Twilight of the Innocents is better than Meltdown, probbaly because Wheeler felt he had to prove himself after Hatherley's departure. I haven't listened to anything that came after.
"Burn Baby Burn" was my intro and I'm tempted to give it the nod
― Simon H., Saturday, 8 June 2019 13:40 (four years ago) link
Voted "Goldfinger" because I was absolutely obsessed with the song (and frustrated I couldn't seem to convince anyone else I knew of its brilliance) - nowadays I think I enjoy hearing "Jack Names the Planets" and "Girl from Mars" more if I'm honest. Haven't heard anything past "Candy"
― dorsalstop, Saturday, 8 June 2019 13:47 (four years ago) link
I spun it a couple of times when it first came out, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me and it ended up getting filed away. To be fair, though, a lot of great stuff was released in 2007 and maybe it was just the case that I was more focused on other albums. I should give it another go, really.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Saturday, 8 June 2019 14:10 (four years ago) link
1977 and the singles from it were my introduction to the band, and I still like the songs, but the production is really horrible. I thought it sounded ropey even back then, but it sounds glaringly atrocious to me now. I'd love to hear a new mix of it which takes off all the reverbs. Owen Morris really fucked this record up, but having said that, Nu-Clear Sounds isn't really much better.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Saturday, 8 June 2019 14:17 (four years ago) link
Most of this stuff didn't make it to North America, or if it did I didn't hear it. "Kung Fu" was in the end credits for some Jackie Chan movie I saw in the mid 90s (Supercop)?), and "Shining Light" has been covered several times that I've heard--blandly by Annie Lennox, and beautifully by Emm Gryner (for the handful of people who listen to her). "Girl From Mars" made its way to me via (I think) one of those Q magazine samplers, and it remains a classic--basically, the Undertones reborn in the 1990s.
― Herman Woke (cryptosicko), Saturday, 8 June 2019 14:44 (four years ago) link
I'm fine with the sound of 1977, NCS' production is laughably awful, though, an attempt to sound "raw" that just obscures the tunes; too bad since it has a few of my faves. (also, the Charlotte-sung b-side "Taken Out" is a bruiser.) it's hilarious in retrospect that NCS was when the label really gave them a US push, since FAA ended up being so much more chart-friendly.
― Simon H., Saturday, 8 June 2019 17:18 (four years ago) link
I for one enjoy the production on NCS and am glad it doesn’t sound like Blink 182 or whatever “good” production would mean
― brimstead, Saturday, 8 June 2019 17:33 (four years ago) link
NCS' production is laughably awful, though, an attempt to sound "raw" that just obscures the tunes; too bad since it has a few of my faves.
Yeah, I like a lot of the songs on that record as well. 'Folk Song' in particular is one of my favourite ballads of theirs.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Saturday, 8 June 2019 17:53 (four years ago) link
xp I mean I kind of admire how uncommercial it sounds, it's just a bizarre choice for such an otherwise accessible band. I do like of like "Numbskull" for how ballsy and wrong and against their strengths it is. the scratching!!!
― Simon H., Saturday, 8 June 2019 17:55 (four years ago) link
I remember the video to 'Numbskull' raising a few eyebrows at the time!
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Saturday, 8 June 2019 17:57 (four years ago) link
Voted without hesitation for Petrol, but second choice would be Burn Baby Burn
― mfktz (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Saturday, 8 June 2019 18:39 (four years ago) link
I just looked up the "Numbskull" video; starts out typically late-90s edgy (boobs! a razor! coke!) and then....takes it a little further than anyone needed, least of all their poor label
― Simon H., Saturday, 8 June 2019 19:03 (four years ago) link
i went to play some Ash on streaming services today, so i can pick my song. they are not on, how weird as i thought they got sort of big
― Bee OK, Wednesday, 12 June 2019 23:36 (four years ago) link
so when i said i own just about all these i'm looking...i have the CD singles from "Petrol" to the 2CD set of "There's A Star" or 23 of these bad boys. i even own 2CD set of the Metdown, which i'm unsure if i even played. lol
― Bee OK, Wednesday, 12 June 2019 23:40 (four years ago) link
from memory then..."Petrol."
― Bee OK, Wednesday, 12 June 2019 23:42 (four years ago) link
Must be a rights thing - everything by Ash on Spotify here (Netherlands), including the new '94-'04 Singles compilation. This doesn't work? https://open.spotify.com/album/1FWpoIInryCkeXYR1MldlO?si=NDfmoGjFSWysghja0TkJug
― dorsalstop, Thursday, 13 June 2019 00:22 (four years ago) link
hey that worked, thanks! i just searched "Ash" and nothing would come up, then i did a "1977" search and that album didn't come up on search either.
― Bee OK, Thursday, 13 June 2019 00:27 (four years ago) link
Ah, tricky Spotify search. Leaving a space after a short search term like “ash” may also help.
― dorsalstop, Thursday, 13 June 2019 00:39 (four years ago) link
"Petrol" def one if the best songs written/performed by high schoolers
― Simon H., Thursday, 13 June 2019 00:42 (four years ago) link
ooh cool, thanks for starting this poll!
Most of this stuff didn't make it to North America, or if it did I didn't hear it.
"Jack Names the Planets" and "Kung Fu" were on the Angus soundtrack, which I absolutely had, 'cause Green Day and Weezer. Though I already knew of Ash, as my sister had taped "Petrol" and "Uncle Pat" from the radio or something.
― geoffreyess, Thursday, 13 June 2019 04:19 (four years ago) link
Those songs are all contenders here. I also love the ones that constitute the first third of Free All Angels.
― geoffreyess, Thursday, 13 June 2019 04:22 (four years ago) link
I can't choose between Goldfinger or Angel Interceptor, each so perfect in its own way
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Thursday, 13 June 2019 19:48 (four years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Monday, 24 June 2019 00:01 (four years ago) link
Had to go with Goldfinger but 2/3 of this list is just perfect.
― Uptown VONC (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, 24 June 2019 00:01 (four years ago) link
Petrol
― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Monday, 24 June 2019 14:10 (four years ago) link
Petrol (which is presumably going to win by a mile?).
― toby, Monday, 24 June 2019 18:54 (four years ago) link
'Petrol' rocks so hard
― frame casual (dog latin), Monday, 24 June 2019 22:46 (four years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Tuesday, 25 June 2019 00:01 (four years ago) link
lmao ok who voted for "Numbskull"
― Simon H., Tuesday, 25 June 2019 03:58 (four years ago) link
It says, upthread.
Nobody voted "Oh Yeah"?
― Mark G, Tuesday, 25 June 2019 06:38 (four years ago) link
Oh No, more like
― Colonel Poo, Tuesday, 25 June 2019 07:06 (four years ago) link
I voted for numbskull!!!
― brimstead, Tuesday, 25 June 2019 17:33 (four years ago) link
"Jesus Says" deserved a vote but other than that I am pleased with the participation and results.
― Simon H., Tuesday, 25 June 2019 17:37 (four years ago) link
Also glad with two votes for Burn Baby Burn, which is just delightful.
― Uptown VONC (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 25 June 2019 18:09 (four years ago) link