Keys to the World

The former frontman for the Verve delivers his third solo effort with 2006's KEYS TO THE WORLD. Richard Ashcroft seems to be moving further and further away from the epic drone-rock of his former band with each release. If "Why Not Nothing," the opening track on KEYS, were any clue, Ashcroft's third album might have signaled a trip to Muscle Shoals and an album fully steeped in horn-driven soul of a 1960s mode. Elsewhere, however, Ashcroft's sonorous voice is complemented by swelling strings, synthesizer, piano, and layered guitars, and, despite the groovy opening track, the vibe of the album is consistently downtempo, soulful, and moody, with none of the crunching rock of early Verve releases in sight. That said, Verve fans may want to proceed with caution, but fans of Ashcroft's solo work should give KEYS a listen.