Search - Ash :: 1977 (Coll) (Dig)

"I haven't been the same since my teenage lobotomy."

Andrew McCaffrey | Satellite of Love, Maryland | 11/20/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Ash's 1977 opens with the cheesy roar of a Star Wars TIE-fighter (did they have to pay royalties to the Lucas empire for that audio clip?), launching itself into a high-octane, quick energy groove, where it happy sits for its entirety. Infectious pop hooks, loud guitars, and a heavy punk influence characterize this album. The lyrics are what you'd expect -- nothing terribly deep, but good enough not to distract from the music. Who wouldn't want to sing along to the teenage-angsty "Girl From Mars" while head banging to its slick riffs? 1977 subscribes to philosophies that have served rock and roll well over the years -- never learn four chords when three will do, and when you're playing the drums, hit them as hard as you can. There's a fair amount of distortion and fuzz going on. The songs are fast and relatively short. It's a punk album that hasn't forgotten that punk is supposed to be fun. This is music to jump around to. The track, "Kung Fu", is wonderfully typical. It's a song featuring muffled lyrics with only the bridge being easily understandable: "Come on, Jackie Chan, a oh oh oh ah oh!" Listening to this song with its quick beat and catchy guitars will tempt even the most out-of-shape music lover to attempt a few martial arts moves on the furniture.However, like other successes in this field, you get the feeling that these aren't just throwaway punk songs with a limited shelf life. Now, I'm not trying to justify my enjoyment by claiming this is grand art or anything. But I've listened to this album countless times and I dig it just as much now as I did the first time. The songs stay fresh even after one has memorized every second of the audio. That's impressive.Now as much as I like this album, I simply cannot force myself to listen all the way to the end. Not because of any musical deficiencies, but because the hidden track is a long and really nasty sound byte of one of the Ash band members being loudly and violently ill after a night of heavy partying. Listen to the album all the way through once and you'll never again forget to leap for the stop button once the final musical selection has played.1977 is a fun album full stop. It encompasses all the fun things about being a teenager: martial arts films, science fiction, love angst, and loud music. In fact, while quickly typing out this review, I've managed to listen to "Kung Fu" three times. Excuse me, but I've got to go off and practice my karate chops on my hat stand."

THE BEST ALBUM................EVER!

Oliver Martin | Kent | 03/31/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is quite literally, the best album ever recorded, the excellent vocals of Tim Wheeler, the great bass of Mark Hamilton and the superb stick-skills of Rick McMurray make this an absolute classic from the word go! Girl From Mars IS the best song I have ever heard and will never hear a better one, I have listened to this song over 10,000 times.....easily! It's one of those songs you can have on repeat for hours without getting bored of it. The guitar solo is the most beautiful piece of music I have ever heard and cheers me up every time I hear it. Lost In You is an excellently emotional song and makes you even sadder after you split up with your latest girlfriend. This album is superb and everyone who slags Ash off for not being heavy enough, should realise that they have great talent and are superb musicians, they may not be as heavy as the likes of Slipknot and Fear Factory, but who gives a flying monkey? Ash are the best band in the world as we know it. Tim Wheeler's voice is at it's finest in this recording, it's more mature than on Trailer, but that little bit softer and less evolved than on Nu-Clear Sounds. Goldfinger is a classic, as well as Angel Interceptor and everybody loves Oh Yeah. The intro on Lose Control is taken from Star Wars, and sounds excellent! This is a top album, I can't say anymore than that!"

Its NOT 1977 all over again

Russ Vennard | 09/01/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album stormed into the top slot of the British music charts in 1996 and deservedly so. Its a great album in its own right and the fact that it was their first album proper, ignoring the patchy mini album Trailer, makes it all the more special. Unlike their Northern Irish contemporaries Stiff Little Fingers and The Undertones, Ash aren't concerned with painting a picture of life in Ulster. What they are concerned with is making catchy yet solid emo punk that swings evenly between heartfelt ballads (Lost in You) and out and out thrash (Loose Control) They also found a perfect balance between both in the Excellent singles Goldfinger and Girl from Mars. This album is and probably will remain their strongest, seemingly effortless punk pop thats a must for all fans of recent inceptions to the scene, such as the Hives and the Vines. It could be criticised for its lead singers weak voice (which some find a plus point in its frailty) and the bombast of some pieces, but then they were only 19 when they wrote it. Its a great album that all knowledgable music fans should own and its hidden "puke track" is almost worth the price alone!"