Richard Ashcroft is the former frontman of the famed neo-psychedelic Britpop band the Verve. Ashcroft's solo debut, 2000's ALONE WITH EVERYBODY, appeared shortly after the dissolution of the band and was marked by a clear departure from the Verve's epic, fuzzed-out pop soundscapes, and was clearly moving into more classic pop and rock territory. Ashcroft's subsequent albums didn't necessarily expand on the sound of his debut--maintaining a more organic, traditionalist sound--yet they remained strong and also never hinted at a retreat to the Verve's more well-tested aesthetic.