Keys to the World [Import]

Richard Ashcroft | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 23, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Import
• ASIN: B000CBVMH2
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,152 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Why Not Nothing?

2. Music Is Power

3. Break The Night With Colour

4. Words Just Get In The Way

5. Keys To The World

6. Sweet Brother Malcolm

7. Cry Til The Morning

8. Why Do Lovers?

9. Simple Song

10. World Keeps Turning

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Verve fought their way to the top of the Britpop pile with a series of triumphant, world-beating anthems, but since their dissolution, frontman Richard Ashcroft's muse has led him further into introspective, acoustic territory. Quite heartening, then, that his third album kicks off with a mighty burst of brass, an ecstatic Motown rhythm and in "Why Not Nothing?", one of his most bullish, headstrong lyrics in recent memory. Ashcroft's new emphasis on classic-tinged soulfulness--a nice change from his occasional, unfortunate tendency towards lumpen Britpop blokeiness--permeates Keys To The World, a factor that sets it on a par with the likes of Weller's 2000 album Heliocentric in the return-to-form stakes. There are two real highlights though: the swooning "Words Just Get In The Way" should see some manly tears shed, an older, wiser uncle of Coldplay's "Fix You" that offers a shoulder to cry on over a noble flourish of violins, while "World Keeps Turning" ends the album on a proud note, Ashcroft declaring "Everythin' right in my life again" as the album gallops to a close. --Louis Pattison

Product Description

UK limited CD/DVD (PAL/Region 0). The DVD features an EPK of the making of the album, three live tracks, 'Break the Night with Colour', 'Why Not Nothing?', 'Words Just Got in the Way' and the music video to the lead-off single, 'Break the Night with Colour'. EMI. 2006. * Please note you will need an All Code DVD player to view. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece Is Born, February 6, 2006

By 

Lina (Singapore, Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keys to the World (Audio CD)

Third release on, Richard Ashcroft is back with a Motown feel added to his usual brand of northern indie rock. Besides that, nothing much has changed: The tunes are still as catchy as ever, and of course, the brilliant lyrics Ashcroft always has had a knack at writing remains.

Matching up to the genius of his year 2000 debut release Alone With Everybody and a few notches better than 2003's Human Conditions (which suffered quite a beating from both the critics and the audiences), Keys To The World will definitely open quite a few many more doors, if not the world, for the ex-frontman of The Verve.

"Break The Night With Colour", the first single off the album is one of the strongest, its lyrics dealing with what has always been the fundamental topics of his lyrics: lossless-ness and self-discovery - `The corridors of discontent / That I've been traveling / All alone in search for truth / The world's so frightening / Nothing's going right today / Cos nothing ever does'.

Some other stand-outs here are "Music Is Power" with its massive orchestral ensemble a la Starsailor's "Four To The Floor" and "Words Just Get In The Way" which is nothing short of breath-taking. "Why Do Lovers" and "Cry Till Morning", are without an inch of doubt some of the best ballads Ashcroft has written to date. They will again re-affirm why Richard Ashcroft has been repeatedly called a legend of our time, along with other heavy-weights like Noel Gallagher and Ian Brown.

Keys To The World ends with "World Keeps Turning", and when Ashcroft belts out `Everything in my life is right again', one can only hope he doesn't really mean it. Ashcroft's music has always been driven by the darker side of his life - sadness, confusion, difficulties - and it certainly would be a shame if this journey ends at the third album mark The Verve's journey ended at.

People can say whatever they want to say about Richard Ashcroft. All the stories about him being a `former indie glory whose star is slowly fizzling out' really can't be taken seriously because that's just exactly what they said about Noel Gallagher a couple of years back, and look at where Oasis is now. Measuring talent and heart, Ashcroft gives his listeners more than the legal amount in Keys To The World, only serving to counter all the empty talk of a burn-out.

So it's time to yet again step aside and make way for the man who always has had all the right keys to unlock the world - Ashcroft stands alone mightily, and he is a living proof that life does indeed continue, even after the revelatory work of a band like The Verve.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth Every Penny, August 8, 2006

By 

Green - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keys to the World (CD & DVD) (Audio CD)

Before buying this cd, I knew little of Richard Ashcroft--I knew the single 'Bittersweet Symphony' (with The Verve), and had a British friend who loved his music, but I hadn't heard it. Then, I heard a track from 'Keys' on radio while in my car and literally drove to the nearest music store as it played to buy this cd. I've NEVER done that (never even thought about it!), but I had to have this music, right then! And I am so glad I did. This is an excellent disc & a permanent fixture in my stereo. My favorite track is "World Keeps Turning"--it is impossible not to move to the beat of it. The only song I'm not absolutely wild about is "Sweet Brother Malcolm", and it's pretty good. Richard Ashcroft is well worth getting to know!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars C- attempt - Bittersweet Indeed!!, February 3, 2006

By 

Elan Bodwick (las vegas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keys to the World (Audio CD)

Im a fan and have been on the Ashcroft bandwagon for sometime even when the wheels began to fall off with the dull Human Conditions. That album had a couple great tunes- check the meaning- god in the numbers- lord ive been trying- while the rest sounded like dull rehash ballads of former works. The new album im afraid falls into the same category. Break the night with color is a great midtempo ballad. keys to the world is something new and sounds like a successful attempt of bowies and lennons "fame". Whiteboy soul piercing fast string stabs and an energy thats been missing. Sweet brother malcolm is a simple but heartfelt sounding acoustic ballad- nowhere near the drugs dont work or brave new world but it does sound sincere. Ashcrofts vocals do sound strong if not better than ever but the other tunes and the arrangments as well as chris Potter's production assistance( a real thorn in ashcrofts solo work) really put this into bland terrority. The opener which wants to rock(again a bowie like horn section) sounds like a band came up with a slight groove and asked Ashcroft to sing over it. Ironically entitled "why not nothing"! The other songs are a mix of forgettable ballads that just sound too much like earlier solo efforts or failed attempts to "rock out" Try as he might Richard is missing that spark behind him- the music and performer at times dont even sound like they know each other. Its not as slick as his first solo record(his best but to slick) but again the sounds and tunes dont meet. Its almost like a record from Wellers mid 90's period Stanley road heavy soul( plodding dadrock)- IN FACT Ashcroft could learn from the the 15+ year older Weller who in the last five years has produced some great solo work anad seems to have a fire burning under him. Some want a return of the verve- but that magic will never be conjured again. A new hunger is all Ashcroft needs- my advice- download the 3 or 4 songs off itunes or any other service and save 10 $$$. But if he ever comes to town- dont miss it-hes great live and theres more than enough great tunes to fill out the night.