Songs that burrow into your brain (1977 - Ash)

Member Name: thepilchard

Product:	1977 - Ash
Date:	02/11/01 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: enjoyable music, good lyrics, fast songs

Disadvantages: too brief

Confession time: I am usually a bit of an indie snob,i.e. I have a huge dislike of most pop music (Steps/westlife),with its bland highly produced sound, and vacuous lyrics (etc,etc,etc). I tend to like miserable-ish music that is bleak, but is at least beautifull and lyrical (etc,etc). Although this music is good, it is very contemplatative music, you listen to it sitting down, often rather seriously.
Sometimes however I want a break from Nick Cave, Bob Dylan et al and to actually RocK!!!(erm,yes...).
Ash, and various other indie bands are a guilty pleasure in that they write wonderful melodious songs with sharp lyrics and hooks; but in an punk-pop guitar realm.
I have been playing this album for weeks now and it hasnt yet lost any of its giddy charm, song after song after song exhilarates, and the varied pace is refreshing. Compared to say the mostly faster tracks on their second album.
The songs themselves are uniformly excellent and their variety of styles is a nice change, compared to say fred-mooseface- dursts endless petulant whining.
As I said its a guilty pleasure for some indie fans as its (gasp) too cheerfull and joyous (facets usually accosiated with dreaded pop music), but who should care about definitions, I mean, really!
The album seems one of those complete albums, no filler is audible, and it made me complete forget about my world for a few wonderful minutes, great escapist (occasionally air-guitary) music. Unpretentious, unburderned by preconceptions (as it was their debut album) but with mostly surround-sound brilliance, and songs that burrow into your head and provide musical pleasure throughout the day, well its better than having the dreaded so-solid-crew in your noggin!

Summary: