Album Review: Richard Ashcroft, "Keys to the World" (EMI)

"Keys to the World" begins with tough talk and swagger. "I need survival through your everyday," Richard Ashcroft snarls at the high and mighty on album-opener "Why Not Nothing?" And then he puts them in their place: "Who the f--- are you when you take that mask away?"

Unfortunately, these bits of bravado are barely heard again on this, the third solo release from the former Verve frontman.

Instead, Ashcroft spends much of "Keys" stretching into self-important singer/songwriter schlock. Many of these tracks are overproduced, mid-tempo lamentations dripping with strings and inundated by manifold vocal tracks. On "Words Just Get in the Way," Ashcroft sings, "When you've given all you've got and you're feeling overcome / When your back's against the wall / There's no one left to call / Call me." Didn't James Taylor already write that song?

"Simple Song" sounds like something on your brother's demo tape, while "Music is Power" is only slightly more self-important than the awful-titled--though somewhat better--"Break the Night with Colour."

Clearly, tougher, edgier rock is Richard Ashcroft's bread and butter--or at least it should be. One listen to the album's title track tells you all you need to know. Anthemic, dark and jammed with attitude, this is one tune that lives up to its creator's reputation.

As for the rest of "Keys to the World"? Not so much.