The Verve Pipe – The Freshmen.

Never ones to be outdone, the Americans had their own chart-topping Verve miserablists in 1997. Of course, they added their trademark sledgehammer subtlety, bleeding-heart emoting and buck-passing to the mix.

The Verve Pipe had formed in the early ‘90s in the wake of the grunge explosion which accounts for the sub-Eddie Vedder vocal stylings of front-man Brian Vander Ark. In 1992 the band independently released their debut album called I’ve Suffered A Head Injury (which would explain a few things). The album contained an early version of today’s track, The Freshmen, which was later rerecorded when they signed to RCA records.

The song itself tells the story of two freshmen who are attempting to convince themselves that they are not to blame for the suicide of a girl they both dated and ditched. It is such a depressing song that it made The Guardian’s list of the 25 most miserable tracks. Despite, or maybe because of, this the song rocketed into the US top ten and became the breakthrough smash of the summer. It also, rather incongruously, led to a support slot on tour with good-time, show-me-the-money rockers Kiss which, you have to imagine, was a bit like Joy Division supporting the Teletubbies.

If anyone can explain what the wittering bejesus the line ‘a shoe full of rice’ is supposed to mean I’m all ears.


The Verve Pipe – The Freshmen

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