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Product Description
Review
Richard Ashcroft is known for a lot of things: fronting The Verve, writing some of the most unifying, lighters-aloft anthems of the 90s, hanging out with Oasis (who wrote Cast No Shadow about him), pinching samples from The Rolling Stones and, well, being a bit mad. He did, remember, once tell a journalist, in all seriousness, that he could fly.
What he's not known for, though, is operating outside of his stylistic comfort zone. His latest project The United Nations of Sound, however, is certainly... different. Recruiting the formidable talents of revered session players Steve Wyreman (guitar) Paul DW Wright (bass) and drummer Derrick Wright, Ashcroft then decided to call up a producer whose recent work he admired–so far, so normal. But that man happened to be No ID, a hip hop/RnB aficionado dubbed "the Godfather of Chicago hip hop".
The result of this unlikely collaboration is 12 tracks that will probably shock hardcore Verve fans–half of them almost certainly will. It sounds like the most collaborative thing the singer has done in years: Wyreman's freewheeling, frequent solos (the first two tracks, Are You Ready and Born Again, both end in a hail of fretwork) often prove as bombastic as the vocal, but it's No ID's involvement–as you might expect–that yields the seachange.
Three tracks in–is that a hip hop beat? Yes, it is. Does it suit the voice of a man born in Wigan? Oddly enough, yes it does. This Thing Called Life even has him rapping over a full-on, banging RnB backdrop, supported by a choir. It should all be utterly preposterous, but the unshakeable self-belief on display, and the accomplished beats No ID lays down, ensures Ashcroft somehow gets away with it.
Not always, though: elsewhere, what sounds like a Barry White impersonation on Life Can Be So Beautiful is faintly embarrassing, whilst How Deep Is Your Man borrows so obviously from Chuck Berry's No Particular Place to Go that even the deeply risible title can't save it. The album's second major piece of plagiarism comes on Royal Highness: the chord progression from The Velvet Underground's Sweet Jane is lifted wholesale.
It might not always succeed in its style-swapping, but The United Nations of Sound is certainly as bold a record as Ashcroft's ever made. If you thought he was incapable of making non-Verve music, it's time to think again.
--John RobertsFind more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
CD Description
2010 debut album from former Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft and mates. Recorded in Los Angeles, New York and London, the album was produced by Chicago Hip Hop pioneer No ID (Common, Jay-Z). String arrangements are by Benjamin Wright, the man responsible for the strings on Michael Jackson's Off The Wall, and engineered by Grammy Award-winning Motown legend Reggie Dozier (Outkast, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye). Other musicians featuring on the album include Mary J Blige's guitarist Steve Wyreman, Paul 'DW' Wright (bass), and Derrick Wright (drums). All songs written by Richard Ashcroft.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Richard ashcroft just keeps putting out quality album after Quality album , and once again he has done himself proud , To be able to carry the burden of the Verve reputation hanging over him to then produce a brilliant album like this with quality songs from Are You Ready , Born Again , Americaright through to She Brings Me The Music , Glory,and Let My Soul Rest, The man is a undervalued genius , get the album ... Listen to it , Love it ...
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I too was really looking forward to the new album after being at the Sheperds Bush gig a few weeks ago. I read some real bad reviews last week, including one from NME.
Its actually a great album, very different from anything I've heard before. Refreshng considering the dross that is pumped out these days which we are told is "great music".
These journalists seem to have a personal vendetta against Ashcroft, possibly they feel he's too big for his boots.
If you like his previous solo material, dont have any doubts about buying this album, its a winner!
Its actually a great album, very different from anything I've heard before. Refreshng considering the dross that is pumped out these days which we are told is "great music".
These journalists seem to have a personal vendetta against Ashcroft, possibly they feel he's too big for his boots.
If you like his previous solo material, dont have any doubts about buying this album, its a winner!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was shocked to read in many music magazines that this album had been criticised harshly! I couldn't disagree more - this album is consistently strong and includes absolutely great songs such as Are You Ready, Born Again and She Brings Me The Music - in my opinion Richard Ashcroft has done extremely well. Personally - it just misses the peak of The Verve in terms of quality.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Corker
Yet another high quality album. If you are a fan then you will love this.
Published 20 months ago by areyouready?
oh how the Verve must have laughed
Okay, first off, i own everything Richard Ashcroft has ever released. Urban Hymns is obviously majestic and a career high. Read more
Published 21 months ago by A. Stevenson
for richard ashcroft fans
i heard a couple of tracks on the music channels from this album so decided to buy it. it's ok if you like the artist as i was always a fan of the verve. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mrs. J. L. Jones
A shower in the waterfall of ecstacy
No music has blown off the cobwebs from this early 21st century genius void like Richard Ashcroft's.
The creativity, soul and poetry shines through. Read more
The creativity, soul and poetry shines through. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Rocket Fueled Imagination Nation
awful
this album veers very close to 1 star territory and is only saved by the first two (excellent) songs,the rest are middle of the road drivel that doesnt sound anything like his past... Read more
Published 21 months ago by M. black
CD review
Once again Mr Ashcroft has the midas touch fab music and a great new band (United Nations of Sound) I am so pleased to own a copyUnited Nations Of Sound
Published 21 months ago by lindylou1818
Are you ready for something special?
After some of the disappointments of the last few months- the World Cup,Wimbledon,and the current government we can always go back to our music. Read more
Published 22 months ago by J. MOORE
Much better than even reasonably expected!
All farewells should be sudden - so spake Ashcroft in a previous life. And I actually believed it with the general downswing of his solo career - and on some level hoped that it... Read more
Published 22 months ago by M. D. Lewis
Are you Ready?....Yes we are!
After his last, fairly weak, in my opinion, solo album, and a verve album that was just OK, I was not expecting anything great here. Read more
Published 22 months ago by muziclova
Should be the soundtrack to summer
9.30 in the morning and this album was blasting out in a nearly deserted high street music store, I had no idea who had created this music but in the space of three tracks I was... Read more
Published 22 months ago by P. Coleman
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