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Hung in there with the first. However,this album has no artistic merit whatsover!! The worst thing any adult could do is take this in their car on a long journey - Be warned!!

why isnt the single wuthering heights on here ? surely a best of should contain this song

I'm not sure why there isn't an option to give half stars on these reviews, but if it was possible I'd give this album four and a half. The half is deducted purely because it's just too long - I think most people would agree that 18 tracks is too many, whoever the artist. By removing four or five of the weaker tracks they could have created the perfect album. That said, I was pleasantly surprised to find that there isn't a single terrible song on here, just a few that I could have done without. If I was playing producer, I would have cut Out of this Club (my least favourite, but then I've never been a fan of R Kelly), Who's Gonna Love You, Lights, Camera, Action (again, because I can't stand New Kids on the Block) and Love the Way You Love Me. The rest is fantastic, much better than I expected and much, much better than their first album. Personal favourites are Whatcha Think About That, I Hate This Part, Halo, Magic and Elevator. One thing I would say is that if you're expecting a pop album you might be disappointed, as this is much more RnB and hip-hop than their previous material. But if you love heavy beats and want a fun, funky album to dance to, you should definitely give this a try.

Obviously Love is Noise is a great track, certainly the most obvious choice for a single, their stunning live performance of it at Glastonbury was certainly a testament to its energetic, crowd pleasing potential. However, if I had to take a pick of the bunch, I would go for Appalachian Springs and Sit & Wonder as being my favourites, closely followed by Valium Skies and Judas - each one equally as detailed and soulful as the next.

So that's 5 tracks that instantly grabbed my attention upon first listen!!! - and you know what? - that's FIVE more tracks than any other album I've heard this year, or for the last 5 years in fact, so for that reason alone, 5 stars is well deserved.

Overall the detail in each composition is excellent, the guitar work superb, and the lyrics are delivered in a powerful, emotional way - exactly how they should be, and in terms of track running order, it flows nicely too.

I think it's one of those albums that will certainly grow on people more and more with each listen, and I would say the environment and mood you are in whilst listening to it will make a whole lot of difference too - this is especially true for the additional tracks I've not yet mentioned - they are all growers. The vibe is deep and detailed, and requires a bit more than just a passing flick through the CD to find out what's going on. If all you want is a collection of lame 3 minute pop songs, then look elsewhere.

Chill out, and listen to it properly from start to end several times, just relax and be prepared to be taken on a journey, and I'm sure you'll come back appreciating it more and more each time.

With Forth I think The Verve done a stellar job, it might not have so many obvious 'stadium anthems' as Urban Hymns, but it's certainly very deep and detailed with plenty of soul, which for me, is what music should be all about - here's to hoping they can hold it together long enough to pull off another one, and with any luck do a few more gigs too!

Some good tracks here by what are essentially amateur choirs - they really can entertain. I LOVE Cry Me A River by Sense of Sound!!!!

In an entertainment business full of faked stance and faux emotion, all of a sudden something REAL has come along. Glasvegas are tough, rough around the edges but ultimately this is the genuinely most affecting releases not just in 2008 but for many years.

Let's be clear about this, 'Glasvegas' aren't romanticised 'loser' jangle from the bedroom of a semi-detached, this is raw anguish, the sound of souls being shreaded by the dismal reality of life on the streets of the East End of Glasgow. The album covers such topics as gang violence, disfunctional families and perhaps most of all the utter desperation of the poverty trap and the yearning for a better life.

If all this sounds a little dreary, like a Ken Loach film set to music, then it is most definitely not. Glasvegas takes you through the spectrum of human emotions and back again.

Heart breaking music if ever there was.

This is a welcome return to form for Tom Jones. The whole album has a conceptual feel to it with excellent musicianship and there is not a single bad track. I particularly like the opening track, I'm Alive, but there isn't a dud to be seen........... he may be knocking on in years but the freshness is still there. The consummate professional and all the more enjoyable for that.

Ignore the miseries, this is a really good rockin' album. I have kind of mocked these guys for years - yet having heard this CD I am amazed how many of the tunes I actually know and really like. You'll probably be the same. What more can I say? It's cheap as chips. Give it a listen. Hell Yeh!!!!

Like others, I saw the man on Jools Holland. I suppose the romantic in me loved the idea that this guy had experienced the lowest of the lows but had come through it all and was here playing his 3-string geetar live on the JH show. However, I liked what I heard and his enthusiasm for the blues was infectious. Okay, it's not as polished as the great blues musicians and he's not going to outdo Robert Cray for technical ability but just listen to the stories he tells and you'll be tapping your foot along. We all love to see people do well that have faced grim adversity and Seasick Steve provides a soulful, bizarre and honest approach to his version of the blues. So, stop being so cynical and give it a blast.