http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.731&rws=%2Fthe-verve%2Fmusic-videos.rssArriving in 1991 amidst a smattering of English bands with monosyllabic names and breathy-voiced, indie/dance crossover potential, Verve's "All in the Mind" was starry-eyed rock 'n' roll for the rave and shoegazing generation. Amidst a haze of heavenly metaphors, headphone-splitting singles and a debut record smothered in half-lidded narcosis, Verve's strong points were immediately apparent: hours spent practicing in smoky warehouses had outfitted the band with a rhythm section that rumbled along like a medicated steam engine, making for live performances that were nothing short of blistering. Although born-to-be-a-frontman Richard Ashcroft was prone to taking the stage in full shamanic poses, there was no doubting the sincerity of this band. If a barefoot Ashcroft cried out, "I wanna know and I wanna feel" with arms outstretched while fronting a sea of slow, muted thunderclaps topped by Nick McCabe's lilting guitar cries, you wanted to know and feel as well. Never achieving much success until the release of <I>Urban Hymns</I> (1997), newly christened the Verve consistently toured the U.S to a small yet furiously loyal cult audience, performing shows that were huge, rock-from-outer-space events packed into tiny clubs. Tensions grew along with their success, culminating in the official split of the band early in 1999. Ashcroft launched a solo career and other members worked in various projects including guitarist Simon Tong's contributions with the Good, the Bad & the Queen. In June 2007, however, the band announced a reunion tour, which would lead to their first album in over a decade, 2008's <i>Forth</i>. - Jon PruettBrit Rocken720Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:02:57 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.731&rws=%2Fthe-verve%2Fmusic-videos.rss Arriving in 1991 amidst a smattering of English bands with monosyllabic names and breathy-voiced, indie/dance crossover potential, Verve's "All in the Mind" was starry-eyed rock 'n' roll for the rave and shoegazing generation. Amidst a haze of heavenly metaphors, headphone-splitting singles and a debut record smothered in half-lidded narcosis, Verve's strong points were immediately apparent: hours spent practicing in smoky warehouses had outfitted the band with a rhythm section that rumbled along like a medicated steam engine, making for live performances that were nothing short of blistering. Although born-to-be-a-frontman Richard Ashcroft was prone to taking the stage in full shamanic poses, there was no doubting the sincerity of this band. If a barefoot Ashcroft cried out, "I wanna know and I wanna feel" with arms outstretched while fronting a sea of slow, muted thunderclaps topped by Nick McCabe's lilting guitar cries, you wanted to know and feel as well. Never achieving much success until the release of <I>Urban Hymns</I> (1997), newly christened the Verve consistently toured the U.S to a small yet furiously loyal cult audience, performing shows that were huge, rock-from-outer-space events packed into tiny clubs. Tensions grew along with their success, culminating in the official split of the band early in 1999. Ashcroft launched a solo career and other members worked in various projects including guitarist Simon Tong's contributions with the Good, the Bad & the Queen. In June 2007, however, the band announced a reunion tour, which would lead to their first album in over a decade, 2008's <i>Forth</i>. - Jon Pruett