When most people hear The Verve Pipe, they usually remember one of two things. They correctly remember their monster hit called "The Freshman," which graduated to #5 in 1997, or they mistakenly remember the Verve's hit, "Bitter Sweet Symphony." Both are one-hit wonders from the 90s with similar names, but very different bands! Led by a masterful singer and songwriter, Brian Vander Ark, The Verve Pipe hails from Michigan and scored a lesser-known chart appearance before "The Freshman." Their single, "Photograph," reached #53 in 1996. Both come from their most successful album, "Villains." The Verve Pipe could not maintain their momentum, and their follow-up singles floundered. The group retooled a bit with 2001's record, "Underneath." It's a shame this record did not spark a comeback for the band. Produced by Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), "Underneath" was considerably lighter, energetic, and radio-friendly. "Happiness Is" serves as a fine example. In 2004, Brian Vander Ark struck out on a solo career, but reunites with the band to beef up their catalogue with more records, two of which were family-friendly and geared towards children.
Brian Vander Ark is the man behind the huge 90s hit, "The Freshman", which his band, The Verve Pipe, took all the way to #5 on the Billboard Chart in 1996. The single helped propel their album, "Villains", to #24 and platinum sales, but despite this success a follow-up hit eluded the band.
Brian Vander Ark released his first solo record, "Resurrection", in 2004. The contemplative lyrics remain a strong suit in his solo work and the music is markedly more "coffeehouse" than alt rock. The formula works well for Vander Ark's storytelling vocals. He's released a number of additional solo albums since then, as well as albums with a reunited Verve Pipe, but "Resurrection" is the one I always find myself going back to...here are the main reasons why:
