Trailer - Ash

"Trailer" was Ash's first long-play release. It is classed more as a mini-album than a proper album, having only seven tracks. It shows a rawer, more punky approach than "1977" and "Nu-clear sounds". It varies between quite heavy punky stuff and some wonderful summer pop tunes. SEASON ------ "I cried bitter tears you had taken your own life" Season is a very dark song, played very aggressively, showing the punk side of Ash. It's a song about meeting someone, but in the end they commit suicide. A dark song, with some great stabby guitar playing giving a good indication of the feelings wrapped up in the ...  Read the complete review

Does anyone else remember those good old days of tomfoolery and Britpop? You know what I mean, surely. Think back to 1995, to long summers of festivals headlined by the likes of the impossibly British Blur, Elastica and Supergrass, to Top of the Pops finding a revival, to those deliciously infectious poppy/rocky songs that you just HAD to dance to? Myself…I remember those days fondly. And whilst most of the Britpop frontiers have sadly fallen into obscurity, doing the odd pub tour and the likes, I can comfort myself with the fact that Ash, the Irish upstarts of the mid nineties and eternal sprightly youngsters, are still around championing the cause of Britpop. ...  Read the complete review

I'm reviewing the UK version of the album, so the tracklisting is as follows: Season; Jack Names The Planets; Intense Thing; Uncle Pat; Get Out; Petrol; Obscure Thing Tim Wheeler (guitar and vocals), Mark Hamilton (bass) and Rick McMurray (drums) were teenagers when they recorded their debut album. 'Trailer' shows both sides to Ash - light and dark, alternating between them on the album, with opener 'Season' a song about a friend's suicide. Of the light side are the singles: 'Jack Names The Planets' is the only song with obvious singalong chorus, and begins with a bizarre conversation between two Dutchmen; whereas 'Uncle Pat' and 'Petrol' ...  Read the complete review

Ash wrote and recorded this album when they were 17 year old sixth form students in Downpatrick, County Down. Despite their obvious youth at the time, the music from this album shows that they were very accomplished musicians, Tim Wheeler's guitar solo from Uncle Pat being just one example of this. Uncle Pat is the hightrack on this album, with it's unforgettable bass line, and is instantly recognisable from a Heineken advertisement from the time of its release. Petrol is another outstanding track, a screeching guitar intro leading into a simple, yet melodious, verse, with the screening guitar accompaning the chorus. The ...  Read the complete review