Artist: The Verve
Album: Urban Hymns
Label: Hut/Virgin
Released: 29 September 1997
UK Top 100 Albums: 1
US Billboard 200: 23
Produced: The Verve, Youth, Chris Potter
File Under: Britpop-meets-psych-soul epics. A bloody British classic.
🎧 Listening Status
Back in 1997, you couldn’t move for this album. It was everywhere – car stereos, pubs, indie discos, even your mate’s mum had the CD.
I already loved The Verve. A Northern Soul blew my mind away in 1995. All spaced out and shoegazy, I absolutely adored the album. Despite it bringing back nothing but bad memories of miserable times living in London.
By the time Urban Hymns was unleashed 2 years later, I was expecting big things. “Bitter Sweet Symphony” only heightened that expectation. So, when it was finally released in September 1997, I loved it but not as much as I’d have liked.
Cries of “too commercial and they’ve sold out!!!” rang around my ears. A little over dramatic perhaps but that’s how I felt.
🔎 Background
The Verve had already split once by the time they made this, which makes it even more of a miracle it exists. Reuniting in 1996, they added Simon Tong on guitar and somehow pulled a proper rabbit out the hat.
It was meant to be Richard Ashcroft’s solo debut at one point, but the band turned up and made it a group thing. Huge singles, massive sales, and the small matter of a legal scrap over Bittersweet Symphony.
So, what do my ears think almost three decades later??? Only one way to find out… by diving in!
▶️ Track by Track
1. Bitter Sweet Symphony
The one. Violins, swagger, and a walk-through urban ennui. Instantly iconic. Yes, the Andrew Loog Oldham sample sparked all the legal hoo-ha, but ignore the baggage – this is a statement of intent.
Blew my mind away in 97. Still blows my mind away today. A thousand swirling memories of life in the late 90’s as a twenty-something.
As I listened walking my freeloading friend, I cannot help be transported to the iconic video. Shame I don’t have the bollocks to bump into people like Richard Ashcroft. Especially berks who are glued to their phones.
2. Sonnet
Another iconic tune of it’s day.”Sonnet” undoubtedly made me accept The Verve were gagging for commercial success. But I loved this anyway despite the lack of any noisy, cutting-edge guitars or wobbly background noise. At the end of the day, it’s just a bloody good song.
Ashcroft doing his best to sound like a tortured poet in the middle of a meadow. Soft, lush, and probably a bit too much if you’re not in the mood. But undeniably catchy.
3. The Rolling People
I’d be fibbing if I said I remembered everything on this record. But, “The Rolling People” remains my favourite track and one I most certainly do remember.
Simply because it sounds like something off A Northern Soul. My fresh 2025 ears love it even more.
Loud, loose, and very messy – this is The Verve channelling their earlier jam-band tendencies. This shot of noise was just what was needed, it wasn’t all about the polished new sound.
4. The Drugs Don’t Work
I listen to this now, and whilst I enjoy it more these days — largely due to its somewhat legendary status — I’d still argue it’s one of their weakest tracks. For me, it’s always been mind-numbingly boring and painfully dull. Sorry if that opinion ruffles any feathers, but it’s how I felt then and, three decades on, still do.
Back in 1997, I absolutely hated it. I was genuinely horrified!
That said, it’s not nearly as bad as I remember. Time, as they say, is a great healer. It’s now rightly hailed as a classic — and I can see why — but for me, it still doesn’t quite cut the mustard.
5. Catching The Butterfly
I remember barking to anyone who’d listen that there were only two good album tracks on Urban Hymns. “The Rolling People” and this. Still sounds astonishing. The Verve were great at making a racket with choppy chord sequences and sprawling drums.
Bit of a curveball but it a good way. Moody and psychedelic, with a gorgeous riff bubbling underneath. A grower, not a showstopper.
6 Neon Wilderness
Firmly into album track territory. And I love it! This is space rock not unlike the kind of thing Hawkwind have been crafting since the early 70’s. I don’t remember this at all from when the album was released. Doesn’t stir one single emotion or memory. Did I skip past it or has it just banished from my mind?
More fool me! What tomfoolery weirdness! Sounds like a band wandering around the studio off their heads – in the best possible way. Got to love a two and a half minute slab of fantastic nonsense slap bang in the middle of the album.
7. Space And Time
This could have been a single. What a lovely little song. I vaguely remember this. There’s a nice little harmony going on between Richard Ashcroft and, erm, Richard Ashcroft!
Melancholic but oddly uplifting. Classic Verve cocktail: strings, sorrow, and a bit of hope if you squint hard enough. Yeah, should have been a single.
8. Weeping Willow
Another one I don’t remember too well. The Verve always had a knack of creating achingly beautiful music. This album was less noise, more acoustics. You can see how the record became very popular with the masses. The first two albums were much more of a niche.
Slightly forgettable but not unpleasant. Acoustic strumming and strings – fine while it’s on, but doesn’t hang around in your memory. Still sounds great blasted into headphones, but not as memorable as other songs on the album.
9. Lucky Man
Now your talking! Loved this when it came out, still love it today. Where the acoustics work to maximum effect. Ashcroft singing like he means it. All swagger. And there’s nothing wrong with that. A bold triumph.
Massive single. One of those songs that seems to mean everything and nothing all at once. On Urban Hymns, The Verve discovered the art of writing songs as opposed to pieces. This is as good as their songwriting got.
10. One Day
With the last single done and dusted, off we go into hardcore album track territory. This brings back vague memories. Listening to some of these songs for the first time in decades, I’m appreciating the beauty which went a bit over my head at the time.
A low-key slice of cosmic rock. The calm after the chaos. Less bombast, more tenderness. The songs which I’d previously dismissed sound great.
11. This Time
A shuffling beat, crispy guitars and Ashcroft wailing like he means it. I remember more of this album than I thought. Especially in the latter stages. Good, I was convinced I’d pretty much let this record pass me by.
A bit more upbeat, musically at least. Lyrics still wallow in regret. Whilst there is a hint of ‘album filler’ screaming at me, I do find it pleasing on the ears nonetheless.
12. Velvet Morning
This is your classic latter album track. Slowing it right down. Oh my word, this is fantastic! The songs ooze class. I did always rate this album but not as much as A Northern Soul. This reassessment is proving to me, that Urban Hymns is every bit as good as it’s predecessor. Yes, more polished and song-based but, in hindsight, a natural follow-up.
My disappointment couldn’t see through this. Woozy and narcotic. Sounds like a late-night studio jam that got left in because someone thought it was profound. And I for one, am glad they did.
13. Come On
There is a certain Mr Gallagher Jnr on backing vocals. The Verve and the Burnage Boys always did have a close relationship. Noel wrote “Cast No Shadow” about Richard Ashcroft. I love the bass at the start, great intro. This is a tremendous finale. Another one which could have been on A Northern Soul. Ashcroft’s vocals sound less polished.
Raucous and ramshackle. A final blast of noise before the credits roll. Not subtle, but kind of fun. Punchy guitars and those massive rolling drums which I love. And a very subtle key change in the middle! Loads of shouting towards the end and you can clearly hear Gallagher Jnr in the mix. Wondrous. Some swearing as well.
A fitting way to end the album…. or is it????
Hidden Track – Deep Freeze
Ah the hidden track. Such a 90’s concept! And usually utterly pointless. Especially in the days when you had physically fast forward on the CD player to get to the song.
Whilst it’s easier these days with computers, Deep Freeze kicks in at approx. 13 minutes. And is two minutes of throwaway noises and mellow vibes. It’s quite nice, soothing and pleasant but barely worth trying desperately to find the start of the song at the 13-minute mark.
Thankfully, the hidden track thing is firmly something of the past!
💬 Final Thoughts
Urban Hymns is half an epic, half a bit indulgent, an unquestionable classic.
Although not sure what their new-found audience would have made of the more hardcore moments.
When it works, it really works – string-laden beauty, emotionally raw vocals, and the swagger of a band with nothing to lose.
It was their biggest moment and they soon split, briefly reforming and releasing one more album, Forth, in 2008. Which I probably need to investigate again as I only remember the fantastic comeback single “Love Is Noise”. I deffo bought the CD!
Still stands as one of the defining British albums of the 90’s. It’s legacy intact.
🎸 Sleeve Notes
1️⃣ Royalty Row
Bittersweet Symphony was originally credited to Jagger/Richards, due to the sampled orchestral version of a Stones song. Ashcroft only got his songwriting credit back two decades later in 2019.
2️⃣ Big Seller
Sold over three million in the UK, compared with A Northern Soul which sold around 100,000.
3️⃣ Falling Apart
Despite being such a massive record, the band fell apart again soon after – too much fame, too many drugs, too many egos.
The Listening Log 
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