From front to back, its stacked with lush harmonies (the title track, “Underneath”), crunchy ’90s guitars (“Happiness Is”), and even some delicate ballads (“Colorful”). However, the 11 original songs (two co-written by Schlesinger) are worth revisiting for those into shamelessly poppy hooks. The lead single, “Never Let You Down,” did score some airplay and some moderate Adult Top 40 chart action, but didn’t get near the traction of the previous two albums. 18, 2001 (aka the week after the 9/11 attacks), much of the world was still in shock, and not too concerned with buying new CDs.
It could have been a pathway to a radio-friendly career, but given its release date, Sept. On paper, the RCA Records-issued album seems like it should have been a new start for the local boys. Beyond that, Schlesinger - a power-pop devotee- also made his mark on the legacy of The Verve Pipe, who ventured deep into the world of pop-infused rock ’n roll when they recorded “Underneath” with him. Sadly, Schlesinger died unexpectedly on Apdue to COVID-19 complications.īut his fingerprints were left on stacks of albums, for one: the bubbly title song to “That Thing You Do!,” which he wrote and co-produced for the 1996 Tom Hanks film. Firstly, it was produced by the songwriter/engineer Adam Schlesinger, a Grammy and Emmy Award winner - not to mention a founding member of wildly popular bands like Fountains of Wayne and Tinted Windows. But now, obscurity aside, and on the eve of its 20th anniversary, the album remains special in many ways. Of course, there is a lot of baggage as to why “nobody” heard it. Four years after The Verve Pipe’s “Villains” LP reached Platinum status, and its breakout single “The Freshman” became a legit mainstream radio hit, the East Lansing band returned to the studio to cut “Underneath,” its fourth proper full-length record - and their best record.ĭon’t agree? Talk to the band’s vocalist/guitarist Brian Vander Ark who told this to the Chicago Tribune in 2015: “I think ‘Underneath’ was our best, and that was the one that really nobody heard.”
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