"The Verve" goes 'Forth' on new album

Most people will remember English alternative-rock band The Verve by the success of its 1997 smash hit "Bittersweet Symphony." The song charted in the Top 20 on both sides of the Atlantic and became a mainstay of the Britpop genre.

It was the definition of the band's career, in more ways than one. The band saw newfound commercial recognition, but struggled simultaneously with many inner conflicts. Frontman Richard Ashcroft's battle with depression was among those troubles. Eventually, in 1999, the Verve disbanded - its second breakup in 10 years as a band.

So with the new album "Forth," the reunited group's first set of new material since 1997's "Urban Hymns," it might be tempting to follow the hype rather than judge the band on what's most important - its music.

Fortunately, the album delivers. While it fails to break any new ground in the band's overall sound, "Forth" succeeds in blending the Verve's space-rock roots with the more structured pop songwriting of its later efforts.

The result is an emotionally complex mix of melancholy and serenity. It is an album that listeners can simply get lost in and a perfect starting point for the band's third incarnation.

The first noticeable difference is that Ashcroft's voice rarely delivers the silky croon listeners had grown accustomed to on "Symphony." And though his performance is not exactly one of utter anguish, it is one of a man hardened by a turbulent past decade. The album's first single, "Love is Noise," reflects Ashcroft's different outlook on the world as he delivers lines like "Love is noise/love is pain/love is these blues I'm singing again."

Casual listeners expecting British rock anthems like "This Is Music" or "Space and Time" may be taken aback. The sound balance tips in the direction of the band's earlier, more psychedelic efforts. Guitarist Nick McCabe's dislike of the Verve's pop era shines through, as he enhances his guitar lines with multiple synthesizers and effects. "Forth" returns to a sound that is not simply "guitar driven," but positively orchestral.

It's the band's use of that sound, however, that really makes the album a success. Rather than dividing the album between pop songs and psychedelic ones - as on "Urban Hymns" - The Verve has taken pop songs and applied them in a more experimental context. On "Rather Be," for example, the band echoes a past hit, "Lucky Man," but makes it moodier and more atmospheric, essentially redefining what a pop song - and album - can be.

But the return to a more traditional song model best shows the Verve's continued role and relevance in pop music. On the song "Valium Skies," the band tosses a curveball - delivering a short, yet immediately infectious ballad. Oddly enough, in the context of "Forth," this may be the band's biggest experiment yet. It's a song that nullifies the shortcomings on both the album, and the past decade of the band's absence by doing the ultimate musical deed - making listeners want more.

7 decibels out of 10

sdkaplan@syr.edu

Where Did They Go? What happened to the band members during the last decade?

• Singer Richard Ashcroft had a series of successful solo albums in the UK, and served as the opening act on Coldplay's 2005 X&Y tour. Verve drummer Peter Salisbury was a member of Ashcroft's solo lineup

• Bassist Simon Jones and former Verve guitarist Simon Tong (who did not return for "Forth") formed a band called The Shining with former Stone Roses guitarist John Squire

• Guitarist Nick McCabe started a variety of new, London-based projects, and also played with established UK acts The Music and The Beta Band

(The band reunited in June 2007 and embarked on a successful tour, which included appearances at the Coachella and Glastonbury festivals in 2008)

"Forth" - A Breakdown of the Sound

"Forth" might surprise casual fans whose exposure to the Verve is limited to "Bittersweet Symphony." Among the many artists that influenced the band's psychedelic side found on the album:

• Pink Floyd: The more experimental sections on "Forth" take its cues from the progressive-rock legends. The Verve's "Numbness" echoes Floyd's classic "Comfortably Numb," with its moody introduction and Nick McCabe's 'less-is-more' guitar solo.

• My Bloody Valentine: My Bloody Valentine may have distorted its sound a bit more, but its influential use of swirling guitar effects still shines through on "Forth." Album opener "Sit and Wonder" envelops listeners with an atmospheric sound quality reminiscent of MBV's landmark 1991 release "Loveless."

• Radiohead: "Forth" is a rare album that can turn something bleak into something beautiful. Radiohead has made a career producing albums that do just that. The strained, yet beautiful "I See Houses" demonstrate the Verve building a song entirely around one hook - not entirely unlike Radiohead's "Karma Police."

Other Influences on "Forth:"

• The Stone Roses

• Pulp

• The Cure