2008: 15 of the Best. #10...

#10 - The Verve - Rather Be

From: Forth
Label: On Your Own
Released: August 26, 2008
Buy it: Here.

OK, we can call a spade a spade and concede that Forth wasn't the follow-up to Urban Hymns we were all hoping for and lord knows that had it been released in say, 1999, as opposed to 2008, it might've prompted a bit of a backlash. But the realization that Ashcroft on his own only reached greatness once in a great while and that even spotty Verve is better than no Verve at all certainly helped digestion of the new record. When it's great, it's great. And when it's not, it's not. But there are a few moments of inspired brilliance, and "Rather Be" counts, and also provides a nice anchor amidst a few too many drawn out jams. Yeah, it passes 6 minutes itself and yeah, the lyrics are kind of silly upon close review, but when Nick McCabe first throws in his guitar after the piano-led intro, you realize why Travis, Coldplay and all the lesser followers thereafter never had a prayer in matching the Verve. When the pistons are firing and Dickie truly believes what he's singing, doesn't matter how basic it might sound -- you're gonna find yourself believing too. Here's hoping they stick around this time.