Richard Ashcroft

Richard Ashcroft's second solo disc since the breakup of his former band The Verve boasts pristine production, backing vocals arranged and sung by Beach Boy Brian Wilson, and tunes about finding yourself as our crazy world spins out of control. This beautiful album is as epic as it is timely.

"I cheated on my metaphysics exam," goes an old Woody Allen joke. "I looked into the soul
of the boy sitting next to me." Human Conditions, the second album from the soul-baring
solo career of the Verve's former leader, offers assistance in taking life's tests -- providing
you don't find metaphysically minded rock stars a bit funny to begin with. The album
contains only one real rocker, the tabla-dappled "Bright Lights" (close kin to the... More >