Description
2025 reissue, 2×12″ compilation LP, Virgin EMI/Universal.
It’s been a missing artefact for years. It’s a travesty that this compilation hasn’t been on vinyl until now, but The Verve have set things straight in time for its 20th anniversary. Even though The Verve were only together for a relatively brief time (1990 – 1999 and 2007-2009) they left behind a catalogue of untouchable songs. ‘Sonnet’, Lucky Man’ and ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’ are all bangers, but that’s just scratching the surface of what they were capable of. They’re a band of incredible breadth. In their early years, they were more psychedelic and leant into sonic wig outs, led by the inimitable genius of guitar player Nick McCabe. Meanwhile, as Richard Ashcroft neared his departure from the band and set out on a solo career, their material got a lot more song-based and they would be reframed as a Britpop group. The addition of the eight-and-a-half-minute version of their second single ‘She’s A Superstar’ (1992) on this version of the album for the first time, helps to emphasise their shoegaze-y legacy. Meanwhile, we’re reminded how great the songs of their reformation period are with ‘Love Is Noise’ and ‘Rather Be’, which is the other additional feature for this anniversary release.
