Defend the Indefensable : Richard Ashcroft

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The Verve

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I fucking love Urban Hymns, I don't care if England's awake right now or not!

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Clarks.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:02 (twenty-two years ago)

He gives The Evil K@te R@dley something to do with her life except break up bands! That is all.

― kate (kate), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:03 (twenty-two years ago)

we are awake and we hate urban hymns.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Richard Ashcroft solo is a tough one.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:04 (twenty-two years ago)

That song he did on the UNKLE album is fucking gorgeous.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Solo Ashcroft is tough. But defend his body of work solo/verve.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:06 (twenty-two years ago)

*gets pad and is ready to note down anyone willing to defend richard ashcroft's solo career: names will be placed on 'enemy' list*

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Richard Ashcroft can be defended for the quite splendid wig-out A Storm In Heaven album, proto Urban Hymns bucolic acoustic thingy "History" offa the otherwise tediously lumpen A Northern Soul and maybe two or three tracks from UH itself.

All solo stuff totally utterly go-the-fuck-away-now-you're-happy-now-please horrid. Meh.

ps. that Chemicals one when he sounds like Holly Johnson's quite funny...

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I willnot/cannot defend Ashcroft solo, and the Chemical Bros. track was enough to turn me off the whole album

― James Blount (James Blount), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:07 (twenty-two years ago)

His solo stuff is pretty dire, but I liked some of the Verve's stuff....however self-important they appeared.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:10 (twenty-two years ago)

My friends wife thinks he's hawwt.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:11 (twenty-two years ago)

"Hey, where's my career gone...whoa, lord, jesus..."
http://www.glasswerk.co.uk/images/ashcroft.jpg

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:13 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Test" is a fantastic track. I don't understand the bile.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:20 (twenty-two years ago)

The reason that A Storm In Heaven and early Verve is so good is because Ashcroft is almost totally mixed out of it.

― kate (kate), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:22 (twenty-two years ago)

The reason that A Storm In Heaven and early Verve is so good is because Ashcroft is almost totally mixed out of it.

that's a fucking good point! never really thought about it, but that album is all about the endless gated guitars innit? Yay to that. Death to singers! Or perhaps just chinese burns and papercuts.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I knew what Kate's answer was before I even opened the thread.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Kate's answer is good because it is ACCURATE.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I am so predictable. Perhaps I should celebrate with a picture of Kristian Capitol K's haircut?

― kate (kate), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Richard Ashcroft sings like a tolerable version of Michael Stipe.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I like his voice.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 13:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Richard Ashcroft and the Patriot Act are driving this country into the ground!

― Dirty Blue Gene, Wednesday, 9 July 2003 19:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I found this quote from the NME on the Gluecifer site a couple of weeks back and thought it was funny.

“A world where people like Richard Ashcroft and Thom Yorke are considered stars, and a band like Gluecifer still wander around in pure obscurity, is a world gone fucking mad”

― earlnash, Wednesday, 9 July 2003 19:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Gluecifer rocks! (Howdy earl!)

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 19:32 (twenty-two years ago)

(Or should I say "earl"?)

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 19:32 (twenty-two years ago)

A Storm In Heaven and A Northern Soul = UBERCLASSIC, everything else he's done makes me want to kill him and all his family. Check the Stylus archives for my reviews.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 19:51 (twenty-two years ago)

"Sonnet" wasn't too bad, but then it was an Aztec Camera facsimile, only with added shamanism, obviously

― Neil Willett (Neil Willett), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 20:14 (twenty-two years ago)

fuck it, he did 'check the meaning' on Jools Holland and by thunder it was tolerable! he sung really well actually.

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 20:24 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't like 'The Test' but 'Lonely Soul' still sounds good to me

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 9 July 2003 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

This is the first one that is impossible to defend. Some sad sacks at least provide the odd laugh as they stumble along cluelessly(Corgan, Gillespie, Bwett Anderson)- but with Ashcroft you know that you're peering into a crackling, flaming void of irredeemable idiocy.

Tool.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 10 July 2003 11:51 (twenty-two years ago)

haha dr c = otm

(well, i mean, i like "this is music", but still...)

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Thursday, 10 July 2003 11:54 (twenty-two years ago)

The second solo album was fine. Fantastic artwork, too. The first was appalling, admittedly.

The Verve - classic, from start to finish, period.

And Ashcroft IS hot in a gawky Ant'ny-from-Royle-Family kinda way.

― russ t, Thursday, 10 July 2003 11:57 (twenty-two years ago)

CHECK THE MEANING!!!! I'd forgotten about that.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 10 July 2003 11:58 (twenty-two years ago)

its almost as good as 'One' by U2

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 10 July 2003 12:07 (twenty-two years ago)

The man is a cunt. And yet I love his old band. Except for Urbane Hymns.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Thursday, 10 July 2003 12:21 (twenty-two years ago)

hmmm..... Urban Hymns could never, ever be described as unexciting, smooth or predictable. Like the other Verve reords, it was a superb record. Not their finest by any stretch, but still an incredibly great album.

And Human Conditions is in no way a 'terrible, terrible' record. That review came across as being far more about attacking Ashcroft personally than about the record and its contents, which is a shame as it's an interestingly written piece - it just misses the point of reviewing a record totally.

― russ t, Thursday, 10 July 2003 12:48 (twenty-two years ago)

I lost Northern Soul years ago and can't find it. Im going to the store in an hour to find a new one.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 10 July 2003 12:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't understand the hate - I understand the indifference, but not the hate...

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 10 July 2003 13:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't hate him.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 10 July 2003 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

You can only hate someone if you've really loved them first. And I really loved The Verve. Except Urbane Hymns.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Thursday, 10 July 2003 13:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Nick that is balls.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 10 July 2003 13:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I think a lot of music hate is pantomime stuff anyway, mine generally is. It's a 'gales of derisive laughter' thing not a 'white-knuckled venom' thing.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 10 July 2003 13:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Unless, of course, you are Alex in NYC.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 10 July 2003 13:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes but he's a loony.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 10 July 2003 13:48 (twenty-two years ago)

No, I really do hate him. I have to leave the room / turn the radio/MTV off when he comes on. I can't bear it. Partly cos I guess it makes me question whether the stuff by The Verve that I do love is actually andy good and worthy of love. I totally subsrcibe to the idea that people can come to hate/disliek things they once loved/liked, and not just through abd associations or forced sense of 'grown-out-of-ness'. But I still love The Verve's early stuff. And really, honestly feel liek he's tarnishing it with his solo material.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Thursday, 10 July 2003 13:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I didnt mean that you didnt hate him Nick I just think the thing about 'you can only hate if you've loved' is rubbish :) - well the 'only' bit at any rate.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 10 July 2003 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Aye, I agree with you there, I guess I was just using it as a kidn of mimetic example thing, common saying, thingy, saying, aye, yes.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Thursday, 10 July 2003 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

ah its okay, i hate him again now

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 10 July 2003 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Stevem get your mind meditatin' on love!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 10 July 2003 13:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, see? Love!

http://www.ashcroftunofficial.co.uk/crew16.JPG

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:20 (twenty-two years ago)

can't...think of...comment...worthy enough...

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Check out the Samsonite under his eyes!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:38 (twenty-two years ago)

What the HELL is that? Would you leave Jason Spaceman for a WALKING SKULL IN A PIMPLE HAT?!?!? I wouldn't. Christ, that's terrifying. Put a warning on the thread title, you don't want to frighten small children.

― kate (kate), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Radders was clearly overpowered by Ashcroft's 'deep mystical' side - all that meditating on love, contemplating on soul of man etc. - also he uses Lynx

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

She's no proper DDG if she perfers a man in deodorant. Feh!

― kate (kate), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh my god, Ashcroft is Chris from the Real World Paris.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I took a pee next to Ashcroft.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Stevem - Lynx?!?!? NOOOO!!!! How'd you know that?

Chris V - spill the beans - length and girth. He's a lanky sod, so I reckon he's got a whopper.

― russ t, Thursday, 10 July 2003 16:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh my god, Ashcroft is Chris from the Real World Paris.

He is!

At least this makes him seem a little less dull these days, maybe he's getting drunk all the time and lying about sending women flowers.

― Nicole (Nicole), Thursday, 10 July 2003 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I knew that one was coming ZING!

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 10 July 2003 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Perhaps I should celebrate with a picture of Kristian Capitol K's haircut?

Always the best way to celebrate, natch. Did you see him at the Vibe Bar t'other day? Missed it due to househunting, bah.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Thursday, 10 July 2003 17:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Early (pre ‘the’) Verve were one the finest live acts I’ve ever seen. This was largely due to Nick McCabe’s dazzling neo-psychedelic guitar playing, and the space Simon Jones/Peter Salisbury gave it, but as a front man, as a performer, Ashcroft played his part. I’d prefer to remember him for that than subsequent disappointments.

― stevo (stevo), Thursday, 10 July 2003 17:57 (twenty-two years ago)

seven months pass...

I can't help it if "I Get My Beat" makes me smile a lot. It's good ironing music. Shame about the rest of the album(s).

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Monday, 16 February 2004 18:51 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

Can somebody explain the hate for this guy to me? I've never heard a track of his solo work. But I remember him describing one of his records as inspired by Gene Clark and Dennis Wilson (and maybe Tim Buckley). And frankly, that sounded a lot more interesting than the reviews would indicate. Is it a British thing?

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Friday, 3 February 2006 16:33 (nineteen years ago)

Dadrockismus.

Bobby Gillespie's records are inspired by most of my favourite bands but his records are shite are too.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 3 February 2006 16:38 (nineteen years ago)

his new record is a turd.

― don weiner (don weiner), Friday, 3 February 2006 17:04 (nineteen years ago)

I think he also did some unreleased sessions with Terry Melcher that are floating around for you to investigate, NTI.

― Redd Harvest (Ken L), Friday, 3 February 2006 17:06 (nineteen years ago)

That isn't nice.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Friday, 3 February 2006 17:19 (nineteen years ago)

I always really hold out hope for this guy, for some reason. I don't like his music, and I don't even really care for him as a human, but for some reason I'd really like to see him succeed, i.e. make a good record.

I'm listening to the new one and it's not good so far.

― RoxyMuzak© (roxymuzak), Friday, 3 February 2006 17:19 (nineteen years ago)

You're right, Matthew, sorry.

― Redd Harvest (Ken L), Friday, 3 February 2006 17:21 (nineteen years ago)

He's a frigging millionaire (probably), save your hopeful thoughts for someone who deserves 'em (xpost)

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 3 February 2006 17:22 (nineteen years ago)

I always loved the story that he stole Jason Spaceman's gf b/c he looked the same and was better endowed.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Friday, 3 February 2006 17:29 (nineteen years ago)

Heard live version of "Lucky Man" on Zane Lowe thee other night. Awful, dreary, ploddding, mediocre, rote. I did actually think of this thread as I listened to it, har.

Can somebody explain the hate for this guy to me? I've never heard a track of his solo work.

It isn't real hate, though is it (as per tom upthread) The massive void between the artist & his/her proppers' lofty pronouncements w/r/t the quality of the work & the actual quality of said work can be a source of teh funnies, perhaps, but in this case the rekkids are so unbelievably bad and BoRiNG, that I can't help but feel some sense of rancour when actually listening to them. (see also oasis, prml scrm)

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Friday, 3 February 2006 17:37 (nineteen years ago)

Norman OTM.

― Redd Harvest (Ken L), Friday, 3 February 2006 17:39 (nineteen years ago)

Having adverts on TV which promote your new album as being by the "LEGENDARY Richard Ashcroft" doesn't help

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 3 February 2006 17:45 (nineteen years ago)

I highly doubt that he's "a friggin millionaire". Remember he didn't actually see a dime from "Bittersweet Symphony".

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 3 February 2006 18:13 (nineteen years ago)

He had almost all the writing credits on Urban Hymns though

― dan. (dan.), Friday, 3 February 2006 18:17 (nineteen years ago)

I am unwilling to defend someone who challenges other people to write something like the intro to "Bittersweet Symphony", never mind that he didn't write the fucking thing himself. And boo to Chris Martin for making people care about Richard Ashcroft again. Five-minute songs, the last four of which are usually him going "yeah, no, oh, oh, my Lord, Lord", because he's some fucking spiritual genius whose authority MUST NOT BE QUESTIONED.

― Deluxe (Damian), Friday, 3 February 2006 18:24 (nineteen years ago)

I dunno, no one over here in the US speaks of him in such deified terms, the press doesn't care about him, he has no hits (apart from Bittersweet Symphony), so all this stuff you guys hate so much about his public persona is all sorta foreign to me.

Tho I did think his solo album was bad, and about half of Urban Hymns is fairly boring. But I'm surprised anybody cares enough to get their panties in such a knot over him.

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 3 February 2006 18:37 (nineteen years ago)

I always liked the "oh my my" bits.

I mean the guy stinks of failure, have a heart. He doesn't even believe his own hype, it's all such a gesture.

I heard his re-recording of "Bitter Sweet Symphony" on the new record and oh boy is it a steaming pile of crapola.

Nick McCabe please come back home!

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Friday, 3 February 2006 18:48 (nineteen years ago)

He stinks of failure? I've rarely saw an artist who so intensely believes his own hype! Are we talking about the same guy here? I realise he means (and sells) zilch in the US

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 3 February 2006 18:49 (nineteen years ago)

He is, after all, the "Legendary Richard Ashcroft"!

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 3 February 2006 18:50 (nineteen years ago)

I don't know, I think he's just grasping. He's obviously got a self esteem problem. I'm serious!

I always loved the story that he stole Jason Spaceman's gf b/c he looked the same and was better endowed.
-- Naive Teen Idol (naiveteenido...), February 3rd, 2006.

but he had a smaller heroin habit.

― The Man Without Shadow (Enrique), Friday, 3 February 2006 19:08 (nineteen years ago)

certainly isn't hate in my case, so much as not being able to listen to a single song on the new album without laughing in disbelief. almost unsportsmanlike, i grudgingly admit, but that's his fault

― marc h. (marc h.), Friday, 3 February 2006 19:08 (nineteen years ago)

His solo stuff really is embarassingly turgid shite. Have you lot heard Why Not Nothing? Horrible, horrible, horrible. Live he's got a great voice but recorded it just makes me want to smash his head in.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Friday, 3 February 2006 19:10 (nineteen years ago)

I really loved his voice on the Verve stuff.

nick upthread you hyperlinked the word 'cunt' but it's 404ing now. i hope it's not just a cunt.jpg.

― The Man Without Shadow (Enrique), Friday, 3 February 2006 19:13 (nineteen years ago)

It used to take you here - http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=55

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Friday, 3 February 2006 19:16 (nineteen years ago)

"I always loved the story that he stole Jason Spaceman's gf b/c he looked the same and was better endowed."

I don't quite follow this sentence.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 3 February 2006 19:32 (nineteen years ago)

I forget which thread it was, but someone predicted that in several years P.S. I Love You will release a single titled "Where The Fuck Is Richard Ashcroft" with a cover picture of Kevin Shields shrugging.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Friday, 3 February 2006 20:04 (nineteen years ago)

four years pass...

don't really know the verve too much but WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS MESS?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av7uM-KH7uI

― annoyed the void (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 10 August 2010 17:33 (fifteen years ago)

He was really friendly in a genuine-seeming way & smoked me out when I approached him at Lollapalooza (in 1994, back in the touring days of pavilions, amphitheatres, piercing booths & the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow). Then Verve played Gravity Grave for what seemed like hours &, from the second stage, laid waste to every other act on the bill (except for Tribe, obv). What happened, Richie?

I think it was the influence & ego-bolstering of the Gallaghers that first led him down the path toward pure evil.

― I DON'T 'RAP' (Pillbox), Tuesday, 10 August 2010 20:25 (fifteen years ago)

Much mockery of his recent doings here:

Richard Ashcroft and his new band...the United Nations of Sound

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 10 August 2010 20:28 (fifteen years ago)

five years pass...

Hooboy...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEsNnbobxxQ

― Elvis Telecom, Tuesday, 19 April 2016 22:29 (nine years ago)

one month passes...

This is pretty good:

http://thetalkhouse.com/luke-haines-auteurs-black-box-recorder-really-wanted-like-richard-ashcrofts-people/

Sadly, it was cockless and weak as a runt child's piss.

― afriendlypioneer, Friday, 20 May 2016 17:59 (nine years ago)

From the hip: I believe in the transcendent power of rock (now more than ever) and I know Richard Ashcroft does too. Rock & roll is for the losers, the ill, the lunatics, the spastics, the seers of visions, the disenfranchised, the terminal, the naturists, the shit-kickers, the beekeepers, the ugly fuckers, the nutters, the poets, the poet nutters, the ranters, the chancers, the foot painters, the Lovers of the Sacred Hare, the Johnny Too Bads, the faithful, the pantheistic masses. This record is, at best, mediocre. It does not speak to those who heed rock & roll. The Verve, whatever their faults, were righteous. This record is not righteous. Richard Ashcroft, sir — you have wasted rock. Please don’t do it again.

― afriendlypioneer, Friday, 20 May 2016 18:00 (nine years ago)

two years pass...

great stuff

Richard Ashcroft on Instagram pic.twitter.com/sDUvnhgXdp
— Mainly Oasis (@MainlyOasis) September 22, 2018

― devvvine, Saturday, 22 September 2018 21:26 (seven years ago)

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