The Verve Pipe Album: “Underneath”

I found The Verve Pipe when tracking down some favorite songs from movies I'd recorded. Two songs (from "Rock Star" and "Joe Somebody") came from this one band, and I bought this CD as well as Villains and Pop Smear. I can understand the less than complimentary reviews some long-time fans have logged. Some of the pieces on Underneath are a bit over-produced, with too many acoustic gizmos. (Case in point: "Happiness Is".) But I think the more polished presentation also allows TVP's talent to come through on this CD clearer than the others, showcasing catchy and innovative themes, multiple layers, tight harmonic vocals, and lyrics that are worth listening to. (A rare thing these days.) I think this is a good CD for listeners to start with, there are several excellent cuts here I find myself listening to over and over.

The Verve Pipe return with their latest release, Underneath, and I think that it's a commendable effort by the newly four-man band. From the first track to the last, the album definitely is an easy listen, and is truly better with each listen (and trust me, you will be listening to it nonstop). The band brings back the melodies and harmonies that made them so attractive. In no particular order:

"Only Words" kicks off the bunch as a great jumpstarter to the rest of the songs. "Never Let You Down" is a good single choice because anyone and everyone will be singing along to it on the radio. "Miles Away" and "Gotta Move On" are beautiful tunes, both a testament to the power writing of Brian and Donny. "Happiness Is" and "Wonderful Waste" are wonderfully catchy and will make your feet tap and your head bob. "I Want All of You" is a sexy little number that is better because of its simple lyrics and throbbing beat. "Local Boys" gave me the feeling of their earlier work, which was refreshing, and lyrically entertaining. "Colorful" is amazing in its words and music, made up of heart and emotion, and is simply a tearjerker ballad that rocks. The ear-catching rocker, "Medicate Myself" is a delightful piece of Verve Pipe material that is fantastic, due to its heavy guitars and even heavier topic. "Underneath" sees Brian pulling falsetto and managing to sound pretty damn good.

This album may be billed as simplier than the Verve Pipe's past offerings, but it will definitely manage to get inside your cd player (and your head) and stay there.

Personal favorites: "Miles Away", "Gotta Move On", "Medicate Myself"

This CD is a dissapointing follow up to The Verve Pipe's best album ever. Honestly,their self titled disk was so good it didn't leave my CD player for months. With brilliant lyrics and guitar work in songs like "She Love's Everybody" and "La La", to soaring ballads like "She Has Faces" and the dark love story that is "Kiss Me Idle", I was expecting this next album to blow me away. No such luck.

when I opened the lyrics book, (I always LOVE TVP's lyrics) I was treated to the decent, but not very inspiring

"Only Words". The next two songs were a big step down. "I Will Never Let You Down", and "I Want All of You", are mediocre at best, and so sickeningly sweet that the're dangerous to the health of diabetics.

It gets MUCH better after that, but it still wasn't up to TVP's usual standards. I enjoyed "Colorful" very much, but other than that, the only thing that kept me listening was the catchy tunes, not the lyrics.

The best song on the CD, (and a welcome return to the old compexity I was used to) was the great "Underneath". haunting, beautiful and melodic, this is a great song on an other wise uninspiring album.

This is not to say it does not have it's good moments. Just not as many as I would like.

This is a great CD with not one bad song on it. The mix is

incredible and is a absolutely awesome headphone CD. The lyrics

are great as usual and Brian Vander Ark's vocals are better than

ever. As good as 'Villians'.

Like old Verve Pipe but with the pop sensibility turned up a tad. A bit less experimental than their previous releases, albeit still very well written material. Vander Ark's voice and expression is as always awesome. In particular "Only Words" and "Happiness Is" will have you rockin' out like it's nobody's business :)