The Verve - Forth

Forth (2008, RED) The Verve's fourth studio album. ***

When the single "Bittersweet Symphony" was released, the Verve were launched to superstardom. It came with a price, as they would have to release 100% of the royalties of their hit single because of unwarranted sampling. The band became involved heavily with drugs. Finally, the tension between Ashcroft and McCabe broke, and the Verve dissolved before they could release a follow up to Urban Hymns.

Forth then (almost) answers one of the long-debated questions in recent music history; what would have happened to the Verve had they stayed together? They would have been unquestionably the biggest band in the world, and even back home they were considered the leaders of the British alternative scene. The answer is that it's monotonous, but that's not because they have run out of good ideas. It's been nearly ten years since they were writing music together, and Ashcroft used a lot of material - albeit mostly bland - for his solo work, so we find them struggling to come up with anything fresh. Forth is not hard to listen to, but it's not engaging, either. Only two songs, "Love is Noise" and "Valium Skies" are standouts, but more so for wrong reasons. "Love is Noise" features a strange, well, noise that sounds like barking throughout its duration, and "Valium Skies" is the poorer cousin of "Bittersweet Symphony."

It's not that the Verve aren't good songwriters or performers, but the album is ten years too late. It is true that Forth is not as heavily steeped in shoegaze as other releases, but without the biting lyrics, without Ashcroft's emotional vocals (he sounds weathered now), and without impact of their earlier work, the Verve's "comeback" is more saddening than anything else. They are a band who should have come back in flying colors, but it seems like they're the only ones marching in the parade with no one to watch. Pleasant material, none of it memorable. And thus is the tragedy of the Verve in the US. (Love is Noise, Rather Be, Valium Skies)