Richard Ashcroft
Alone With Everybody
Virgin
After the Verve reached their peak with Urban Hymns, they called it quits. Isn’t that how it always happens? Fortunately for fans, most of their Brit-Rock style is retained on the former lead singer’s solo debut, Alone With Everybody. This album doesn’t contain the type of anthems that the Verve generated; instead, Ashcroft finds himself in a more confessional, storytelling mood. The music is extremely complex, with strings, synthesizers, and horns accompanying psychedelic guitar riffs and Ashcroft’s buttery vocals. “A Song for the Lovers” begins the album with an infectious beat and sugary sweet combination of instruments. The love theme continues with “You On My Mind in My Sleep”, but Ashcroft rocks a little harder on “New York” and the bluesy “Money to Burn.” It will be tough to live up to his former band’s success, but Richard Ashcroft is off to an impressive start.
Lone Management, P.O. Box 2073, Chippenham SN15 2XX; www.richardashcroft.co.uk.
