Richard Ashcroft — Keys To The World

Richard Ashcroft's new album starts off with promise. "Why Not Nothing?" hints of a rollicking Sticky Fingers vibe, providing hope that maybe, just maybe, Ashcroft's lovey-dovey, moonie ballad rock phase has finally come to an end. Those hopes are dashed rather quickly, however, with the second track, the frothy faux string platitude "Music Is Power." "Break The Night With Colour" rides nicely on some pulsing piano power, but it's the kind of piano power that Ashcroft has to share with his new running buddy, Chris Martin. It's probably not right to pine for The Verve so many years after their dissolution, but Ashcroft has yet again failed to match anything in that group's swirling discography.

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