Human Conditions

{{Music ratings

|MC = 61/100{{Cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/human-conditions/richard-ashcroft|title = Human Conditions by Richard Ashcroft}}

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r611420|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]

|rev2 = Blender

|rev2score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.blender.com/guide/new/50308/human-conditions.html|title=Richard Ashcroft – Human Conditions|last=Pemberton|first=Andy|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040820014104/http://www.blender.com/reviews/review_195.html|archivedate=20 August 2004|access-date=7 August 2009|url-status=dead}}

|rev3 = Drowned in Sound

|rev3score = 2/10{{Cite web |url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/3111/reviews/5093- |title=Drowned in Sound review |access-date=22 September 2009 |archive-date=4 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004232844/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/3111/reviews/5093- |url-status=dead }}

|rev4 = Entertainment.ie

|rev4score = {{Rating|2|5}}[http://entertainment.ie/album-review/Richard-Ashcroft---Human-Conditions/2369.htm Entertainment.ie review]

|rev5 = Entertainment Weekly

|rev5score = A[https://ew.com/article/2003/03/07/human-conditions/ Entertainment Weekly review]

|rev6 = The Guardian

|rev6score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web |title=CD: Richard Ashcroft: Human Conditions |date=2002-10-11 |website=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306023705/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/oct/11/popandrock.artsfeatures |archive-date=2016-03-06 |url-status=live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/oct/11/popandrock.artsfeatures}}

|rev7 = Rolling Stone

|rev7score = {{Rating|3|5}}[https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/richardashcroft/albums/album/161769/review/5946195/human_conditions Rolling Stone review]{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

|rev8 = Stylus Magazine

|rev8score = F[http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=55 Stylus Magazine review] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313123804/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=55 |date=13 March 2007 }}

|rev9 = Yahoo Music

|rev9score = {{Rating|5|10}}[http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/l_reviews_a/26917.html Yahoo Music review]

}}

Review aggregating website Metacritic reports a normalised score of 61 based on 15 reviews, which indicated a "generally favourable" reception. However, many of the critics had negative views of Ashcroft's ideas. Some of the negative reviews, included Nick Southall of Stylus, who remarked that "Ashcroft obviously sees himself as some kind of incisive commentator with a greater depth of understanding of the human condition than those around him. This record reveals with alarming clarity that he is actually a poor songwriter, dire lyricist, and arrogant buffoon all at the same time."{{cite web|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/richard-ashcroft/human-conditions.htm |title=Richard Ashcroft – Human Conditions – Review |work=Stylus Magazine |accessdate=22 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310231222/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/richard-ashcroft/human-conditions.htm |archivedate=10 March 2012 }} Andrew Lynch of entertainment.ie gave the album two stars out of five, calling it "in the final analysis, quite unbelievably boring."{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.ie/album-review/Richard-Ashcroft----Human-Conditions/2373.htm |title=Richard Ashcroft – Human Conditions. Review by Andrew Lynch | Entertainment.ie – Ireland | Music, CD Reviews |website=Entertainment.ie |date= 30 October 2002|accessdate=22 February 2012}} Rowan Shaeffer of Counterculture gave it three stars out of five and praised aspects of the album, though still feeling that "for the most part Richard Ashcroft seems be going through the motions; and while he's produced a good album, it's an ultimately unfulfilling listen."{{cite web|url=http://www.counterculture.co.uk/album-review/richard-ashcroft-human-conditions.html |title=cc | Richard Ashcroft : Human Conditions [ Album review ] » Check The Meaning, God in the Numbers, Science of Silence, Man on a Mission, Running Away, Lord I've Been Trying, Nature Is The Law |publisher=Counterculture.co.uk |accessdate=22 February 2012}}

In 2003, when asked about the naysayers to the album, Ashcroft responded: "If I had put on fifteen stone and Kate had left me and I’d almost [overdosed] on smack, then this record would have been received very well".{{cite web|last=Beller |first=Thomas |url=http://www.mrbellersneighborhood.com/story.php?storyid=1456 |title=A Conversation with Richard Ashcroft | Mr Beller's Neighborhood |publisher=Mrbellersneighborhood.com |date=13 February 2012 |accessdate=22 February 2012}}

All tracks composed by Richard Ashcroft

1. "Check the Meaning" – 8:04
2. "Buy It in Bottles" – 4:39
3. "Bright Lights" – 5:15
4. "Paradise" – 5:37
5. "God in the Numbers" – 6:58
6. "Science of Silence" – 4:15
7. "Man on a Mission" – 5:29
8. "Running Away" – 4:16
9. "Lord I've Been Trying" – 5:23
10. "Nature Is the Law" – 4:55

The Japanese and American editions of the album featured one bonus track originally released as a B-side for the UK single "Check the Meaning".

• "The Miracle" – 3:51

• Richard Ashcroft – vocals, guitar, percussion, bass, piano, Wurlitzer, keyboards
• Peter Salisbury – drums
• Kate Radley – keyboards
• Martyn Campbell – bass
• Talvin Singh – tablas, beats, drones, shruti box, duggi tarang, madal
• Chuck Leavell – piano, Hammond organ
• Richard Robson – programming
• Steve Sidelnyk – drum programming, programming
• Craig Wagstaff – percussion
• Jim Hunt – flute, saxophone
• Matt Clifford – Wurlitzer
• Brian Wilson – backing vocals, backing vocal arrangement on "Narure Is the Law"
• Wil Malone – orchestral arrangements, conducting
• The London Session Orchestra – strings
• London Community Gospel Choir – choir

{{Reflist}}

• [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=richard ashcroft|chart=all}} Billboard.com – Discography – Richard Ashcroft – Human Conditions] at Billboard.com

{{Richard Ashcroft}}

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Category:Richard Ashcroft albums

Category:2002 albums

Category:Albums produced by Chris Potter (record producer)

Category:Hut Records albums

Category:Virgin Records albums