Richard Ashcroft - "Break The Night With Colour"

[TotallyEnormousExtinctDinosaur]

The former lead singer of The Verve is back! This is his long-awaited new single.

I like it a lot. It's like a more stripped down version of "A Song For The Lovers."

If anyone wants to hear it, here's a link:
www.coldplaying.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25382

[tozion]

I like it.

[TotallyEnormousExtinctDinosaur]

Watch the video:
www.video-c.co.uk/micrositedisplayfull.asp?vidref=rich005

[RedDragon]

I love, it's a really nice indie ballad type.

[RedDragon]

#3 in UK ! (Debut Week)

[TotallyEnormousExtinctDinosaur]

reddragon said:

#3 in UK ! (Debut Week)

That's an awesome debut... but I would have preferred #1 haha.

[RedDragon]

Review from Yahoo! Music (Dotmusic)

Truly, there was a time this man could do no wrong. As Richard Ashcroft himself so emphatically nailed it during The Verve's pomp, "I'm a lucky man, with fire in my hands". And, for a while, he was right, leaping to the Heavens, bare-foot like a shamanistic, spiritually ablaze drug messiah. Crucially, his backdrop of visionary psychedelia was sent to the stratosphere by guitar Moses Nick McCabe, and he is long, long gone. And so is the fire.

Ashcroft recently claimed - with almost inconceivable ego - that he "feels just like Jesus Christ". What, deceased? That's pretty much the only conclusion you can draw from "Break The Night With Colour", the latest soul-sucking dispatch from the embattled frontline of two kids, unlimited cash and no challenges whatsoever but a record deal if you want it anyway. To be fair, this is far from the worst song he's released since the demise of The Verve. You get a cute Brian Wilson plink-plonk intro, atmospheric synth interference, some whirring steel guitar and vaguely convincing vocals yearns from our very own disciple.

But it's nowhere near enough to match Ashcroft's appallingly conceited statements of grandeur. And anyway, hasn't he heard? No-one believes in God anymore.

[RedDragon]

UK Chart Commentary from James Masterton.

Leading the way this week is Richard Ashcroft who announces his new album 'Keys To The World' with the acclaimed single 'Break The Night With Colour' which charges in at Number 3. His first Top 40 single for almost three years, the new track also manages to equal his best ever solo chart peak, matching the position claimed by his solo debut 'A Song For The Lovers' back in April 2000. In truth it is a worthy placing as the new single confirms what all the critics have been suggesting, that his new album is a much welcome return to form. 'Break The Night With Colour' isn't necessarily a classic but it is far and away the best new single of the week.

[TotallyEnormousExtinctDinosaur]

"A Song For The Lovers" is great too. I can't decide which song I like more. The style of the two songs is VERY similar though.

Anyway, this song has two versions in the Top 10 at iTunes UK.

[TotallyEnormousExtinctDinosaur]

This song gets better with every listen. He has such a distinct sound now that's different from when he was with The Verve, that manages to keep some of that band's best elements nonetheless. I love how "Break The Night With Colour" sounds like indie rock, pop, and singer/songwriterish all at once. I really wish they'd push this to AAA in the US. I think it would do very well at that format, between the quality of the song and the repsect he has from The Verve. I know that Richard Ashcroft has a substantial cult fanbase here in the US, enough to warrant an album release here.... even if they don't plan on really promoting him. I doubt that'll happen, but it should.

[RedDragon]

#9 Official Singles Chart
#2 Airplay Chart
#13 TV Airplay Chart.

[TotallyEnormousExtinctDinosaur]

His album Keys To The World debuts at #2 in the UK this week. The album has gotten rave reviews, and I have to say myself that it's excellent. It's better than I was even expecting!

[RedDragon]

Former Verve leader Richard Ashcroft enjoys a real return to favour with his third solo album Keys To The World debuting at num ber two on sales of 74,539. It maintains Ashcroft’s record of reaching the top three with all his solo albums. His first, Alone With Everybody, debuted at number one in 2000 with first week sales of 75,681, and subsequently went on to sell 408,882 copies.
The less well received follow-up Human Conditions started with sales of 36,210 at number three in 2002, and has since increased that tally to 169,535.

[That Skipping Rope.]

Richard is opening to Coldplay on the 2nd leg of their Talk Tour this year.

[RedDragon]

Richard Ashcroft, former frontman for The Verve, will release his third solo record, Keys To The World, in the U.S. through Virgin Records on March 21. The album was released in U.K. last month. Ashcroft will open for the second half of Coldplay's North American tour this spring.