When Jane's Addiction reunited, I have to admit, I was cautious at best in my optimism. If Soundgarden reunites - I can imagine nothing but diminishing returns. Ditto for the Smashing Pumpkins.
BUT... I do have to admit - the premise of The Verve reuniting - WITH a new album - just...just might turn out to be a move that won't tarnish their stellar career. Here's hoping for maybe not another Urban Hymns-quality album, but one at least on par with A Northern Soul.
I always liked the Verve, but wasn't longing for a reunion. So far, I have been most impressed with Dinosaur Jr. and Lemonheads for returning at the level (musically) that they were originally.
ReplyDeleteKudos to Pixies and KISS for returning and providing a great retro experience.
Jane's set a bad precendent, and I'm sure the Pumpkins will follow that.
I'm not sure that the Pumpkins can improve on where they were, say, about the time of "Siamese Dream" and "Mellon Collie"... I think those were GREAT records. Because I don't expect much from a Pumpkins reunion, I am quite satisfied with "Carnavas" by Silversun Pickups, which sounds like a young version of the Pumpkins and carries that same kind of vibe. Once again, thanks for your recommendation of that album! I hope SP will create more semi-Pumpkinesque sounds down the road.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Jane's did themselves many favors by reuniting and doing "Strays"... I like a few cuts from that one, but when I first listened I found myself wanting the record to end by around the fourth cut, and I went and listened to "Ritual de lo Habitual" right afterward to regenerate my positive feelings toward the group.
A Verve reunion? WOW! They are one of my favorite 90's bands, even though I didn't discover them until the late 90's I think they were fantastic. If they can get back together and so some things with more the spirit of "Slide Away" and less of "The Drugs Don'g Work", I will be a happy camper. I like "Urban Hymns", but I just don't get as excited about it as I do "Northern Soul", "Storm In Heaven", "The Verve EP" and "No Come Down" (I love that live Glastonbury version of "Gravity Grave", and also "Blue"). My lack of excitement re. most of "Urban Hymns" has extended so that I haven't bothered to explore Ashcroft's solo work yet, although I am sure it would be rewarding.
To me, they capture a particular feeling with which I easily connect. The Dandy Warhols, although an entirely different kind of band, get to me on the same kind of level when they do stuff like "Holding Me Up", "Boys Better", "Hard On For Jesus", "Solid", and the first three cuts from "13 Tales From Urban Bohemia". Is it because they are both "stoner" bands? Quite possibly... Anyway, I love that kind of textured, psychedelic trance-rock stuff. I think the Verve is at its best when they play long, sludgy dense dirge-like psychedelia, although I like most of what they do.
Have you heard The Black Angels? Their album "Passover" is very primitive, and has a visceral quality about it. I saw/heard them at the Sasquatch Festival in May, and I thought they were brilliant.
I agree with you on the Verve, Snave. I think 'Northern Soul' was a better album.
ReplyDeleteI have tried to get our band to play "Slide Away" from the first Verve album, but they don't seem interested in it. I don't know if it's because they don't get it, or what... I would think they would like a tune like that where they can crank up their guitars and play with effects in a creative way. "Slide Away" is one of my very favorites, anyway.
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