Ash: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
Ash is a three-piece rock band from Downpatrick, Ireland, formed in 1992 when its member were still in high school. Singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter [[Tim Wheeler]] and bassist Mark Hamilton were just seventeen, and drummer Rick 'Rock' McMurray nineteen when they released their first single, "Jack Names The Planets", in 1994. Although their initial sound, having been heavily influenced by classic punk as well as post-punk and grunge, was very much raucous pop-punk, the band has evolved into a well-oiled power-pop machine. Wheeler's songs are guitar-oriented rock jams based on classic pop song structures and traditional rock values, including vocal harmonies and guitar solos. | Ash is a three-piece rock band from Downpatrick, Ireland, formed in 1992 when its member were still in high school. Singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter [[Tim Wheeler]] and bassist Mark Hamilton were just seventeen, and drummer Rick 'Rock' McMurray nineteen when they released their first single, "Jack Names The Planets", in 1994. Although their initial sound, having been heavily influenced by classic punk as well as post-punk and grunge, was very much raucous pop-punk, the band has evolved into a well-oiled power-pop machine. Wheeler's songs are guitar-oriented rock jams based on classic pop song structures and traditional rock values, including vocal harmonies and guitar solos. | ||
Signed to Infectious Records in the UK, the band proceeded put out multiple singles and an EP called ''[[Trailer]]'' by the end of the year. 1995 saw the US release of ''Trailer'' (filled out to an album with some early B-sides) as the band rocketed up the UK charts with several more singles. | Signed to Infectious Records in the UK, the band proceeded to put out multiple singles and an EP called ''[[Trailer]]'' by the end of the year. 1995 saw the US release of ''Trailer'' (filled out to an album with some early B-sides) as the band rocketed up the UK charts with several more singles. | ||
The band released their first true album in 1996, the apt-named ''[[1977]]'' (the year two members were born, but perhaps more importantly, the year their favorite film ''Star Wars'' was released). The UK went wild over the album, and the band became superstars. The US proved to be a tougher nut to crack, however, as the shifting music industry - particularly in terms of rock - left the landscape quite infertile for Ash's brand of straight-up rock. Despite a minor hit in 'Goldfinger', having songs placed on soundtracks, and venturing on tours with bands like weezer, the band could never quite gain a foothold on the valuable US market. | The band released their first true album in 1996, the apt-named ''[[1977]]'' (the year two members were born, but perhaps more importantly, the year their favorite film ''Star Wars'' was released). The UK went wild over the album, and the band became superstars. The US proved to be a tougher nut to crack, however, as the shifting music industry - particularly in terms of rock - left the landscape quite infertile for Ash's brand of straight-up rock. Despite a minor hit in 'Goldfinger', having songs placed on soundtracks, and venturing on tours with bands like weezer, the band could never quite gain a foothold on the valuable US market. | ||
At the urging of their management, they added a fourth member, Charlotte | At the urging of their management, they added a fourth member, Charlotte Hatherley on guitar, and contributed the title track to the soundtrack of the 1997 film ''A Life Less Ordinary''. Subsequent albums such as 1998's ''[[Nu-Clear Sounds]]'' and 2001's UK smash hit ''[[Free All Angels]]'' were released in the States much later than in England, and each time on a different label, as no US imprint seemed to know how to market the band. | ||
2004 saw the band make another concerted attempt to crack the US market. ''[[Meltdown]]'' is a straight-ahead, American-style hard rock album - while never sacrificing their pop sensibilities. Recorded in Los Angeles with producer Nick Raskulinecz, whose previous works with [[Foo Fighters]] and System Of A Down suggested an effort to capture a certain aesthetic. | 2004 saw the band make another concerted attempt to crack the US market. ''[[Meltdown]]'' is a straight-ahead, American-style hard rock album - while never sacrificing their pop sensibilities. Recorded in Los Angeles with producer Nick Raskulinecz, whose previous works with [[Foo Fighters]] and System Of A Down suggested an effort to capture a certain aesthetic. However, the gambit failed to pay off, which left the band considering changes. | ||
The first change Ash made was to part ways with Hatherley in a reportedly amicable manner. Back to a trio, the unit began recorded ''[[Twilight Of The Innocents]]'' in New York City in 2006, and released the album the following spring. Many in the press hailed it as their masterpiece, expressing disbelief that rock albums of its quality were still being released. | |||
Upon its release, Ash announced that ''Twilight'' was to be their last album - yet they were not splitting up. Citing the fickle and ever-changing music industry, particularly in terms of the internet's impact, the band intends to release all future music digitally, possibly days or hours after being recorded. | |||
==Weezer connections== | ==Weezer connections== | ||