October 21 [7:55 EDT] -- The U.S. is about to get a taste of the band with the No. 1 album in the U.K. these days, namely The Verve. The Brit popsters kick off a short tour Stateside November 1 in Atlanta. The dozen or so dates went on sale last week and readily sold out. Meanwhile tickets for the band's entire UK tour in January sold out in two hours.

Britain's New Musical Express reports that The Verve's 'Urban Hymns,' their third and latest album, is now the fifth-fastest selling-album ever in the UK. It sits behind Oasis' 'Be Here Now', The Prodidgy's 'The Fat Of The Land', Michael Jackson's ' Bad' and U2's 'Rattle And Hum.'

The record was released in the States September 30. Now Americans will finally be able to buy the single "Bitter Sweet Symphony" when it's released November 18. The song has been available in the Britain since early in the summer.

Across the ocean, Brit fans will be treated to the song "Lucky Man" as their next single, the third cut off the album in their homeland. The single is out December 1 as a two-CD box set with the 'B' side still to be determined.

The Verve are getting a good push from pals Oasis. Band members Richard Ashcroft and Simon Jones were spotted at the Oasis concerts in New York earlier this month, plus Noel Gallagher was wearing a green The Verve T-shirt and dedicated "D'you know what I mean" to the band. He referred to them as "The Next Biggest Band in the World." Verve songs were also played over the sound system.