New retrospective

What's the point of releasing old tracks that never even made it onto the B sides of a band's earlier hits? The only reason I can think of is that the band has split up for good and this is the only way fans will get to hear 'new' songs.

This applies to This Is Music: The Singles 92-98, the new retrospective collection by top British band The Verve. The band formed in 1989 and released two albums, A Storm in Heaven in 1993 and A Northern Soul in 1995 before splitting. They were reunited for Urban Hymns in 1997 but permanently broke up in 1999.

The album includes the band's 12 greatest hits, such as Bitter Sweet Symphony, The Drugs Don't Work and Sonnet, plus two previously unreleased tracks - This Could Be My Moment and Monte Carlo, both recorded during the sessions for the band's sublime album Urban Hymns.

However, mid-tempo rock track This Could be My Moment lacks the uplifting elements found in the band's other massive hits.

Despite the disappointing 'new' tracks, this compilation makes a good choice for those who don't have any of their earlier albums. Or if you are already a fan, this album will let you reminisce about the band's good old days with their inimitable guitar riffs and frontman Richard Ashcroft's plaintive voice.