Human Conditions
| Human Conditions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 21 October 2002 | |||
| Recorded | 2001–2002 | |||
| Studio | Metropolis, London; Astoria, London; Olympic, London; Real World, Bath | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 54:51 | |||
| Label | Hut | |||
| Producer | Chris Potter, Richard Ashcroft | |||
| Richard Ashcroft chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Human Conditions | ||||
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Human Conditions is the second album by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft. It was released on Hut Records in 2002.
Release and reception
[edit | edit source]
Review aggregating website Metacritic reports a normalised score of 61 based on 15 reviews, which indicated a "generally favourable" reception. However, many of the critics had negative views of Ashcroft's ideas. Some of the negative reviews, included Nick Southall of Stylus, who remarked that "Ashcroft obviously sees himself as some kind of incisive commentator with a greater depth of understanding of the human condition than those around him. This record reveals with alarming clarity that he is actually a poor songwriter, dire lyricist, and arrogant buffoon all at the same time."[12] Andrew Lynch of entertainment.ie gave the album two stars out of five, calling it "in the final analysis, quite unbelievably boring."[13] Rowan Shaeffer of Counterculture gave it three stars out of five and praised aspects of the album, though still feeling that "for the most part Richard Ashcroft seems be going through the motions; and while he's produced a good album, it's an ultimately unfulfilling listen."[14]
Details
[edit | edit source]In 2003, when asked about the naysayers to the album, Ashcroft responded: "If I had put on fifteen stone and Kate had left me and I’d almost [overdosed] on smack, then this record would have been received very well".[15]
Track listing
[edit | edit source]All tracks composed by Richard Ashcroft
- "Check the Meaning" – 8:04
- "Buy It in Bottles" – 4:39
- "Bright Lights" – 5:15
- "Paradise" – 5:37
- "God in the Numbers" – 6:58
- "Science of Silence" – 4:15
- "Man on a Mission" – 5:29
- "Running Away" – 4:16
- "Lord I've Been Trying" – 5:23
- "Nature Is the Law" – 4:55
Bonus track
[edit | edit source]The Japanese and American editions of the album featured one bonus track originally released as a B-side for the UK single "Check the Meaning".
- "The Miracle" – 3:51
Personnel
[edit | edit source]- Richard Ashcroft – vocals, guitar, percussion, bass, piano, Wurlitzer, keyboards
- Peter Salisbury – drums
- Kate Radley – keyboards
- Martyn Campbell – bass
- Talvin Singh – tablas, beats, drones, shruti box, duggi tarang, madal
- Chuck Leavell – piano, Hammond organ
- Richard Robson – programming
- Steve Sidelnyk – drum programming, programming
- Craig Wagstaff – percussion
- Jim Hunt – flute, saxophone
- Matt Clifford – Wurlitzer
- Brian Wilson – backing vocals, backing vocal arrangement on "Nature Is the Law"
- Wil Malone – orchestral arrangements, conducting
- The London Session Orchestra – strings
- London Community Gospel Choir – choir
Release details
[edit | edit source]| Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 17 October 2002 | Toshiba-EMI | CD | VJCP-68440 / 4988006804005 |
| United Kingdom | 21 October 2002 | Hut Records | 2LP | HUTDLP77 / 7243 8 13383 1 5 |
| CD | CDHUT77 / 7243 8 13383 2 2 | |||
| United States | 25 February 2003 | Virgin Records | CD | 7243 8 13384 2 1 |
References
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- ^ AllMusic review
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- ^ Entertainment Weekly review
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- ^ An overreaching cathedral, designed by Spiritualized, Kris Kristoferson and John Barry, Human Conditions still somehow charms with its hungry troubadour's idealism. [Nov 2002, p.102]
- ^ Rolling Stone review[dead link]
- ^ Stunning pop for pale after-party people. [March 2003, p.119]
- ^ Stylus Magazine review Archived 13 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ At times he tries too hard, but there's much here to commend. [Nov 2002, p.114]
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External links
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