The Verve

As a live band, they have had few equals. Unlike their docile shoegazing brethern, the Verve sounded dangerous live -- more like Sonic Youth than the Cocteau Twins. This bootleg, with its six cuts from New York and London, features the Verve in their pre-A Storm in Heaven days, presenting an energetic and tight band. The mix is good and one can easily imagine their light show and Richard Ashcroft standing at the edge of the stage screaming at the audience. Simon Jones' bass rumbles across the low end, his looping basslines forming the melodic foundation off of which the other band members play. Nick McCabe's guitar work is edgy, even on a mellower number like "One Way to Go"; he often makes his playing sound like two or three guitars, as he does during the rave-up in "Already There," deftly using feedback, reverb, and echo. The versions of "Gravity Grave" and "She's a Superstar" are heavier, the dynamics between the changes more intense here than on the studio versions. Ashcroft rages through the songs, ad libbing lyrics and rolling with the music. Included is a cut of the never released "South Pacific," an early Verve song that sounds like ocean crashing down around your ears. A must-own for any serious Verve fan. ~ Brian Horgea, All Music Guide