Customer Reviews

Song for Lovers

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There's no other way to descibe Richard Ashcroft's new CD single, nor the man himself. Take all the swagger of Mick Jagger and all the cool of the King of Cool, Ian McCulloch, chuck in a healthy dollop of "American singer/songwriter" and you still wouldn't come up with something as original as Richard Ashcroft.

The three tracks on this CD single as good or better than anything on Urban Hymns, the Verve's crowning achievement. Yes, it's that good!

The title track is a five and a half minute instant classic. If you liked the string arrangements on History and Bittersweet Symphony, you'll love this song.

A Country Thing is just that. Who would've thought that a lanky get from Wigan could out do every worthless country singer in Memphis! This song does Hank Sr. proud.

Ashcroft is here to say. If you want to hear beautiful music by a beautiful person, get this disc. As Ashcroft himself said, "I am music."

"Song for the Lovers" is one of the most haunting pop/rock songs I have ever heard. It's sweeping, wistful, and mysterious. It's soothing yet it makes my heart race with desperation. Definitely an awesome track.... highly recommended!

never been a verve fan particularly though i do think they have had some really good songs, in particular, "space and time." I borrowed this from someone and listened to it over a day long hangover. The single is faily ordinary. "DJ wont you play a song for the lovers" is repeated over a decent concoction of sounds. Nothing to get excited over. However, the b sides are very damn good particularly the song "(Could Be) A Country Thing, City Thing, Blues Thing." "Precious Stone" has a good psych-electroic backround and has nice lyrics and it is the type of song "A song for the lovers" begs for. Who the hell is running this guys career?

I was blown away the first time I heard the title track on the radio. It starts of with some dramatic strings which segues into a solo Spanish trumpet before setting off on it's insistent beat. Ashcroft has a knack for writing arresting melodies. For fans of Verve's spacey psychedelic this may sound like Sir Richard has departed for straight ahead mainstream rock, but I would recommend this single to anyone who enjoyed songs like "Space and Time", "This Time", or "Sonnet" off of their last album. The reason this doesn't get 5 stars is Ashcoft's habit of repetition throughout a song, dragging the tune out for 6 minutes or more, but that doesn't bother me much when the melodies are so rich. The two other tracks on my copy of the import single are "Country Thing, City Thing, Blues Thing" and "Precious Stone" - both are worth having as well, the former being a soft ballad complete with slide guitar, the latter a sort of shuffling pop number with guitars, piano and whizzing electronica noises.

What an epic-sounding song! I think there are big things in store for RA. He really started to shine as a songwriter on Urban Hymns, while his style may be different than the older excellent Verve stuff, he is maturing and writing some great stuff, which can be found on this single and his forthcoming solo release. Keep your ears open for this!

My first impression was "wow!" this is amazing! All three songs are at least 5 and 1/2 minutes long, so it's just less than twenty minutes long. All the songs here are definately worthy of album release. If you've seen the video for "A Song For The Lovers" you know what it's like. As good as it is, it just doesnt do the song justice. Before just watching the video, I thought it was average. After listening to it on the single, I rate in AMAZING! You must get this!

Richard wrote "A Song For the Lovers" back in his Verve days...good song, great vibe, very positive, but surely not his best work. The 2nd track on the single, "(Could Be)A Country Thing, City Thing, Blues Thing" is absolutely brilliant! Richard branches out here and does some amazing vocal layering. His voice has never sounded better. Sheer magic! This track will make it onto every indie couples nooky mix. The thrid track "Precious Stone" is good as well, vocals remind me of the more jam-based tracks that the Verve cranked out (i.e. Come On), the music being a bit more subdued.

Bottom line: If you're a Verve fan buy this. If you don't your missing out on one of the greatest Ashcroft tracks ever written, "(Could Be)..."

Becides the already magnificent "Song for the Lovers", two excellent bonus tracks come along with this purchase that are not found anywhere else. First there's (Could Be), which is a slow and relaxing song, I love it. Then there's Precious Stone also great, it's a bit faster and uplifting. Who else, in this world, makes the style of music as Richard Ashcroft, this man sings the Blues, Country, Rock, etc.

Well only a song for the lovers is suicidle but Could be a country thing is a superb song worthy for a place on Urban Hymns or A Northern soul as its brilliant voice over each other adds to the great effect of the song.

HOwever I do not see the point in going solo when you are in a brilliant band like the Verve. Sting left the Police, Lennon and co. left the beatles and all their solo stuff is no way up to the standerds of the bands material.

Go back to the band Richey as you all need each other and make a worthy follow up to the 1997 smash Urban Hymns.

none of these songs are outstanding, although each has its respective charms on this interesting debut from the former verve frontman. the a-side is an affecting if slightly overproduced pop ballad; the b-sides are both overlong but individually appealing. 'could be (a country thing city thing blues thing)' overcomes its unweildy title with a luscious minor-key melody, but its extended fade-out is indulgent. and the closer, 'precious stone', is little more than an unstructured re-write of the verve number, 'gravity grave'.