A collection of different attitudes.
This album yanks the listener around through a variety of songs that embody the many phases a relationship can go through. Some of the songs are lighthearted, even playful, while others mourn how things have turned out. Lovin’ You follows a pattern of a happier, upbeat song, followed by a sadder, slower ballad, then back to happy and so on. Listening to the album front-to-back is not for the faint of heart, but adding each song to a different playlist could totally complete the vibe.
Both songs released as singles prior to the album, “Lover” and “Lovin’ You,” really feel like a demonstration of the uncontaminated highlights of being in love. “Lover,” the opening number, brings a strong upbeat start to the album. Ashcroft sings “Lover, Oo Oo” repeating through the chorus with lots of layered vocals overlapping and intersecting throughout the piece. This song has a lot of techno influence with funky synth and a consistent downbeat that practically begs the listener to clap along. The title track starts with chill acoustic guitar before jumping into an even funkier beat than “Lover.” An edited voice begins singing “Loving yo-ou,” which continues throughout the song, keeping time in the company of a staccato percussion beat.
Moving toward the songs expressing more of the complexities of love, “Heavy News,” the third track, starts off with electric guitar that builds all the way into the chorus. Ashcroft pares it down in the chorus, lifting the percussion up and keeping the guitar on steady strums as he implores his lover: “Don’t you wanna fight the fire with me?” An energetic layered guitar solo finishes off the last minute of the song as Ashcroft’s vocal riffs fade out. “Find Another Reason” expresses similar emotions, but on a much more acoustic level. The electric guitar becomes an echo in the background to the sound of a pick twanging against strings. This song, the longest track, is a ballad of wishing for undeserved forgiveness. In the first verse, Ashcroft sings, “In your eyes, I wanna stay / reflecting what I want to say / now I see my crimes,” signaling how things are going downhill because of his actions. As the song ends, the electric guitar picks up, overtaking the acoustic, but still remaining sweeter than the heavy sound of the aptly named “Heavy News.”
Moving toward the end of the album, “Live With Hope” brings incredibly sweet sentiments from Ashcroft. The song starts off with a four beat pattern from a drum set and guitar lowly carrying the beat through. He begs the subject to “Live with hope / There’s so much left for you to know.” Background vocals and a fuller instrumental spread beckon the listener into the chorus where Ashcroft describes the struggles that are “Like a hurricane” and how living with hope is the only defense against it “Crushing you from within.” This song delves into deeper issues while providing the cure. The final track, “Fly To The Sun,” wraps up the album with a solemn prayer of well wishes. This song is characterized by an acoustic guitar softly blending with Ashcroft’s voice as he sings “Nothing’s gonna burn you now.”
This album from Richard Ashcroft is a collection of different ways interpersonal relationships are characterized. The songs are united by a theme of love, even though each number takes a different approach to it.
Leave a Comment