The Verve hit the charts in the late 90’s with their beautifully-crafted disc, Urban Hymns, but the UK band fell apart as soon as they hit it big. Inter-personal conflict and a lawsuit from the Rolling Stones for a questionable sample in “Bittersweet Symphony” quickly tore the band apart. After a judge assigned songwriting credits to The Rolling Stones, Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft quipped, “This is the best song [Mick] Jagger and [Keith] Richards have written in 20 years.”

I agree.

The Verve dissolved, but Ashcroft forged ahead with a solo career. By June 2007, the original Verve members set aside their differences, announcing a new disc and a fall 2007 tour. Tickets for the six-date world tour sold out within twenty minutes, and the band headed back to the studio.

The result of this studio time, Fourth, is set for international release on August 18. The first video, “Love is Noise,” was released last week. Let us know what you think of it.

For old time’s sake, here’s my favorite track from Urban Hymns, “Lucky Man.”

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