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These People
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These People Image
Metascore
51

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 25 Ratings

  • Summary: The fourth full-length solo release for the former Verve lead singer was co-produced with Chris Potter.
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Top Track

Hold On
Hold on, people hold on Hold on, people hold on I'm in there superstitious And life can be so vicious Learning on your own Can turn your heart to... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 15
  3. Negative: 4 out of 15
  1. New Musical Express (NME)
    May 19, 2016
    80
    These People is the solo record most aligned to Ashcroft’s Verve peak, right down to employing the same string arranger and bunging on one gigantic romance anthem, ‘This is How It Feels’.
  2. AllMusic
    May 23, 2016
    70
    These People functions as a pleasing adult alternative record.
  3. The Guardian
    May 19, 2016
    60
    There are outliers such as the horrible Britpop-by-way-of-Pet-Shop-Boys punchy greyness of Hold On, and the grating synth stabs on opener Out of My Body, but generally Ashcroft manages to relive his heyday nicely.
  4. Uncut
    May 16, 2016
    50
    It's hard to tell whether These People is an intentional, semi-Springsteenian work of self-reference, or whether Ashcroft just hasn't had any other ideas. [Jun 2016, p.69]
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  5. The Observer (UK)
    May 23, 2016
    40
    With the exception of the poignant and understated Black Lines, Ashcroft’s material is uninspired, drowned beneath bloated production and hardly enlivened by his customary broadbrush lyrics about standing alone against ill-defined adversaries, with the added bonus of a blizzard of clunking weather metaphors.
  6. The Line of Best Fit
    May 20, 2016
    40
    Richard Ashcroft’s fifth solo effort ultimately feels like an unruly mess--there are lots of ideas here, but none that feel truly developed.
  7. The Independent (UK)
    May 18, 2016
    20
    Richard Ashcroft’s first album in six years is a dismal affair.

See all 15 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. charanms
    Feb 1, 2017
    10
    Superb album but the videos for the songs were seriously horrible. Neverthless, the album did not disappoint after such a long wait. We needSuperb album but the videos for the songs were seriously horrible. Neverthless, the album did not disappoint after such a long wait. We need artists to make more meaningful songs and album instead of making loud dance music all the time .… Expand
  2. elenip
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    King Richard, great as always! I always turn the volume up to enjoy his work.
  4. LuckyMan9
    May 27, 2016
    9
    "These People" is a very good record. Songs like "They Don't Own Me", "This Is How It Feels", "Picture of You", "These People" and "Everybody"These People" is a very good record. Songs like "They Don't Own Me", "This Is How It Feels", "Picture of You", "These People" and "Everybody Needs Somebody to Hurt" are truly great. His voice sounds better than ever!!… Expand
  5. tonysopranoz
    May 23, 2016
    9
    "They Don't Own Me" is another Richard Ashcroft masterpiece. I'm binge-listening to it ever since I first heard it. the other songs are okay,"They Don't Own Me" is another Richard Ashcroft masterpiece. I'm binge-listening to it ever since I first heard it. the other songs are okay, and I think I will enjoy some of them more and more as time goes on, but I'm just glad there's another great R.A. song that I can listen to and think about… Expand
  6. Ricko
    Oct 10, 2016
    8
    The only other solo effort from RA that I've listened to properly is 2002's "Human Conditions". "These People" is a superior effort from startThe only other solo effort from RA that I've listened to properly is 2002's "Human Conditions". "These People" is a superior effort from start to finish and while it pales in comparison to his best work with The Verve, it has enough moments to convince the listener Ashcroft still has shards of genius left to offer us. I have to say on first listen there are a few eyebrow raising moments, opening track "Out of My Body" for example has a strangely pop dance beat behind it which can distract from the song itself. "Hold On" has a few dodgy rhyming couplets as well but there are many more quality moments that disappointments. As time progresses and we look back at Ashcroft and The Verves output, "Urban Hymns" is head and shoulders above everything else. Expectations on this solo effort were unfair. It's a solid record, very listenable with a few great tunes on it. Enjoy it for what it is not for what it isn't.… Expand
  7. wiredude
    May 22, 2016
    8
    I'm kind of surprised this album is getting trashed. Ive been really enjoying it so far. If you liked Urban Hymns, you'll like this. PerhapsI'm kind of surprised this album is getting trashed. Ive been really enjoying it so far. If you liked Urban Hymns, you'll like this. Perhaps the ever cynical record reviewers are just missing out.… Expand
  8. Scallym8
    May 20, 2016
    5
    Sadly not the comeback I was hoping for. The only stand out track is They Don't Own me and it's really good but the rest is just forgettableSadly not the comeback I was hoping for. The only stand out track is They Don't Own me and it's really good but the rest is just forgettable and overproduced. But a few other track like This Is How It Feels will probably sound much better in an acoustic setting. Overproducing, layering unnecessary sounds and string sections is not something new for Ashcroft but this might be the worst case of it yet. Hope he does something a lot more stripped back in the future to truly let his voice shine, his biggest strength.… Expand

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