These People
by Richard Ashcroft
  • Record Label: Harvest
  • Release Date: May 20, 2016
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 25 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 25
  3. Negative: 2 out of 25
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  1. 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 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 caseSadly 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
  2. 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. Perhaps the ever cynical record reviewers are just missing out.
  3. 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, 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
  4. 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 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,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 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
  5. 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 Needs Somebody to Hurt" are truly great. His voice sounds better than ever!!
  6. 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 need artists to make more meaningful songs and album instead of making loud dance music all the time .
  7. elenip
    Aug 31, 2019
    10
    King Richard, great as always! I always turn the volume up to enjoy his work.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
51

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 15
  3. Negative: 4 out of 15
  1. Magnet
    Aug 9, 2016
    30
    The vocals are on point in Ashcroft's non-plussed yet quintessentially pop-edged delivery, but these arrangements lean more toward boredom and self-servitude. [No. 133, p.53]
  2. Blurt Magazine
    Jun 13, 2016
    20
    Unfortunately, there’s little of anything redeeming about the music on this album.
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  3. musicOMH.com
    May 31, 2016
    50
    These People is a mixture of epic ballads harking back to the sound of the Verve and attempts to move forward with rather half-hearted electronic pop. Despite some beautiful moments, Ashcroft seems to have fallen into the gap between the two.
    Read full review
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