“How many lives will I waste / how many tears will I taste / before my freedom?” Those are the big questions in “I See Houses,” a track from the Verve’s forthcoming Forth. Much like “Sit And Wonder,” which we’ve heard in live and recorded forms, it finds Richard Ashcroft in a ponderous mode, though “I See Houses”‘s ruminations arrive via mellower sounds. Add “I See Houses” (where, it ought to be noted, he also sees blood red sunsets and mountains) to comeback single “Love Is Noise” and you should have a pretty good sense of what to expect from the collection at this point.
To give you some context, “I See Houses” shows up following the downcast “Numbness” and before “Noise Epic,” which isn’t noisy though it is epic. Anyhow, as evidenced by Oasis’ “Falling Down,” old Brit Rockers don’t die, they just keep writing songs. Your move Noël Coward.
Forth is out on the Verve’s own On Our Own 8/26 in the US via Megaforce/RED and internationally 8/25 via EMI.
[Photo of the Verve @ Coachella 2008]
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Floor 16 please, thanks.
KILLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Digging it. Man, these guys must do a lot of drugs! I guess that was a redundant statement.
Can’t wait to hear the album. Will anyone be streaming it?
i had my doubts about this album but no more – i fucking love the verve
ehhhh… so’k. not great. a little too over-produced and certain parts bare resemblance to an Ashcroft song… “Check the Meaning”. listen to that song and then listen to this one again. “Check the Meaning” is better. I don’t have my hopes up on the Forth album. having said that, the Verve effing rule.
amazing comeback
the best album of the year.
I’m surprised that so few people are addressing this song’s immense shittyness.
this is the Verve’s attempt at securing their retirement… so every song will have mass commercial elevator music appeal.
Noise Epic is quite loud in the last 2 minutes- it’s important to listen to songs all the way through before you write about them. I know that takes work- but check it out.
This song reminds me of a Talk Talk song.
the intro to this song sounds like the creepy twin sister to madonna’s “live to tell.” any takers?
Shame the album never lived up to its more magic moments. As one friend said to me you can actually hear the track the band couldn’t stand being in the same room together. There’s a definite sense of a half finished record. Having sat in many a mixing session with bands you can imagine that it would either be Ashcroft and Salisbury one day doing one treatment and then McCabe and Jones coming in the next day to do it all from scratch and them all having to agree on some half limp middle ground.
Such a shame given how Love is Noise and I’d rather be hinted at how it could have gone had they just been able to get along for a bit longer. Oh well I guess that’s the Verve through and through. Looking forward to reunion time 2032.