News
Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1 Due Out October 29 via RPA/BMG
Sep 23, 2021
By Mark Redfern
Richard Ashcroft, formerly of The Verve, is releasing Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1, a new album featuring new acoustic versions of some of his previous songs, on October 29 via RPA/BMG. Now he has shared its second single, a new version of “This Thing Called Life.” The original version of the song was featured on the poorly received RPA & The United Nations of Sound album in 2010, the production on the new version is more in-line with Ashcroft’s regular solo work. The track was shared via a video co-directed by Ashcroft and his wife Kate Radley. It features Ashcroft in a cinema looking at footage from his life, as well as footage of him performing the song in a theater. It was filmed at the Olympic Cinema and Richmond Theatre. More
Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1 Due Out October 29 via RPA/BMG
Sep 08, 2021
By Mark Redfern
Richard Ashcroft, formerly of The Verve, has announced Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1, a new album featuring new acoustic versions of some of his previous songs, and shared its first single, a new seven-minute acoustic version of his most iconic song, “Bittersweet Symphony.” The new version still features strings. Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1 is due out October 29 via RPA/BMG. More
Shared via a Video Filmed at Abbey Road
Feb 19, 2021
By Mark Redfern
Richard Ashcroft, formerly of The Verve, has shared a new cover of John Lennon’s “Bring on the Lucie (Freda Peeple).” It was shared via a video shot at Abbey Road studios, where, of course, The Beatles used to record. More
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards Have Finally Agreed to Give the Former Frontman of The Verve His Due
May 23, 2019
By Christopher Roberts
One of the bigger music industry injustices of the 1990s has finally been rectified: Richard Ashcroft has been given back the songwriting credits and publishing rights to his most famous song “Bittersweet Symphony,” by his former band The Verve, returned to him by The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. More
Natural Rebel Out Now via RPA and BMG
Oct 22, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
Richard Ashcroft (formerly of The Verve) released a new solo album, Natural Rebel, last week via Ashcroft’s own label, RPA, and BMG. Now he has shared a video for previous single “Born to Be Strangers.” Ashcroft self-directed the video, which features him dancing in front of a classic car (perhaps it’s his own car). More
Natural Rebel Out Now via RPA and BMG
Oct 19, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
Richard Ashcroft (formerly of The Verve) has released a new solo album, Natural Rebel, today via Ashcroft’s own label, RPA, and BMG. Now that the album is out, you can stream the whole thing here. More
Natural Rebel Due Out October 19 via RPA and BMG
Oct 10, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
Richard Ashcroft (formerly of The Verve) is releasing a new solo album, Natural Rebel, on October 19 via Ashcroft’s own label, RPA, and BMG. Now he has shared another song from the album, the string-backed feel good anthem “That’s When I Feel It.” More
Natural Rebel Due Out October 19 via RPA and BMG
Oct 05, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
Richard Ashcroft (formerly of The Verve) is releasing a new solo album, Natural Rebel, on October 19 via Ashcroft’s own label, RPA, and BMG. Now he has shared a new non-album track, the acoustic song “Hey Columbo.” He has also announced some new UK tour dates for next April. More
Plus BADBADNOTGOOD, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Young Galaxy, Ryley Walker, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks
Sep 28, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
We tend to avoid including cover versions in our Songs of the Week list, as they are not truly new songs, but this week we have included two notable ones in our main list. We also rarely include live songs in our Top 10 songs, but have made a big exception this week. More
Natural Rebel Due Out October 19 via RPA and BMG
Sep 26, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
Richard Ashcroft (formerly of The Verve) is releasing a new solo album, Natural Rebel, on October 19 via Ashcroft’s own label, RPA, and BMG. Previously he shared a video for the album’s first single, “Surprised by the Joy” (which was an honorable mention in our Songs of the Week list). Now he has shared another song from the album, “Born to Be Strangers,” which has kind of a classic rock/1970s vibe to it. More
Plus Danielson, Jungle, Django Django, Farao, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks
Sep 14, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
We spent the week wondering if Hurricane Florence was going to hit us here at our headquarters in Southwest Virginia. Lucky for us, it seems to have angled further south, and while we may still get some heavy rains and winds in the coming days and week, it likely won’t be as devastating to Virginia as feared. More
Natural Rebel Due Out October 19 via RPA and BMG
Sep 10, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
Richard Ashcroft (formerly of The Verve) is releasing a new solo album, Natural Rebel, on October 19 via Ashcroft’s own label, RPA, and BMG. When the album was announced no music from it was shared, but now Ashcroft has revealed the album’s first single, “Surprised by the Joy,” via a video for the song. More
Natural Rebel Due Out October 19 via RPA and BMG
Aug 15, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
Richard Ashcroft (formerly of The Verve) has announced a new solo album, Natural Rebel, and some UK tour dates. More
Gallagher’s As You Were Out Now via Warner Bros.
Mar 19, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
Former Oasis singer Liam Gallagher released his debut solo album, As You Were, last October via Warner Bros. Now he has announced some North American tour dates for this summer and they feature support from Richard Ashcroft of The Verve. More
A Storm in Heaven Reissue Due Out September 9
Aug 16, 2016
By Christopher Roberts
Last week The Verve shared a video for the previously unreleased song “South Pacific,” taken from the deluxe reissue of their 1993 debut album, A Storm in Heaven. Now the band has shared the other previously unreleased studio recording from the reissue, “Shoeshine Girl.” More
Previously Unreleased Track from A Storm in Heaven Reissue Due Out September 9
Aug 13, 2016
By Christopher Roberts
Listeners who only know The Verve of “Bittersweet Symphony” and their 1997 hit third album Urban Hymns might be surprised to hear their debut album, 1993’s A Storm in Heaven, which was more shoegaze/space-rock in nature than the songs and album that later topped the charts. The album is finally getting the deluxe reissue treatment, alongside 1995 sophomore album A Northern Soul, on September 9 and the 4CD set includes two previously unreleased studio recordings: “Shoeshine Girl” and “South Pacific.” The latter now has a music video featuring footage of the band recording A Storm in Heaven captured by its producer John Leckie. More
Mar 23, 2011
By Mike Hilleary
For those of you who were too tired to make it through a number of opening monologues, celebrity chats, and your obligatory Top Ten List, yesterday featured a number of worthy performances on the late night circuit. More
'United Nations of Sound' Due March 2011
Feb 18, 2011
By Lauren Barbato
The Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft returns with United Nations of Sound, his first solo effort in four years. We have the info, plus a free download. More
Out Early 2011 Via Razor & Tie
Nov 03, 2010
By Laura Studarus
Ex-Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft has announced the American release of solo album, United Nations of Sound. We have the details. More
Reviews
Nov 24, 2021
By Matthew Berlyant
After the second breakup of The Verve in 1999 and with the exception of 2008’s reunion album Forth, Richard Ashcroft has spent the past 20 plus years making solo records, the latest of which is this. Officially his sixth solo album, this features reimaginings of Verve classics alongside a handful of solo favorites with (as the title suggests) acoustic backing and strings. More
Dec 19, 2018
By Celine Teo-Blockey
It’s not verboten for a rock star once trading on his working-class roots to make good—living in a bucolic country manor with a family and garage full of fancy automobiles—and still want to put out music. However, perhaps the posturing and proclamations of being the best lyricist, when clearly there are deficient moments on Natural Rebel, does Richard Ashcroft no favors. More
Apr 05, 2011
By Kenny S. McGuane
Fifteen minutes into The United Nations of Sound, even the most casual of music consumers will ask themselves, “Is this guy kidding?” More
