Human Conditions is the second album by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft. It was released on Hut Records in 2002.
Release and reception
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." Andrew Lynch of entertainment.ie gave the album two stars out of five, calling it "in the final analysis, quite unbelievably boring." 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."
Details 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".
Track listing 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 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 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 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
External links [ Billboard.com – Discography – Richard Ashcroft – Human Conditions] at Billboard.com