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The Verve EP

The Verve - The Verve EP Audio CD

A fair review of the The Verve "The Verve EP" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Verve reviews here, or go back to the The Verve tabs.

Band: The Verve
Title: The Verve EP
Rating:

Release Date: 1992-12-01
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Gravity Grave [Edit] 2: Man Called Sun 3: She's a Superstar [Edit] 4: Endless Life 5: Feel

The Verve EP, 1992
From these tracks one can hear how the verve have influenced bands such as Coldplay, the Doves and many others. Excellent early work by an extrodinary band. Who says only reggae can dub? This is rock dub. Excellent usage of the studio to create layers upon layers of sound. Strong bass presence, matched with tight drums. Multiple guitar tracks curling around ghostly vocals. This is the verve in their early stages delivering purely inspirational tracks. If you like this check out Coldplay's, Blue Room EP. cheers.

Transcedental Paradise
First off I must say that this CD is in a category of its own. Wow! What a CD. YOu cant compare it to any of the later stuff, like Forth and Urban Hymns it is completley different. This is the verve at the peak of their shoegaze and space rock performances. The Verve delivers sophisticated and trance-inducing hits on this one. Very mellow. I admit you have to be in the right frame of mind, but it has a very calming affect on you. The slow melodramatic hushed singing of Ashcroft mixed with the droned and layered guitar playing of McCabe and the drum that seemed to blend in so beautifully is absolutely irresistable.

Good to listen to after a long stressful day at work, on a beach with your significant other, on a road trip, in the morning with your coffee and toast. Good for relaxation.

This CD is definently for shoegaze, space rock, psych rock, slow rock, alternative rock listeners. If you expect it to be anything like Urban Hymns or Forth then babe you're in for a rude awakening. Any person who calls themselves a verve fan should definitely get this because this is where the genius all began babe. WHoooooooooo! I'm listening to it right now. It wont rock your ears off, but it will definitley have your shoulders swaying side by side and give you the feeling of being lifted from the earth.

I would recommend a used CD for starters in case you dont like it. I've seen some prices for . 80 cents! If you are really crazy about it then go for a new CD after buying a used one just because this CD is really for a specific audience.

Embodies the meaning of Ethereal!

Hope that helps.

Very Nice EP
It is an EP and is only 30 minutes long (I generally knock down EP's by a star, because they aren't good values). REMINDS ME OF PINK FLOYD'S UMMAGUMMA AND ATOM HEART MOTHER (ONLY THE SPACY SECTIONS)

Released in 1992, this is the Verve's first significant release.

This is churning guitar driven space rock. It reminds of the spacier parts of Pink Floyd's Ummagumma and Atom Heart Mother. However it has more of an ambient sound.

The music here is a lot like the Verve's first full length album, A Storm in Heaven (although that one is more along the lines of Pink Floyd's More).

The only real problem with this EP is that it is not very distinctive and sounds a lot like A Storm In Heaven. I played this CD right after A Storm In Heaven, and thought that I accidently played the same CD twice. I had to back and check the CD's and the song titles to see that they were actually different. That is why I only give this 3 stars. It is short and not essential. You could get A Storm in Heaven and have a lot more of the same.

The Verve (not to be confused with Verve Pipe) lasted about 6 years. They put out 3 full length CD's and a ton of EP's. I have a CD compilation where the band was going accoustic and singing actual songs! It is not very good.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK OUT FRANCIS MONKMAN, JAM. THE MUSIC IS SIMILAR, ONLY A LITTLE HARDER (AND I THINK A LITTLE BETTER).

A Gem
The excerpts do not do justice to this EP-that-feels-epic. Assuming you have Storm in Heaven and/or Urban Hymns - you NEED this album. Storm in Heaven was very atmospheric, dreamy. . . but 4 out of the 5 songs here - except A Man Called Sun - BUILD UP.

Gravity Grave, She's a Superstar, Endless Life, and Feel are simply amazing songs created by the band and produced by Barry Clempson. (It has an autumn-feel to it. )

In short, at a little over 30 minutes this EP is never tiresome to listen to every year.

Incredible
America only took notice of the wigan quartet when they would go on to release their Bitter Sweet Symphony single and album Urban Hymns. Verve were one of the most overlooked bands of the enitre decade. In that time Verve amassed a catalogue that in my opinion, is the greatest of all time. There's no other artist in history that matters or means as much as Verve. This EP is a great start, in fact I would advise any newcomers to the band to start right here and progress forward, because each album in their discography exudues self awareness and confidence in changing sounds and you would be better off starting at the beginning.

Here's what you'll get in alll

Gravity Grave - It's an epic recodring, with the trance-like bassline that Simon Jones gets into its clearly a danceable song. Nick Mccabe brings in the brilliant use of his guitar to full effect, with delay and reverb in tow. The overall sound of the guitarwork is incredible, i can't imagine a better guiotar player ever in history then Nick Mccabe. Also, the lyrics are just heavenly, "to me you're like a setting sun, you rise then you're gone. " Richard Ashcroft again dazzles me with his vocals which are insanely perfect.

A Man Called Sun - Another brilliant track, this song is a clear example of the brilliant work that Nick Mccabe can do with a minimalistic approach. Richard Ashcroft sings with a silenced voice, he does that a lot on earlier Verve recording such as this and A Storm In Heaven, it adds to the atmosphere.

She's a Superstar - This is pure cosmic bliss. In a perfect world people would have been listening to this slow, surreal ballad instead of the grunge rock music. This is a gorgeous song full of beauty in shiny guitars and again vocals that are just epic. This isn't just a record, its already a classic, beating out anything before it and anything afterward.

Endless Life - A beautiful atmospheric tone introduces the song and takes you into a meditative state. The song gradually builds up to a climax and Verve are taking us for one wild journey. Rochard Ashcroft is singing very muted almost, but it adds once again to the aurreal effect, like it's happening before you and you're a part of it all.

Feel - The closing song is over 10 minutes in length, and incredible song in it's own right. The beautiful shimmer of Nick Mccabes gutiar work still clearly evident. Also the brilliant use of the id section where a funnel of feedback is sed to introduce the end, it just shows how experiemtnal this band was in their make- up.

Clearly put, the greatest EP release ever and a classic none can top, this is except for Verve.

You can see a complete list of all The Verve discography, or go back to the The Verve tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.