Currently streaming (this week only) on MySpace is Forth, the new album by The Verve. I've only been waiting a year for it. Here is my verdict as I listen to it for the "first time"
Sit And Wonder
My current live favourite. Studio version is quite different, sounded stripped down. On balance I think I prefer the louder live version, with the crunching guitars and Ashcroft shouting "Lord, bring me the light!".
Love Is Noise
Everyone knows this by now. It's epic and the stuido version is essentially the live version. Or is it the other way round. "Love is noise, Love is pain, Love is the Blues I'm feeling again ..."
Rather Be
I heard this for the first time on the Zane Lowe Radio 1 session and really liked it then. Disappointed that it wasn't played at Staffordshire V Festival. Good song.
Judas
This was available to download on iTunes from last week or so so I have heard it before. I think it may grow on me much life Feel did (9 minute chilled out b-side to their second single).
Numbness
Having said the above about Judas, I think this is even more chilled out and more like Feel ... "Yeah, numbness on the brain-ayain-ayain-ayain"
I See Houses
I've been waiting to hear this one for a while having read some good reviews about it and being labelled as one of the essential tracks to download if you believe that albums should only be partially downloaded.
On the first listen, I think it sounds like an average Richard Ashcroft song. I would Rather Be listening to Break The Night With Colour or Check The Meaninginstead. The other songs so far I would say suit The Verve more than Ashcroft solo. This one does not smell like The Verve to me. Not a bad song though (for an album track).
Noise Epic
Another song often name-checked in reviews, probably because of the interesting title. A classic Verve jam. I quite like songs like this on Verve albums. Not commerial and people who like The Verve for Sonnet, Bitter Sweet Symphony and Love Is Noise will wonder what's going on. In the same way that people who like The Beatles for Love Me Do, I Want To Hold Your Hand and Strawberry Fields don't get Revolution No. 9.
Valium Skies
So far, this sounds like the best song that I haven't heard (plus Judas). Reminds me of the latter songs on Urban Hymns, something like Velvet Morning, with Ashcroft singing with a certain amount of pain in his voice.
Columbo
This sounds excellent ... a calming Man Called Sun feel to it. Goes on for quite a while...
Appalachian Strings
This song has stuck out in my memory for a while because of the title. I think they have played it live but I can't remember hearing it and I've been looking forward to hearing it.
Sounds like a bit of a come down song, rather than an epic album finisher (like Come On from Urban Hymns. Does have a rising finish though.
So that's it ... I'm off to listen to it again (and again).
You started blogging again and I didn’t notice…