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Urban Hymns | 
 enlarge | Artist: The Verve
Label: Hut
Category: Music
List Price: £8.99
Buy Used: £1.34
You Save: £7.65 (85%)
New (73) Used (38) Collectible (4) from £1.34
Rating:  72 reviews
Sales Rank: 330
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 44913
UPC: 724384491321
EAN: 0724384491321
ASIN: B000000WF0
Release Date: September 29, 1997
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: disk has some very light scratches
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| Tracks:
| • | Bittersweet Symphony | | • | Sonnet | | • | Rolling People | | • | Drugs Don't Work | | • | Catching The Butterfly | | • | Neon Wilderness | | • | Space And Time | | • | Weeping Willow | | • | Lucky Man | | • | One Day | | • | This Time | | • | Velevet Morning | | • | Come On | | • | Deep Freeze |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Calling it a day in early 1999 was probably the best thing the Verve ever did, as it meant that they quit when they were at the pinnacle of their success, sparing their faithful followers an unsightly degeneration. Urban Hymns is a fitting final testament to Wigan's favourite sons, as Richard Ashcroft and Nick McCabe temporarily buried the hatchet and reformed one of Britain's greatest songwriting partnerships since Lennon and McCartney. From the unmistakable introductory chords of "Bittersweet Symphony" to the sheer pop perfection of "Lucky Man" via stoner rock-outs like "Weeping Willow" and the call to arms that is "Come On", every track justifies its presence by being part of a cohesive whole. Their previous album A Northern Soul was already marked down in the annals of rock history as a classic; Urban Hymns surpasses it and then some. --Helen Marquis
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now... August 6, 2006
J. Cracknell (Bristol)
17 out of 17 found this review helpful
Urban Hymns - for me the greatest record of all time. If I can somehow convey at least a part of the reason why I believe this to be true, I'll have done well. Because it's hard to put into words how good this album really is. Both musically and lyrically, it is as close to perfection as I think any record will ever get.
There are four very famous songs on here, but they are just one dimension to Urban Hymns, there is so much more to this record than the first four singles. Even so, each is outstanding. Bitter Sweet Symphony is emphatic, euphoric and exhilarating. The strings begin, but once the beat kicks in it sends a chill down my spine. Sonnet is sweet, a beautiful acoustic song. The Drugs Don't Work was number one on the day of Princess Diana's death. It has another beautiful acoustic melody, but The Verve are so good at adding depth to their songs, this is them at their best. And Lucky Man, if I had to choose, this is my favourite song on the album. It has been such an inspiration to me at difficult times of my life, whenever I feel low I can play it and it reminds me of who I am.
Then there are the nine other songs here which really make the album into what it is - a masterpiece. That word is overused a lot in music but here it truly does apply. There are three songs I'd like to point out here, which show that The Verve are more than just a one man show, and that they know how to rock out as well. The Rolling People is a huge song, full of spark and craft, "here we are the Rolling People, can't stay for long, we gotta go." Weeping Willow is the hidden gem on this record, if you aren't paying attention it can pass you by, but stop and pause to listen to this because I assure you it will grab you and suck you in. This is one of the most intense songs I've ever heard. I'd been playing this album for seven years before I discovered how great Weeping Willow "the pills under my pillow" really was. Then there is the raging climax - Come On. It is completely different to all that went before because rather than encouraging you to reflect, it encourages you to stand up and shout, with a fist in the air, "**** you - Come On!" I cannot think of a better way to end an album like this, one that takes you on such a life affirming journey, than to finish with such a jubilant celebration.
And still, there so many more great songs on Urban Hymns... "I'm gonna keep Catching That Butterfly in that dream of mine... in a Neon Wilderness, he was restless... there ain't no Space And Time to keep our love alive... maybe One Day we will dance again... good times are hard to hold, This Time I'm gonna find... into the half light, another Velvet Morning".
Altogether, these thirteen songs make up seventy-six minutes of pure genius from start to finish. It represents a great year in modern history, 1997, a year of hope; expectation, celebration and tragedy; but in the end, this album is completely timeless. I love it.
Hymns to die for. January 20, 2002
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
Urban Hymns, quite simply one of the most ingenious and underrated albums ever produced in the history of music. Northern Soul was a superb album in itself, undermining Ricxhard Ashcrofts view that it would take them three albums to produce a good one. It took them two to produce a good one, three to produce such a stunning and moving one as Urban Hymns. With Ashcroft taking over most of the lyric-writing, and McCabe able to concentrate on his superb guitar playing skills, Urban Hymns became the theme tune of summer 1997, with Bittersweet Symphone being the song which made people stand up and recognise the Verve for wha they are. Followed by The Drugs Dont Work as a released single. This was a tune that was beautiful, haunting and sad. Other great tracks on this album incude the marvellous Sonnet, the uplifting Lucky Man, ansd surely one of the greatest songs never to have been rerleased as a single, Velvet Morning. This is the album of the 1990's and dare i say it, one of the best 10 albums ever, and in years to come will be seen as a breakthrough album for a group who werent able to prove their greatness after their split a year later. This album is unmissable. Buy it now and your life might just change!
one of the best albums ever! April 9, 2003
taters (york, England)
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
the history of the verve (previously without 'the') is a quite extraordinary journey that produced two under rated albums ('storm in heaven' and 'northern soul'). The journey in the early 90s took its toll ...forcing verve to split after the fantastic single 'history' in 1995.
its unclear how they started up again two years later but my guess is cos the genieus that is richard ashcroft wrote songs such as 'bitter sweet symphony', 'sonnet', 'lucky man', 'drugs dont work', 'space and time' and decided it would probably be a good idea to record these songs. i reckon it was probably a wise decision as this is without doubt a classic that will still sound fantastic in years to come.
it seems after years of trying to make the big time the two year break was what ashcroft and the boys needed.anyone who has heard the fantastic b-side 'so sister' will realise how strong the album was for it not to be included.'catching the butterfly', 'weeping willow' and the amazing 'this time' will never tire from my cd player. not a bad track on the album at all and from the opening song 'bitter sweet' to the closing number 'come on' the verve finally achieved their place in history....and then split up again!
No dead wood in sight March 16, 2004
D. Owen (UK)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
'Urban Hymns' is one of *those* albums - it should be found in everyones CD collection, and listened to religiously. They are hymns, after all!The Verve have achieved something spectacular here. Each and every song on the album is a cracker, and together they form a cohesive whole. There is a flow between songs that is just *right*. The songs themselves range from the catchy (but possibly somewhat longwinded) 'Bittersweet Symphony' to the contemplative, in 'The Drugs Don't Work'. However, it is when you move on from the hit singles that an album often reveals its true colours. Are the other tracks merely filler? Well, here, the answer is quite clearly "NO!" Particular highlights are the mood swings of 'Velvet Morning', the soaring triumphalism of 'Lucky Man', the melancholy of 'One Day' and the developing fury of 'Come On'. All the tracks have clearly recieved a lot of love and effort, as the quality of production for this album is first rate. The ambient sounds and textures wrung out of guitars and electronics make this a CD you will always find something new to hear at every playing. The quality of the lyrics matches the quality of the music - there is not a bad line to be found. So, there you have it, an album scarily close to perfection. All in all, an amazing, essential album.
the verve finished on a high with this timeless gem January 11, 2006
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I treasure this album as it has songs that accompany my every mood,there is not one filler or dule moment,some tracks feel longer than need be ,but this shouldnt be seen as a critism as they only add to the albums epic nature.Standout tracks for me are, weeping willow,lucky man,sonnet and the beautiful space and time.This album is a labour of love with songs written with heart,soul and depth and production to match.Its an album that captured a great band at there peak.Sadly the verve are no more,but never forgotten as they are responsible for one of the all time great albums.
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