The Verve

"The Drugs Don't Work" is another ballad along the lines of A Northern Soul's "On Your Own": acoustic rhythm guitar and orchestral strings to add poignancy to Richard Ashcroft's disconsolate lyrics concerning modern life and love. This single has both a radio edit and an original demo version of the song. Sounding similar to the solo live version Ashcroft played during the Northern Soul tour, the demo lacks the adornments of the finished song, but nonetheless retains its emotional intensity over Ashcroft's bare-bones acoustic accompaniment. "Three Steps" sounds like a typical B-side: a promising idea with potential that was never reached. With the bass buried in the mix, the song lacks a groove and is left to lurch along on clanky guitars. "Three Steps" does prove Nick McCabe to be a guitar original when it comes to playing a solo. What starts out sounding like just another British Invasion-influenced blues-rock solo quickly proves itself to be anything but, with McCabe eliciting oceanic squawks and shrill feedback drones before slipping back into rhythm playing. Ultimately, this single only holds appeal to die-hard Verve fans. ~ Brian Horgea, All Music Guide