Human Conditions

Richard Ashcroft | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Musicrama/Koch
• ASIN: B0000DEST6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)

Track Listings

1. Check the Meaning

2. Buy It in Bottles

3. Bright Lights

4. Paradise

5. God in the Numbers

6. Science of Silence

7. Man on a Mission

8. Running Away

9. Lord I've Been Trying

10. Nature Is the Law

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Human Conditions demonstrates that Richard Ashcroft hasn't lost his drive to tackle big topics. The titles tell their own story: "Check the Meaning," "Paradise," "God in the Numbers," "Man on a Mission"--more songs about God, life, and passion. For better or worse, few rock stars have engaged in such an intense, irony-free existential quest. Human Conditions continues the wide-eyed spiritual odyssey instigated by 2000's Alone with Everybody. Ashcroft's persuasive, expressive voice carries the fluent opener "Check the Meaning," while the Spiritualized-like "Buy It in Bottles" will likely prove to be a concert favorite. "Science of Silence and Man on a Mission" find the ex-Verve frontman seeking truth in an insecure world, and the wracked, confessional "Lord I've Been Trying" scales new heights of grandeur. There are weighty splendors aplenty here. For Richard Ashcroft, the quest continues. --Ian Gittins --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Product Description

The much anticipated follow up to the debut (UK) Number 1 solo album 'Alone With Everybody'. Featuring ten new songs, 'Human Condition' is Ashcroft at his most hypnotic, epic & focused. Such songs as 'Buy It In Bottles', 'Lord I've Been Trying' & current single 'Check The Meaning' are an expression of Ashcroft's deepest soul with his most classic & infectious musical vision to date. Amongst the contributors to the album are Beach Boys' founder & musical genius Brian Wilson, who adds harmony vocals to 'Nature Is The Law'. Chuck Leavell the keyboard player whose recording credits include work with such luminaries as Aretha Franklin & The Rolling Stones as well as former Verve drummer Pete Salisbury & Mercury winning Talvin Singh on Tablas. Virgin. 2002. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Sliding further into Lite Rock oblivion, May 30, 2003

By 

Craig Dominey (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Human Conditions (Audio CD)

Richard Ashcroft is the Sting of his generation - a man of immense talent, charisma and ego who, despite all his efforts, is a much more effective bandleader than a solo artist. I was listening to The Police's ZENYATTA MONDATTA the other day for the first time in years, and marveled at how creative and energetic Sting sounded back then with the great Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers backing him up. But it goes without saying that when those two "spark plugs" were gone, Sting became the dull adult contemporary star he is today. His ego would never allow it, but Sting desperately needs The Police back together to regain any creative respectibility.

The same goes with Ashcroft, whose records with The Verve were some of the most beautiful, creative, soul-searching recordings of the 1990s. URBAN HYMNS, to continue the Police analogy, was their SYNCHRONICITY - an album where all the band's strenghts seemed to come together (shoegazing space jams, blistering rock, lush and introspective ballads). Ashcroft was without question the star, but you could feel the tension of the rest of the band pushing him and, it turns out, tearing themselves apart.

Now a solo artist without anyone to tell him "no," Ashcroft has recorded two CDs that are essentially extensions of "The Drugs Don't Work" from HYMNS - heavily orchestrated self-confessionals that grow tiresome quickly. It's fine to record a song or two about crying out to God, how you've got the "blues," how your drug taking days are over, how you found the love of your life (Heaven sent, no less). But every song on HUMAN CONDITIONS follows these themes, with Ashcroft making what he must consider to be a Grand Statement On The Mysteries Of Life, but with lyrics that come out horribly simplistic and cliched. Spiritualized-lite, if you will.

The lyrics get so tiresome on this CD that I found myself paying more attention to the music itself. Ashcroft's first CD, ALONE WITH EVERYBODY, was much maligned in the press and with his fans, but to me - at least sonically - it was an extension of what The Verve had achieved with HYMNS, and was a beautiful sounding CD with quite impressive production (especially through headphones). But Ashcroft must have believed his critics, for HUMAN CONDITIONS is stripped down to a fault, with one restrained, mid-tempo song after another. Most of the songs slide by without any catchy melodies, instantly forgettable.

There are some songs that rise above the others - "Bright Lights" is the closest this CD comes to a Verve-sounding rock song, but is marred by an annoying tabla courtesy of Talvin Singh. "Buy It In Bottles" is a pretty song, but essentially a rehash of "Drugs." "Science of Silence" steals the chorus of "Lean On Me" to catchy effect. And "Nature is the Law" wins the award for ambition alone, as Ashcroft not only imitates Johnny Cash, but brings in Brian Wilson for an overblown, Beach Boys-esque chorus that acutally sounds closer to the choir chants you hear on a Vangelis soundtrack. It has to be heard to be believed.

But those are the exceptions to an otherwise lifeless CD that is a backwards step from his solo debut. Ashcroft desperately needs the energy of Verve to achieve the spiritual heights he's obviously striving for. Let's hope he heeds the warning before he joins Sting and Phil Collins on a supermarket muzak station near you.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An even better sophmore effort., February 26, 2003

By 

Cary S. Whitt "Tune Junkie" (Columbus,Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Human Conditions (Audio CD)

I loved The Verve, repeat, I loved The Verve. I, like most, found Richard's first solo disc a bit, well, disappointing. It did have it's moments, I thought "Brave New World", "C'Mon People" and You On My Mind In My Sleep" were all great tunes. But no, it really wasn't Urban Hymns was it. It is just now that I feel that is OK. Let's all face it, Richard is in a much different place now... wife, baby, freedom, those things make a big difference in one's life.

With Human Conditions, he continues on the same sort of road. The songs are very well thought out, very personal and very good. I think this is a stronger post Verve effort than "Alone With Everbody".

He starts the album off again with the first single, "Check The Meaning", it is quite good. The best part of the song is the moment that familar voice kicks right in with a hook that is very catchy. The rest of the record follows suit, again a more serious affair, but that doesn't make it too heavy on the soul. I esp. like the uplifting track, "Science of Silence", it is a nice string heavy tune with a nice message. I also enjoy, "Buy It In Bottles", it is one of the best things his done on his own for sure.

All in all, "Human Conditions" is a great record. Just don't think of it as a return of The Verve, If you still want it to be a Verve record, think of it more like Urban Hymns, without the drugs, and fighting of course.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Please listen, April 22, 2004

By 

alexander laurence (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Human Conditions (Audio CD)

Richard Ashcroft has proved with his solo work that he is on a serious spritual quest. It's not really sure whether if this is a religious awakening as much as a general search for a deeper meaning in life. This is conveyed by the pain and ache in Ashcroft's voice. This happens when you get to be thirty. The songwriting is stronger if not more convincing of his own preoccupations on this second solo record. Songs like "Check The Meaning" and "Science of Silence" are improvements from "Alone With Everybody" two years ago. He has moved on artistically with the help of the great Brian Wilson (ex-Beach Boys) and Talvin Singh. The albums with The Verve offered a lot of promise, and by 1998, they were England's biggest rock and roll band. Recently, Ashcroft's work with The Chemical Brothers or DJ Shadow haven't colored his own solo work though. It is firmly rooted in folk music and soul music: He is a true songwriter in the modern world. In songs like "Bright Lights" he deals with the allure of urban myths, but turns away, and searches for something greater. This embrace of the receding beauty of life and nature may continue over many albums to come. Let us all hope so.