Verve / Urban Hymns (2LP)

Urban Hymns is the sound of Richard Ashcroft finally deciding to become the messiah he always pretended to be�and accidentally dragging the entire nation to church with him. Recorded in late 1996/early 1997 at Olympic Studios in London after Nick McCabe rejoined the band, the album is 76 minutes of widescreen redemption. Guitars swell like cathedrals, strings arranged by Wil Malone soar like angels on ketamine, and Ashcroft�s voice�half whisper, half howl�delivers every line like it�s the last confession on earth.