I never understood all the love for the drugs dont work as i always felt it was he weakest song on the album. It's no 'History'.
― Cosmic Slop, Wednesday, 8 June 2016 18:24 (eight years ago) link
I don't want this to turn into yet another conversation about Britpop, but ultimately I agree with you - there were some great guitar bands around at the time.
― the hair - it's lost its energy (Turrican), Wednesday, 8 June 2016 19:02 (eight years ago) link
I could see Jimmy Webb covering Drugs Don't Work
― brimstead, Wednesday, 8 June 2016 20:09 (eight years ago) link
I bet Mark Lanegan or Scott Walker could make it work
― Cosmic Slop, Wednesday, 8 June 2016 20:11 (eight years ago) link
Turrican if you did facebook you could talk about all the britpop era with kitchen person and I all you wanted ;)
― Cosmic Slop, Wednesday, 8 June 2016 20:12 (eight years ago) link
Yes, I would be interested to see who you would pick out of The Verve and Kenickie and do you also rate the first Gay Dad album?
― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 8 June 2016 21:01 (eight years ago) link
The Verve and no!
― the hair - it's lost its energy (Turrican), Wednesday, 8 June 2016 21:10 (eight years ago) link
I guess the problem I have with 'The Drugs Don't Work' is that it's a bit drab and meandering, and there's not really a "moment" in the song which lifts it out of that. Like, say, Radiohead's 'How To Disappear Completely' could be accused of being drab and meandering, but it has some stunning musical moments in there, such as the orchestra and the ascending/descending synths, and some ear-catching choices of notes in the arrangement. 'The Drugs Don't Work' just comes across as a really drab take on a country song that, while well produced (as Urban Hymns on the whole) doesn't really, at any point, develop into something truly special.
― the hair - it's lost its energy (Turrican), Wednesday, 8 June 2016 21:18 (eight years ago) link
*is
― the hair - it's lost its energy (Turrican)
At least we'll always have Suede, Supergrass and Associates (not a Britpop band but worth a mention).
― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 8 June 2016 21:26 (eight years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Thursday, 9 June 2016 00:01 (eight years ago) link
my favorite British bands were The Boo Radleys, Verve, Super Furry Animals, Ride, Slowdive, MBV, Suede, Pulp and the Jesus and Mary Chain. hell i even really liked stuff like Elbow, the Charlatans, Ash and Supergrass. i was young and naive but wouldn't change it for anything.
― Bee OK, Thursday, 9 June 2016 01:24 (eight years ago) link
I listened to Urban Hymns recently and think it holds up just fine -- even The Drugs Don't Work. But, yeah, the band stuff is really where it's at -- especially Come On and Chasing The Butterfly.
A Northern Soul is the album for me, but I haven't listened to ASIN in a long time, so I'll get to that now...
― Blood On The Knobs, Thursday, 9 June 2016 02:56 (eight years ago) link
this is either 'blue' or 'butterfly'
― imago, Thursday, 9 June 2016 08:34 (eight years ago) link
ok, voting 'blue', it's so good and should have been the template for their pop direction
― imago, Thursday, 9 June 2016 08:36 (eight years ago) link
After a couple of listens yesterday I was just going to vote for The Sun The Sea because, well, spike dance for ten days long, we're just heading for the sun, and then saxophone craziness, but apparently I've already voted and I can't remember what for.
Blue is great though.
I voted for Star Sail, I remember.
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 9 June 2016 09:15 (eight years ago) link
I prefer this album to Loveless.
― Sam Weller, Thursday, 9 June 2016 09:22 (eight years ago) link
I went for Slide Away and now feel that was the conservative choice even though I love it. Should have been The Sun The Sea.
The track I always go back to is One Way to Go off the b-sides collection. That and the live version of Gravity Grave. (1 minute - 1 minute! I think Ashcroft' messianic fervour works at times like this - he inhabits it and seems to be completely lacking in self-consciousness. Now he just parrots a load of limp platitudes and his lack of self-consciousness becomes his hamartia.)
― Sunn O))) Brother Where Art Thou? (Chinaski), Thursday, 9 June 2016 10:33 (eight years ago) link
Ashcroft as a figure from Greek tragedy, there.<takes head out of arse.>
― Sunn O))) Brother Where Art Thou? (Chinaski), Thursday, 9 June 2016 10:34 (eight years ago) link
I listened to Urban Hymns recently and think it holds up just fine -- even The Drugs Don't Work. But, yeah, the band stuff is really where it's at -- especially Come On and Chasing The Butterfly.A Northern Soul is the album for me, but I haven't listened to ASIN in a long time, so I'll get to that now...― Blood On The Knobs,
― Blood On The Knobs,
Come On is amazing. Esp live.
and co-sign that no come down version of Gravity Grave as its astonishing.
I much preferred mad richard era to happy richard
― Cosmic Slop, Thursday, 9 June 2016 10:53 (eight years ago) link
The drums are mixed so very quietly on this record. That's 1993 for you.
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 9 June 2016 11:52 (eight years ago) link
This is the only Verve album I love unreservedly. The weakest song is "Butterfly", and I hadn't heard the story about it ostensibly being a last minute improv piece to pad out the album. It makes perfect sense.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Thursday, 9 June 2016 12:06 (eight years ago) link
what that song is awesome
― Spottie, Thursday, 9 June 2016 15:58 (eight years ago) link
I can't fault the mix/overall sound of this record, really - it's a huge part of the appeal for me.
― the hair - it's lost its energy (Turrican), Thursday, 9 June 2016 17:28 (eight years ago) link
Oh god, the No Come Down version of 'Gravity Grave' ... if anyone really wants to know what all the fuss is about, just listen to that!
― the hair - it's lost its energy (Turrican), Thursday, 9 June 2016 17:31 (eight years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Friday, 10 June 2016 00:01 (eight years ago) link
Yeah, that totally wasn't a surprise, since 'Slide Away' is the most conventional song on the album, but still fucking wonderful.
I'm more surprised at the 0 votes for 'Virtual World'!
― the hair - it's lost its energy (Turrican), Friday, 10 June 2016 00:11 (eight years ago) link
My decision came down to Beautiful Mind vs Already There
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Friday, 10 June 2016 02:33 (eight years ago) link
Non-album singles and b-sides 1992-1994 would be a fun poll, I mean Gravity Grave would win but still.
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Friday, 10 June 2016 02:38 (eight years ago) link
I voted Slide Away but Virtual World would be my second choice.
I didn't hear this album until long after the fact but it's one of my favourite shoegaze/space rock/psychedelic records for sure.
― Gavin, Leeds, Friday, 10 June 2016 12:27 (eight years ago) link
The lyrics are very frequently trite pie in the sky nonsense but I can forgive it because of the sound around them, and the sound of them. He altered so much as a singer between this album and ANS, it's crazy.
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 10 June 2016 12:35 (eight years ago) link
Non-album singles and b-sides 1992-1994 would be a fun poll
If one has the Verve E.P., No Come Down, and This is Music singles comp, what other non-album tracks from that era are worth tracking down?
― early rejecter, Friday, 10 June 2016 14:03 (eight years ago) link
There's only about a dozen non-Storm in Heaven early tracks, and if you have the Verve EP and No Come Down, I think that covers all of them?
All in the MindA Man Called SunOne Way to GoNo Come DownTwilightWhere the Geese Go6 O'ClockShe's a SuperstarFeelGravity GraveEndless Life
The rest is live/acoustic/unedited versions of same.
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Friday, 10 June 2016 15:53 (eight years ago) link
A Man Called Sun is ashcrofts fave song and mine too
― Cosmic Slop, Friday, 10 June 2016 16:19 (eight years ago) link
and Mansun's, too
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Friday, 10 June 2016 16:21 (eight years ago) link
I don't think anyone has ever listened to this album for its lyrics, to be honest.
― the hair - it's lost its energy (Turrican), Friday, 10 June 2016 17:58 (eight years ago) link
I dunno, I always liked "-hello, high are you? -yes. -well that explains it" as an expository refrain.
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Friday, 10 June 2016 18:39 (eight years ago) link
Oh, I agree, and I think "it's me throwing stones from the stars on your mixed up world" isn't a bad lyric at all - just I think that with this album, on the whole, the lyrics take a back seat to the music.
― the hair - it's lost its energy (Turrican), Saturday, 11 June 2016 00:06 (eight years ago) link
true. it sounds like he copied a lot of the choruses from what people had signed in his high school yearbook.
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Saturday, 11 June 2016 06:51 (eight years ago) link
I love the way this album begins with that massive, reverb-drenched opening chord to 'Star Sail'
― the hair - it's lost its energy (Turrican), Saturday, 11 June 2016 07:06 (eight years ago) link
pretty amazing looking re-package
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CmOV2KxWAAAr7me.jpg
― piscesx, Monday, 4 July 2016 00:17 (eight years ago) link
cool!
― brimstead, Monday, 4 July 2016 00:18 (eight years ago) link
looks nice! also decent price, around $40.
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Monday, 4 July 2016 00:42 (eight years ago) link
Tracklist looks fantastic
A STORM IN HEAVENCD1: The Remastered AlbumStar SailSlide AwayAlready ThereBeautiful MindThe Sun, The SeaVirtual WorldMake It ‘Til MondayBlueButterflySee You In The Next One (Have A Good Time)CD2: B-sides, E.P. TracksAll In The Mind (9/3/1992)All In The MindOne Way To GoA Man Called SunShe’s A Superstar (22/6/1992)She’s A SuperstarFeelGravity Grave (5/10/1992)Gravity Grave (Extended Version)Endless LifeA Man Called Sun (live)Gravity Grave (live encore)Blue (10/5/1993)TwilightWhere The Geese GoNo Come DownBlue (USA Mix)Slide Away (29/9/1992)6 O’ClockCD3: B-Side, Radio Sessions, Unreleased Studio TracksSlide Away cont. (20/9/1993)Make It Til Monday (acoustic)Virtual World (acoustic)Originally issued on the compilation ‘No Come Down’ (B-sides and out-takes)Gravity Grave (live Glastonbury 1993)Butterfly (acoustic)BBC SESSIONSRadio 1 Session – 7/02/1992 (previously unreleased)Slide AwayShe’s A SuperstarAlready ThereBrake LightsRADIO 1 (Mark Radcliffe) Session – 7/12/1993 (previously unreleased)Star SailA Man Called SunSix O’ClockGravity GraveUnreleased Sawmills Studio Sessions (previously unreleased)Shoeshine GirlSouth PacificDVDPromo videosAll In The MindShe’s A SuperstarGravity GraveBlueSlide AwayLive at Camden Town Hall – 23/10/92Slide AwayAll In The MindShe’s A SuperstarStaring StrangerA Man Called SunSouth PacificAlready ThereThe Sun, The SeaGravity GraveBonus content:A Man Called Sun (N.Y.C. Flatbed Truck – 1992South Pacific (Sawmills footage filmed by John Leckie)Blue (USA Mix (promo video)
CD1: The Remastered AlbumStar SailSlide AwayAlready ThereBeautiful MindThe Sun, The SeaVirtual WorldMake It ‘Til MondayBlueButterflySee You In The Next One (Have A Good Time)
CD2: B-sides, E.P. TracksAll In The Mind (9/3/1992)All In The MindOne Way To GoA Man Called Sun
She’s A Superstar (22/6/1992)She’s A SuperstarFeel
Gravity Grave (5/10/1992)Gravity Grave (Extended Version)Endless LifeA Man Called Sun (live)Gravity Grave (live encore)
Blue (10/5/1993)TwilightWhere The Geese GoNo Come DownBlue (USA Mix)
Slide Away (29/9/1992)6 O’Clock
CD3: B-Side, Radio Sessions, Unreleased Studio TracksSlide Away cont. (20/9/1993)Make It Til Monday (acoustic)Virtual World (acoustic)
Originally issued on the compilation ‘No Come Down’ (B-sides and out-takes)Gravity Grave (live Glastonbury 1993)Butterfly (acoustic)
BBC SESSIONSRadio 1 Session – 7/02/1992 (previously unreleased)Slide AwayShe’s A SuperstarAlready ThereBrake Lights
RADIO 1 (Mark Radcliffe) Session – 7/12/1993 (previously unreleased)Star SailA Man Called SunSix O’ClockGravity Grave
Unreleased Sawmills Studio Sessions (previously unreleased)Shoeshine GirlSouth Pacific
DVD
Promo videosAll In The MindShe’s A SuperstarGravity GraveBlueSlide Away
Live at Camden Town Hall – 23/10/92Slide AwayAll In The MindShe’s A SuperstarStaring StrangerA Man Called SunSouth PacificAlready ThereThe Sun, The SeaGravity Grave
Bonus content:A Man Called Sun (N.Y.C. Flatbed Truck – 1992South Pacific (Sawmills footage filmed by John Leckie)Blue (USA Mix (promo video)
― willem, Monday, 4 July 2016 07:29 (eight years ago) link
Where is this information coming from?
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 4 July 2016 11:34 (eight years ago) link
http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/the-verve-a-storm-in-heaven-and-a-northern-soul-super-deluxe-box-sets/
― willem, Monday, 4 July 2016 11:44 (eight years ago) link
These are very expensive and full-on. I'd quite like just a double-CD of each album with the associated b-sides and EP tracks remastered, I think. I can't justify £30 each on something I already own and which only really speaks to a me that doesn't exist anymore.
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 4 July 2016 13:03 (eight years ago) link
Back when this was originally released I remember reading articles comparing it to 'New Gold Dream' and I was like, wtf...
― yesca, Monday, 4 July 2016 14:28 (eight years ago) link
tasty
http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/verve1_spread.jpg
― piscesx, Saturday, 9 July 2016 12:51 (eight years ago) link
I've been immersed in the remaster most of the afternoon. The run from 'All in the Mind' to 'A Man Called Sun' is spectacular.
― Sunn O))) Brother Where Art Thou? (Chinaski), Monday, 10 October 2016 16:06 (seven years ago) link
my friend is a huge Richard Ashcroft fan and asked if i wanted to see them when they came to Hollywood. i told him i was a huge, gigantic Verve fan but could care less about his solo stuff.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 7 January 2017 03:26 (seven years ago) link
i'm seeing Richard Ashcroft at the Wiltern on April 3, 2017.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 7 January 2017 03:27 (seven years ago) link
And then you will really care less.
― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 7 January 2017 05:19 (seven years ago) link
The last record Ashcroft was involved in that was worth listening to was, funnily enough, The Verve's Forth ...
― Working night & day, I tried to stay awake... (Turrican), Saturday, 7 January 2017 18:30 (seven years ago) link
not sure how to post photos from Wikipedia, but this is where A Storm In Heaven was recorded in Cornwall:https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Sawmills_Studios,_Golant,_Cornwall.jpg/1024px-Sawmills_Studios,_Golant,_Cornwall.jpgdo we have any accounts of what the whether was like at the time? potentially very atmospheric
― brimstead, Wednesday, 1 November 2023 17:59 (ten months ago) link
WEATHER
atmospheric in the metaphorical sensesorry for 3x posts
very famous studio.seem to recall only approachable via boat.
― mark e, Wednesday, 1 November 2023 18:04 (ten months ago) link
ah ha ..
https://www.classicpopmag.com/2020/01/sawmills-studio-interview-they-came-they-saw-they-conquered/
― mark e, Wednesday, 1 November 2023 18:06 (ten months ago) link
ooh thanks for sharing that
― brimstead, Wednesday, 1 November 2023 18:38 (ten months ago) link
yet another site that the Edge/Immersive Reader option is the best way to read it.
― mark e, Wednesday, 1 November 2023 18:45 (ten months ago) link
'Cause I'll be hearing music till the day I diegot my vote.― Bee OK, Tuesday, June 7, 2016
got my vote.
― Bee OK, Tuesday, June 7, 2016
I voted "Already There" and I'm okay with that and see it finished third. Such an amazing album that doesn't get the love that it deserves.
― Bee OK, Thursday, 2 November 2023 01:09 (ten months ago) link