{{for|the core issue in ethics|Human condition}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox album | name = Human Conditions | type = Album | artist = Richard Ashcroft | cover = Humanconditionsashcroft.jpg | alt = | released = 21 October 2002 | recorded = 2001–2002 | studio = Metropolis, London; Astoria, London; Olympic, London; Real World, Bath | genre = Alternative rock | length = 54:51 | label = Hut | producer = Chris Potter, Richard Ashcroft | prev_title = Alone with Everybody | prev_year = 2000 | next_title = Keys to the World | next_year = 2006 | misc = {{Singles | name = Human Conditions | type = studio | single1 = Check the Meaning | single1date = 7 October 2002 | single2 = Science of Silence | single2date = 6 January 2003 | single3 = Buy It in Bottles | single3date = 7 April 2003 }} }} '''''Human Conditions''''' is the second album by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft. It was released on Hut Records in 2002.

==Release and reception== {{Music ratings | MC = 61/100<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/human-conditions/richard-ashcroft|title = Human Conditions by Richard Ashcroft}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r611420|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]</ref> | rev2 = ''Blender'' | rev2score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{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}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Drowned in Sound'' | rev3score = 2/10<ref>{{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 }}</ref> | rev4 = ''Entertainment Weekly'' | rev4score = A<ref>[https://ew.com/article/2003/03/07/human-conditions/ Entertainment Weekly review]</ref> | rev5 = ''The Guardian'' | rev5score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{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}}</ref> | rev6 = ''Mojo'' | rev6score = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref>An overreaching cathedral, designed by Spiritualized, Kris Kristoferson and John Barry, Human Conditions still somehow charms with its hungry troubadour's idealism. [Nov 2002, p.102]</ref> | rev7 = ''Rolling Stone'' | rev7score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>[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}}</ref> | rev8 = ''Spin'' | rev8score = 8/10<ref>Stunning pop for pale after-party people. [March 2003, p.119]</ref> | rev9 = ''Stylus'' | rev9score = F<ref>[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 }}</ref> | rev10 = ''Uncut'' | rev10score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref>At times he tries too hard, but there's much here to commend. [Nov 2002, p.114]</ref> }} 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."<ref>{{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 }}</ref> Andrew Lynch of ''entertainment.ie'' gave the album two stars out of five, calling it "in the final analysis, quite unbelievably boring."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.ie/album-review/Richard-Ashcroft----Human-Conditions/2373.htm |title=Richard Ashcroft – Human Conditions. Review by Andrew Lynch &#124; Entertainment.ie – Ireland &#124; Music, CD Reviews |website=Entertainment.ie |date= 30 October 2002|accessdate=22 February 2012}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.counterculture.co.uk/album-review/richard-ashcroft-human-conditions.html |title=cc &#124; Richard Ashcroft : Human Conditions [ Album review &#93; » 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}}</ref>

==Details== 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".<ref>{{cite web|last=Beller |first=Thomas |url=http://www.mrbellersneighborhood.com/story.php?storyid=1456 |title=A Conversation with Richard Ashcroft &#124; Mr Beller's Neighborhood |publisher=Mrbellersneighborhood.com |date=13 February 2012 |accessdate=22 February 2012}}</ref>

==Track listing== All tracks composed by Richard Ashcroft #"Check the Meaning" – 8:04 #"Buy It in Bottles" – 4:39 #"Bright Lights" – 5:15 #"Paradise" – 5:37 #"God in the Numbers" – 6:58 #"Science of Silence" – 4:15 #"Man on a Mission" – 5:29 #"Running Away" – 4:16 #"Lord I've Been Trying" – 5:23 #"Nature Is the Law" – 4:55

===Bonus track=== 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

==Personnel== *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 "Nature Is the Law" *Wil Malone – orchestral arrangements, conducting *The London Session Orchestra – strings *London Community Gospel Choir – choir

==Release details== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Country ! Date ! Label ! Format ! Catalog |- || Japan || 17 October 2002 || Toshiba-EMI || CD || VJCP-68440 / 4988006804005 |- |rowspan="2"| United Kingdom |rowspan="2"| 21 October 2002 |rowspan="2"| Hut Records | 2LP | HUTDLP77 / 7243 8 13383 1 5 |- | CD | CDHUT77 / 7243 8 13383 2 2 |- || United States || 25 February 2003 || Virgin Records || CD || 7243 8 13384 2 1 |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[{{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