#36

‘Good’ would be stretching it. They were one of those bands like Swervedriver or Kitchens of Distinction who were just there but nobody loved.

#37

They haven’t aged well and Ashcroft’s solo career has ruined a lot of the goodwill that existed towards them in some quarters. Always thought their long, psych ‘wig out’ tunes were massively overrated and veered towards self indulgence but they do have some great tunes:
History, On your Own, Gravity Grave, Sonnet, Drugs don’t Work.

Urban Hymns was massive when it was released, and the Haigh Hall gig was great, that said 2/5 in 2020.

#39

Ashcroft’s voice is a bit off on this but it’s an amazing version. Pity they never topped their first single.

6 Likes
#40

So much this, it’s the nineties version of that Elbow song that was everywhere for about 5 years.

1 Like
#41

Big fat 4 from me. Urban Hymns never grabbed me, but A Northern Soul is genuinely in my top 5 all time records. I was 16 when it came out, and it was one of those records that you had to “live with” while it grew on you. But it just means a huge amount to me, that record. High point being “Drive You Home” - the guitar on that is pure magic.

I remember seeing them on the 1995 Glastonbury coverage, and just wanting to be Mad Richard right there - looks like it was a lot of fun.

The early EPs, ASIH, and Northern Soul - they were just a tremendous band.

6 Likes
#42

How do you do that now? I picked up the format by highlighting the table, selecting quote, then getting rid of the quote tabs. Would then just add in the same data you normally would, but then where you have typed the artist name in the tabel you just select it, click the hyperlink button in the message writing pane and paste in the URL.

e.g if The Verve come between top two I’d just quote the full table, then add a line in the appropriate place name, score and URL to update which is really only one more thing than you do now.

That said, doing this on my PC I clocked now that both links were wrong in my example, so maybe doing this on phone as I did earlier would be a bit clumsy!

Artist Rating
Aretha Franklin 4.64
The Verve 4.59
Nina Simone 4.57
#43

i haven’t seen him live in nearly 20 years but he certainly used to be anyway, the version of slide away on this is amazing

1 Like
#44

1

I actually liked them before Urban Hymns, but that album was such unmitigated shite (one of the only albums I’ve ever returned to a shop and demanded my money back) that I cannot even give them credit for the earlier stuff now. I will never listen to it again.

Had the misfortune of hearing Ashcroft belting out his shitty songs when I went to see Roger Waters at Hyde Park a couple of years ago and despite going to the bar furthest away from the stage, I couldn’t escape the utter shitness of him. I hate them.

1 Like
#45

I was there. It was sunny, that’s about all I can say about it.

2 Likes
#46

It does look a lovely day TBH.

#47

It got a bit dusty, so there were downsides.

1 Like
#48

Genuinely don’t understand some people’s aversion to Urban Hymns.

7 Likes
#49

Yeah I loved it when it came out and still enjoy it now

1 Like
#50

Bit bloated innit.

1 Like
#51
#52

that seems a little harsh on Swervedriver :smiley:

8 Likes
#53

Yeah, but in a good way. Be Here Now was the bad way, Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space and Urban Hymns were the good way.

1 Like
#54

Ah I just have the spreadsheet on my phone and C&P it straight from that into the OP.

#56

I’m going to do a 3 because they have a couple good albums under their belt before fully embracing the MOR britpop umbrealla

But even then they did that sound better than most…

4

#57

First I’ve ever heard of them, but mid-90’s eh?