the listener. In my case, this is good. An unknown classical
this is the second album I am reviewing and comes hot on the heels of Stone Roses. I was surprised that there is a gap of eight years between the two, as in my head they were from about the same time but that probably says more about my lack of interest in most of the music of the 90s. Whereas I thought the Stone Roses album was insubstantial beyond Fools Gold and Waterfall, Urban Hymns is a much stronger offering. Not just because of the standout singles - Bittersweet Symphony, Lucky Man, the drugs don't work - but also the coherent sound and quality of songs like Sonnet, and the clever use of orchestration. There are one or two weaker songs, but overall Urban Hymns boasts a strong sense of identity with a distinct sound that sets the Verve apart. Genuinely impressed and would consider buying this
- Ohhh it’s that song - Lots of effects - Sounds good - Nice guitar arpeggio in The Rolling People - I like the mood throughout the album - very repetitive lyrics - I like the lyrics in Lucky Man - whole albums has excellent string sections
I hate Bitter Sweet Symphony. Because I hate that song so much, I never even considered the rest of this album. One song grossly overshadows a fantastic album.
I love the 90s. Yea, another album full of hits from my childhood
Very good. Exceptional guitars.
Solid
Coming off the tail end of the Britpop wave, Urban Hymns operates as some sort of final scene before the end credits. All of The Verve's history was captured and crystallized with this album, keeping one foot in the populist, swaggering sounds of the moment while keeping the other foot in the psychedelic universe they once solely occupied. While this album does feel a bit bloated with the album length, there are moments where the songs prop up the album with its immediacy and accessibility. It may not be anyone's cup of tea but this is still something to go out of one's way to listen to if there is any particular interest in where British music was in 1997. Favorites: Bitter Sweet Symphony, Sonnet, The Drugs Don't Work, Catching the Butterfly, Space and Time, Lucky Man, This Time, Come On.
This was so much better than I expected.
That SYMPHONY was anything BUT bittersweet
Vintage banger, not quite as good as the earlier stuff - and way too popular with mouthbreathers for my elevated sense of musical taste. Cant deny some of the tunes though, however much of a prat he was
Mjög gott stöff.
Taas yksi nuoruuden suosikkeja. Ihan samalle tasolle ei kuitenkaan päästä genren 90-luvun kärkinimien parissa. Vaikka levyn kohokohdat ovat epäilemättä 5* tasoa, pudottaa heikoimmat hetket kokonaismielipidettä. Varsinkin levyn loppupuoli koostuu paikoin hieman omituisesta rokkiräminästä. Livenä Verve/Richard Ashcroft olisi kyllä kiva taas nähdä. Sen verran timanttista settiä oli Kaisaniemessä jokunen vuosi sitten.
Algjörlega stórbrotin plata.
It gets an extra star for bittersweet symphony
I liked most of it, but not all of it. Britpop has proven to be a bit of a hit and miss to me. Bitter Sweet Symphony is my favourite song off the album.
This was one of the best albums of the genre around that time. Especially when they slow down, with Bittersweet Symphony, Sonnet, Lucky Man and Drugs Don't Work they're at their best. Good album. Not great. 3,5*
so so good
Wow I was super surprised how much I enjoyed this and also how many songs I knew! I listened to this twice. I also didn't realise this was 90s, thought it was early 00s. Britpop classic
Pretty classics sounds with a few bangers. I felt quite nostalgic for this album but to be honest, giving it a fresh listen I didn't love it as much I thought I would but it does undoubtedly have some bangers on it
Required listening for anybody who knows only Bittersweet Symphony!
Un poquito pesado pero de un gran sonido. Son pocas las canciones que están a la par de Bittersweet Symphony pero tampoco es que el resto sea malo. El cierre es lo más flojo del disco aunque no opaca el resto del disco. Sólido 4.
Nunca manejen en carretera con Bitterweeet Symphony, es por su seguridad. Una vez dicho eso, creo que este es un muy buen disco, del cual destacan obviamente los sencillos que siguieron sonando por años y que casi hacen a The Verve un one hit woner… no más que son tres: Bittersweet, Drugs Don't Work y Sonnet. De todo el disco y de toda la historia de Ashcroft mi favorita es Drugs Don't Work, pero si siento que este disco está claramente en esa línea en su estilo de sonido y de intención.
Bitter Sweet Symphony is a classic, but the rest of the album is also great.
The Verve's best album. Some really great songs, but still not a masterpiece. The whole album blends together.
Felt a bit bloated but some good songwriting, probably felt bigger at the time of release.
Banger
bittersweet symphony, good 90s album. great sound.
I only knew one song from this album, but was pleasantly content with the rest.
Really enjoyed this album. Had only heard Bittersweet Symphony before, and was surprised by how much I liked the rest of this album. It's added to my library!
legalzinho, tipo oasis
I mean yeah, it's a solid album. "Bitter Sweet Symphony" in a monster of a hit to come out of the gate with and the album just kinda coasts on that momentum, never really gaining any additional oomph. By the time the album crosses the finish line, you're left with the impression that you've just heard some decent rock music but with very little memory of any particular track besides the first.
I like the sound and style of this album. Some cool textures, good melodies, and they perform very well. There are some real nice breaks in songs, too, during which they go into some interesting directions (e.g., that dreamy-feeling bit in 'The Rolling People'). I hear some genuinely excellent musicianship in this album, too. A few wild guitar moments in there. Nice.
I bought this album when it came out because of Bittersweet Symphony alone, and my blind faith that there would be more than just the one track paid off. That didn't always happen. To this day I still get The Drugs Don't Work stuck in my head at odd times. Lightning in a bottle. Best track: Bittersweet Symphony
New album for me! The first song "Bittersweet Symphony" I grew up with, and it's pretty well known among my generation. The strings used throughout the album create such an interesting dynamic. They sound like a more-polished version of Oasis. Really enjoyed this one!
Great four song start to this album, after only previously listening to Bittersweet Symphony. Good alt rock. Rest of the album was also good, need to give it several more listens to sink in though.
The Verve have always occupied an odd place in the pantheon of 90s Brit-pop/Brit-rock. While the lines were being drawn between the hard-driving, albeit at times simplistic, rawness of Oasis and the sonic adventures of Blur, the Verve seemed more than happy to tread the lines of the two; acoustic guitar anthems like The Drugs Don't Work sound like they could have been written by Noel Gallagher himself, while still being able to pull off 6 minute psychedelic-lite adventures like Catching The Butterfly. Although The Verve never did reach the heights attained by either Blur or Oasis, the band succeeded in emulating both bands without sounding like a complete rip-off of either. Much credit for this, in my opinion, goes to Nick McCabe. From slide guitar twangs to catchy, to sonorous horn-like feedback, the guitarist approaches the instrument as one who uses a hand ax like a boomerang; it might not be the conventional way to do it, but it gets the job done. He lends a sort of post rock credibility to the band, best exemplified in Neon Wilderness, with its atmospheric guitars, creeping bass lines and steady beat, evokes a mood that makes one think of Mogwai. This writer did not care much for the tracks that were more straightforward, favoring rather songs that veer a little off-center, like the aforementioned Neon Wilderness, and Weeping Wilderness, where the band explores with wah-pedaled guitar as a textural layer. Urban Hymns also sees the band tastefully use orchestral strings, in a way that adds tasteful layers that do not drown out the rest of the band. All in all, a record that warrants a revisit, at the very least to figure out the guitar work.
Kewl
Overall, the songs are way too long. 4 of the songs are absolutely phenomenal, perhaps some of my favourite songs ever. Utterly beautiful. There’s a stark difference between the 4 hits and the other songs however, the disparities between them make much of the album feel like filler. It felt drawn out, bloated, and dull in places. Each song is about twice as long as they really ought to be. 4/5 - Most of the album is a 3 at best, but Bitter Sweet Symphony gives it a push.
This is the band at the height of their powers. Taking on Oasis in the 90's and probably winning on a few fronts.
The Drugs Don't Work is a standout, but all sounds good.
Honnêtement surpris. Je m'attendais à ce que juste Bittersweet Symphony soit bonne, mais l'album au complet est solide. Je sais pas à quel point c'est une pièce d'anthologie, mais définitivement un landmark des années '90s.
I really liked this one, feels like the Verve should be known for more than just the one song.
I am a casual fan of THE VERVE. I own and have listened to their first three albums: A STORM IN HEAVEN (1993); A NORTHERN SOUL (1995) and URBAN HYMNS (1997) plus the B-side compilation EP NO COME DOWN (B-SIDES & OUTTAKES) (1993). I like THE VERVE and their three albums. I say I am a casual fan because I don’t continually listen to the songs on a regular basis to distinguish one song from another. So, the question arises as to why I was only a casual fan. I think mostly because of the Britpop genre. None of the Britpop bands held any sustained interest for me. I did like some of the Britpop albums from Suede, Elastica and Blur. After listening to URBAN HYMNS after about a 20-year absence of not listening to their music, I find that I still like it very much, of course, the brilliant sounding and video for BITTER SWEET SYMPHONY deserved to be a hit. THE VERVE provided the most consistent run of three very good to excellent albums. So, for me, with all the debate about the Britpop Oasis vs. Blur vs. Suede vs. the rest of Britpop. My choice is the short reign of THE VERVE before Britpop fell out of favor. In 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, I see that A NORTHERN SOUL is a second album included in the book. I would have thought A STORM IN HEAVEN would have been the second entry instead. Rate Artist: THE VERVE (4.5) Rate Album (Year): URBAN HYMNS (1997 Original) (4) Rate Album (Year): URBAN HYMNS (2017 2CD Deluxe 20th Anniversary Edition) (4.5)
8 out of 10 it's aged quite well for me
Pretty decent album throughout though it really gets bumped up due to the two singles.
I really dig it
Beautiful album! Excellent vocals, very reminiscent of Oasis and Kasabian. Soaring instrumentals
The first time I heard The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony" was Halloween 1997 at the Pontiac Silver Dome. It was U2's walk-on music and my dad and I were there because we won tickets. I think I had another social engagement in podunk Mid-Michigan that I cared more about and was bummed that I had to see U2 with my dad. That was dumb but I was 14 and was really figuring out how to be a dick for the most insignificant reasons. Today, this concert is one of my top 10 and a great memory I share with my dad. Anyway, U2 entered the arena from the end zone opposite the stage and proceeded to walk through the crowd while this song played. They were all dressed in costumes for Halloween. Bono was a boxer and sang along with this song. I'll bet he wished he wrote that song. It sounds like "Beautiful Day," which would come out just a couple years later. 1997 wasn't the year that I was interested in hearing British dudes sound like updated versions of The Beatles. That's what The Verve sounded like to me. But I held on to the positive memory from the U2 concert. In the mid 2000s, my Uncle Rick (Godfather) turned me on to Richard Ashcroft's solo records. I really got into "Alone with Everybody." Listening back to "Urban Hymns" was a nice experience. The Verve are a great band and much more mature than the bands they were grouped with at the time (looking at you, Oasis). I'd take this music over Oasis any time. I will listen to this record again if I can remember to. Hopefully "following" the Verve on Spotify will be the catalyst I need... ha. And, strangely, I'll think about U2 every time I do.
Not exactly a helter-skelter fuck party like I'm used to attending, more a wholesome children's birthday spoilt by an uncle who's shooting heroin on the picnic blanket. NODDY'S OFF HIS FACE ON KETAMINE! NODDY'S OFF HIS FACE ON KETAMINE!
probably a 5 star album at the time from a small band that got big and were then big but the world got smaller or something
beh beh beh
Good. This one could grow on me, I’ll have to go back and listen more some time
Just float away on this magnificent Britpop album
Solid album. Richard Ashcroft's writing is awesome. It's a shame this was released while Oasis were riding their success. Not as good as Morning Glory but in my opinion competes with definitely maybe and in some ways is better.
4/5
Pretty good! Started off strong, faded a little, and then finished nice!
Still good, still not amazing enough for 5 stars (2nd time rating this one due to switch to Group).
Pretty good mix of strong songs.
Solid late 90s rock.
I'd only heard the singles prior to tonight's listen to this album. A very carefully crafted album that has a big presence musically, but lyrically is very introspective. Kinda like Oasis without all the grandstanding cocky swagger. The singles fit in perfectly with the rest of the album. I really enjoyed this one.
An atmospheric indie classic.
Zo blij dat ik na al die klote platen weer eens iets leuks hoor. Niet eens een opgewaardeerde 3,5 ster, maar echt 4 volle sterren; Chapeau voor dit prachtige album
Toffe plaat! Niks meer, niks minder
Ik kende eigenlijk alleen de 3 of 4 bekende tracks, maar de rest van dit album is ook behoorlijk ok!
Kende alleen de hitjes. Heb me er in m'n jonge jaren niet verder in verdiept omdat ik afgeschrikt werd door hun levensmoeie uitstraling. Maar er bleken ook nog een paar onbekende parels op het album te staan.
Enjoyed this more than I anticipated. The singles are obviously ubiquitous, but some of the nods to earlier Verve work (Neon Wilderness, Catching The Butterfly and Rolling People) were a nice surprise. Sonnet is a classic of the time, and Drugs Dont Work teeters on the brink of Coldplay but RA’s vocal saves it. Not really a bad song on the album.
Amazing.
Britpop muy animado. Un megahit
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: The bitter sweet symphony
Оказывается, у них ещё песеи есть
This was really good. Like a summer meadow.
Bittersweet Symphony has always seemed ubiquitous to me. Nice to hear some of their other songs, I am liking this quite a bit.
Großer Pop aber halt Pop
Still sounds really good. The singles got a bit overplayed but it all works together as an album
Good album. For me personally the rest of the album doesn't live up to the famous Bittersweet Symphony, but it's still mostly very good.
Urban Hymns is an emotional album tinted with a relatable sadness. It isn’t an incredible vocal performance nor a writing one nor musical one, but The Verve do everything good in a special way. The alchemy between all songs is wonderful and embraces for more than an hour the listener. Is Urban Hymns innovator ? Not really. Is it flawless ? The last song’s ending and the lack of risks taken makes me write no. However, is it good ? Absolutely. It is pleasing to hear and I am definitely going to be listened to again it again.
Great! Like Oasis but without two brothers who hate each other and wanna fight all the time.
Quite good, I liked the vocals and guitar. 8/10
Notes: Ah the World Cup is on guys let’s go. “Bah bah baah, bah babybel” - about 4 mins into “The Rolling People” A bit like Bran said in a different album, this gives me a kind of a non-specific nostalgia and though I wouldn’t be likely to actively put this album on, it’ll get a better score cus of this (well probably if there was a better rating system) Ok boys I’m being nice to you today don’t ruin it with a stupid fucking hidden track like that
Cool milestone in late stage bitpop, though I usually like my psychedellic rock less produced.
6.5
Urban Hymns is a rich album that revitalizes rock traditions without ever seeming less than contemporary. It is the album the Verve have been striving to make since their formation, and it turns out to be worth all the wait.
This wasn't great, but it was really good. 3.6/5 stars. Bittersweet Symphony might be the most well known, but some of the songs on the album are just as good, if not better.
Nice song, has some classics. Really ties in well with itself
Es mucho más que solo los singles más conocidos, tiene varios temazos a los que no se les ha dado la importancia que realmente tienen. Por momentos se acerca al rock psicodélico. Muy bueno.
Die eerste noten, pure nostalgie! Pakweg de vijf eerste nummers waren heel tof, het midden was wat eentoniger, maar mooie inhaalbeweging tegen het einde. 3.5
I don't know about everyone else, but just so many songs that I knew but had no idea that it was the verve.
so _that's_ where that song comes from!
This album was great. Definitely one I'd like to listen to again sometime to learn the songs better. 1RS
Scrapes a 4
Pretty mopey and long but actually pretty cool and interesting! 7/10
7. First song was pretty good, not much else to write home about.
One hit + great music. Many fillers and instrumental parts worth analyzing.
Iconic disco
Bittersweet symphony is so good. I like the alternative vibe but it is like a watered down Radiohead, still enjoyable and I could listen to this a few times.
Spoko, przyjemne. Kojarzy mi się trochę z Oasis. Dziwna płyta, zaczyna się Bitter Sweet Symphony a kończy prawie na country
Ca se ressemble bcp du debut a la fin mais pour la premiere chanson qui est un mega hit. 4*
Really liking her voice!
Bittersweet Symphony shines in the album, one of my favourite songs! Loved also Weeping Willow.
worse oasis. Not bad but worse.
Three big hits on this album took my right back to high school. Other stuff not quite as good but true to the same feeling. Solid 3.5 but I’ll go ahead and bump to 4
Good, but that first song is overrated.
Man this album took me back. HS grad year. I’ve never listened to the whole album but it was so good. “The drugs don’t work” is a beautiful song.
7
8.1
Love this album but really only 4 decent songs!
Nice og chill album, har avskrevve det pga bitter sweet symphony
Bittersweet Symphony takes me back. I like the rest too.
4.1
Great opening track. Tracks 3&4 both phenomenal. Hits a few songs which are ok but seem more filler. Great Segways in between songs.
Great brit rock album
The opening and closing tracks are great, not a lot of underdeveloped potential on the track listing.
good. deserves another listen
This was such a breezy listen. Such good driving music, too. Also I don't hate Bittersweet Symphony as much now, so there's that.
2/11 Another great, psychedelic Britpop album. Standout Tracks: Bitter Sweet Symphony, Sonnet, The Drugs Don't Work, Space And Time, Come On / Deep Freeze
was a good album with indie vibes
"Bittersweet Symphony" is an all-time jam, of course. That nothing else on this album measures up to that standard is not surprising. But the work as a whole is generally disappointingly predictable nonetheless.
some killer stuff but too long
1-horrible 2-mediocre 3-regular/bueno. algunos hits, con produccion decente y algunas ideas interesantes 4-muy bueno/excelente. varios vits, mas ideas interesantes. 5-revolucionaria obra maestra. game changer este album se ubica en un buen album, algunos hits, algunas ideas interesantes pero por mucho tiempo me acorde de oasis, siendo de la epoca. por ahi le pifio me gusto
Sounded about how I expected it to sound. And that was fine. But it didn't wow me at any point. Best songs were Bittersweet Symphony and The Drugs Don't Work.
Positief verrast. 50/50 bangers en skips
Better than oasis, it has the same late 70s pop rock influences but also has art rock and classic R&B references such as The Shangri-Las and Velvet Underground
“Bitter Sweet Symphony” had one of the openings that’s immediately recognizable. I like it, but don’t love it enough to seek it out; however, sucks me in each time I hear it. I hear “Lucky Man” on the radio enough that it doesn’t stand out to Me. “Sonnet” stuck with me this listen. Possibly, because I can imagine it being spun into a song by a singer where it lands on pop or country radio. The “Rolling People,” “Catching the Butterfly,” “Neon Wilderness” have more of the sound that hooks me. Might as well go in on the sound. Not sure why, but the “The Drugs Don’t Work” reminds me of Crowded House’s “Better Be Home Soon. It appears I’m not the only person who hears that based on Plamen Zahariev YouTube video. “This Time” does nothing for me. “Velvet Morning “ hooked me. Overall album was hit or miss for me.
I quite like The Verve but they are decidedly NOT a double album kind of band. A very generous 3 stars because it’s listenable the whole way through and has a couple real killer tracks, but only because I have Smashing Pumpkins the same leniency.
It opened with a banger and then just kinda fizzled out after. It all got very samesy and boring. The last song with 5 minutes of silent anticipation just to cut to baby crying noises was... something.
I love it when songs make me wait in silence for five whole minutes before cutting to a baby crying. Just what I needed, thank you. That being sad, this was quite boring aside from Bittersweet Symphony, and the voice of the singer got annoying after a while.
Favourite Songs: The Rolling People
I've had a great run of 3 star albums recently. Solid 3.5 stars for this.
Marko - 3.5 Sara - 3.5
Sterke start met ene banger van jewelste, daarna vooral saai, saai en saaier
Twaalf keer saaie britpop en Bittersweet Symphony, daarvoor toch net een 3.
Some really good songs and then some that just seem to drag on a bit. Hard to rate because the songs I enjoyed I really enjoyed, but most of it became background noise to me. Maybe it’s just one where I only really like the singles. Fav song: Bitter Sweet Symphony – I also liked The Drugs Don’t Work, Sonnet and Lucky Man Least fav: This Time
Some fab songs in here to be fair but nothing else in the album hits the heights of bittersweet symphony. Also what is going on with that hidden track nonsense. Felt like 5 mins od straight silence. I guess that’s one that may not have moved over from the cd age to digital well. Specific rating - 3.9 Fav song- bittersweet symphony Least fav- come on/ deep freeze