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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Ace of Spades

Motörhead

1980

Buy At Rough Trade
Ace of Spades
Album Summary

Ace of Spades is the fourth studio album by British rock band Motörhead, released on 8 November 1980 via Bronze Records. It is the band's most commercially successful album, peaking at number four on the UK Albums Chart and reaching gold status in the UK by March 1981. It was preceded by the release of the title track as a single on 27 October, which peaked in the UK Singles Chart at No. 15 in early November.It was the band's debut release in the United States, with Mercury Records handling distribution in North America. In 2020, the album was ranked at 408 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.

Wikipedia

Rating

3.28

Votes

13726

Genres

  • Metal
  • Hard Rock

Reviews

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Nov 13 2021
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5

Pure rock. it's like extract of rock. So much rock.

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Jun 28 2023
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3

Lemmy sure sang about fucking a lot for a man with a face like a soldering bench

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Jun 13 2021
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2

Music is ok....but the lyrics SO INCEDIBLY LAME! I defy anyone to listen to and hear the lyrics to "love me like a reptile " and not roll their eyes. How can anyone intelligent person absorb a Joy Division lyrics and not laugh out loud at the drivel that Lemmy spews. I understand how musical taste is always subjective, but.... 2 🌟

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Feb 13 2021
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5

An absolute classic. I love how Lemmy just always sounds like he's trying to take a poop.

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Jul 20 2021
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4

This album was an easy 5 for me… right up until “Jailbait”. Yikes, Lemmy, what the fuck were you thinking?

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Jun 05 2021
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5

All songs are the same, raw production, Lemmy cannot sing, frivolous lyrics, five stars!

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Oct 10 2022
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2

Here's one I don't get. This album gets accolades for being some work of genius, and I think it's terrible. I've played in some dumpy rock venues in my day, and I've heard my share of terrible bands. I mean awful. And this sounds like a lot of that — the band that's playing before you and, once they start, you think, "how the fuck am I going to get through this set?" and you have nowhere to go. Mediocre riffs, mediocre performance — and that's not even it. The whole point seems to be not to play well. In fact, I was feeling pretty certain that the players on the song "Ace Of Spades" were not the same as the rest of the album (it does not appear to be the case). "Ace" has a musical acuity to it that just disappears after the song ends. It's noisy as hell and just on the edge of musical, but the playing is tight, the tones are massive, and the riff's alright. Then "Love Me Like A Reptile" comes on and the whole things falls to pieces. Somehow, through it all, there is an honesty to the music, the band attains a sense of purpose and cool, which must be what people are reacting to, because the music is lousy.

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May 25 2023
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4

Sometimes I need a record that isn’t going to challenge me emotionally, intellectually, or musically. Sometime I just want to caveman out. For these moments, there is Ace of Spades.

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May 30 2023
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3

Well, sensibilities have certainly changed since 1980. Enjoyed the sound. Didn't enjoy the lyrics.

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Mar 17 2022
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2

Ace of Spades is really the only noteworthy track here. Everything else pales in comparison. Decent album that was very influencial, but honestly it all sounds the same to me.

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Sep 27 2022
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2

Everything you’d expect from a quintessential metal record of this vintage — growling vocals, driving riffs (several of which were outright lifted by Screaming Trees), themes straddling the sexy/sexist divide (“Jailbait”) beloved by Spinal Tap, total lack of irony, and high lyricism (“I’ve got no excuse/you like it fast and loose” “Wake up and let me in/for some original sin” “I love the life I lead/another beer is what I need” “come on baby, let me get you in the sack/you know the chase is better than the catch”). It all adds up to metal’s usual exercise in tedium.

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Dec 22 2020
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5

Oh, a bug! Somehow the site lets me rate this album from 1-5, even though its by Lemmy. Anything by Lemmy is a 5. “We are Motörhead. And we play rock and roll.”

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Feb 22 2021
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4

Excellent metal album got me pumped- some epic guitar solos although questionable (pedo) and bad lyrics on two particular songs

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Aug 25 2023
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3

Jos pidät pelaamisesta Kerron sinulle, olen miehesi Voitat osan, menetät osan Ihan sama minulle Ilo on pelata Ei väliä mitä sanot En jaa ahneuttasi Ainoa kortti mitä tarvitsen On Pataässä Pataässä Pelaaminen korkealle Tanssii paholaisen kanssa Menee virran mukana Se kaikki on minulle peliä Seitsemän tai yksitoista Käärmeen silmät katsovat sinua Tuplaa tai lopeta Tuplapanos tai split Pataässä Pataässä Tiedät, että olen syntynyt häviämään Ja uhkapelit ovat tyhmille Mutta siitä pidän, kulta En halua elää ikuisesti Ja älä unohda jokeria Ante työntäminen ylös Tiedän, että sinun täytyy nähdä minut Lue ne ja itke Kuolleen miehen käsi taas Näen sen silmissäsi Katso yksi ja kuole Ainoa asia, jonka näet Tiedät, että se tulee olemaan Pataässä Pataässä, uh

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Feb 21 2023
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1

Didn't mind it much. Just high-tempo and fun - you know what you're getting. Not much variety. However, 1 star for Jailbait. Don't be a nonce.

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Jan 15 2021
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1

Very similar songs, gets boring after a while.

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Aug 20 2021
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1

Every song sounds the same. Every song is awful.

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Oct 22 2021
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1

One star, for the title track only. Music for losers. Absolute shite.

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Jan 15 2021
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5

Great, classic album. Unique metal sound that paved the way for speed metal, thrash and gutter punk.

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Oct 02 2022
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5

What a fucking rush. They don’t deviate much from this formula, but my god is their formula worth listening to. Their mission statement is as direct as their throttling brand of metal: We are Motörhead, and we play rock and roll. It’s really remarkable how some records just consolidate the most perfect distillations of their genre - Ramones’ debut, Eno’s Another Green World and undeniably this one. Lemmy’s rock star charisma isn’t some exaggerated caricature, he fucking embodies every trope of the badass rocker in a completely authentic manner. And if you don’t like that, you can fuck off. Even extremely subject matters on tracks like “Jailbait” can be read as a matter-of-fact narration of the full throttle lifestyle of this band. The songs and production still hold up today, and the oft wielded criticism that this record lacks diversity seems a bit redundant to me. There’s no point criticising this group for what they aren’t. They’re just Motörhead. And they play some exhilarating rock and roll. Fav tracks: Shoot You In The Back, We Are The Roadcrew.

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Nov 24 2022
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5

If Motörhead didn't exist, it would have been necessary to create them. Some huge Norwegian blacksmith hammering the band out of Marlboro reds, Jack Daniels, gunmetal, and heroin.

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Feb 17 2021
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4

It's Motörhead, so you never know quite what you're going to get. ...said nobody. This is a classic though!

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Aug 01 2023
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4

Is it punk? Is it metal? Who fucking cares. It’s Motörhead, man.

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Aug 23 2024
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4

This album is pretty one note, but by design. At least that one note effing rocks

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Apr 14 2024
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3

Kinda just Ace of Spades over and over again innit?

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Jan 14 2021
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2

I liked Lemmy better when he was in Hawkwind.

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Sep 26 2024
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2

‘Ace of Spades’ is great, but then the album repeats itself with diminishing returns. Also, some of the lecherous lyrics are clearly dated with their creepy praise for sexual predation. Too bad they didn’t just keep to the cards.

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Jul 19 2021
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Repetitive and gets stale pretty quick. Apart from a few tracks, the album doesn’t offer much.

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Oct 15 2020
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5

True Rock n' roll. Long live Lemmy. Favorite tracks: "Ace of Spades", "Love Me Like a Reptile", "The Hammer"

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Feb 20 2021
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5

Great album. Wish I would have found them earlier, this album pumped me the hell up.

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Feb 15 2021
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5

1 a geiles album. Mir selbst ist auch eine Warze gewuchert die erstaunlich textsicher mitgrölen kann. Ein song nach dem anderen holt mich ab. Geile THPS 3 vibes auch direkt gehabt. 10 Uhr morgens gehört und nicht mehr aufhören können GEIL GEIL GEIL. 5* an Lemmy die geile Sauf-Sau

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Feb 15 2021
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5

Den größten Erfolg meines Lebens in den 10er Jahren verbuchte ich beim Bierpongturniersieg im Hood. Damals noch mit Muli Meier im Team unter dem Teamnamen "Beerkules". Einlaufmusik beim Eröffnungsspiel und im Finale war "Ace of Spades". Nothing more to add.

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May 14 2021
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5

Hell yeah! \m/ Quintessential, pioneering heavy metal album. This thing started/inspired so many other great albums to come it's unbelievable.

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Jun 10 2021
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5

Monumental, como la plaza de toros. Más influyente que la influenza.

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Feb 22 2021
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5

Yup, this is good. I can hear the hawkwind in some of these songs. Good to dig a little deeper than just the first 2 songs

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Feb 22 2021
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5

Fun classic rock album. Enjoyable listen.

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Jun 21 2021
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5

Wahnsinns-Album. Einfach aber doch wegweisend!

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Mar 30 2021
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5

Saw them live once, they were great. RIP Lemmy. Fantastic album.

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Jun 01 2021
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5

An almost perfect blend of early punk and metal. An exciting and energetic album filled with awesome guitar riffs, punishing drums and wonderfully fun vocals. It's just a great time from start to finish.

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Sep 02 2021
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5

The album FUCKING RULES. Motörhead are one of the more consistent bands to ever come out, and it’s a damn shame only two of their albums were included in this book (Overkill and Bomber should’ve made the cut).

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Oct 26 2021
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5

Another album that I've listened to multiple times before, which definitely skewes how enjoyable it is (rather than rating an album based on a single listen). It's so good though!

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Oct 27 2021
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5

-"Ace of Spades" has an absolutely thundering and classic riff. It is also a Chad song that doesn't even rhyme lol -The riff from "Shoot You in the Back" sounds like the riff from "Watchin' You" by Kiss -"Love Me Like a Reptile," "Fast and Loose," "(We Are) The Roadcrew," "Fire Fire," and "The Chase Is Better Than the Catch" are great catchy tunes

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Nov 23 2021
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5

The musical equivalent of a Lancaster Bomber exploding into your ear drums

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Jan 08 2022
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5

There's something really charming about Motorhead, especially their early-mid 80s stuff. I could listen to it all week (and I think I have done at times lol). Super unique, gritty as it gets, it's one of those few times you don't have to wonder if the band was just writing songs about rock n roll or not. You can hear the authenticity oozing out of the speakers. Lemmy wasn't bunging on the "30 beers and 2 packs of smokes" voice. 5/5.

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Jan 15 2022
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5

Amazing album. Classic rocking tunes all through. Some lyrics a little dated and the sound is pretty constant for the whole album. Lemmy rules.

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Feb 12 2022
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5

They are in a real hurry to get somewhere where they already are, and the traffic sucks.

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Mar 18 2022
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5

This is pure, undiluted rock'n'roll that appeals to the hard rock, punk, and metal world simultaneously. I personally prefer some of their other albums but this is still a gem and the title track is their signature song. What a great band. Lemmy will always be a king. As a reminder: if you think this is a 1 or "sucks" but think that something like Grizzlybear or Sufjan Stevens is a 5, international law mandates that we stay a minimum of 500 ft away from each other at all times.

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Mar 22 2022
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5

SCC of an album! Full of Motorhead classics, the kings of rock n roll.

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Apr 09 2022
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5

motorhead innit. you know exactly what you're getting. even though i've heard ace of spades a million times (thank you Tony Hawks pro Skater 3) its still mint. i'm pretty glad that Lemmy fucked off his silver machine for speed and JD.

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Apr 11 2022
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5

Lemmy, Eddie and Phil’ masterpiece. Hard rock/metal’s eternal standard. Must be listened to from start to finish to appreciate its brilliance.

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Apr 23 2022
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5

YEAH BOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

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Apr 27 2022
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5

It's Motorhead! One of the greatest rock and roll records of all time. Slightly less shout-y than their previous records and marginally better recorded, but still with an immediacy and energy that cuts through almost anything. I've heard that they would spend a week in the studio getting the guitar tone, but it still sounds like they loaded in, turned on (loud!), and blitzkrieged their way through a set before storming off the invade another neighbouring country. It's sexist as hell (which hasn't dated well). I know Lemmy found Ace of Spades limiting, but what a song!

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May 06 2022
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5

Classic album. Still sounds great to this day. Legends.

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May 20 2022
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5

My favourite Heavy Metal band. I went to see them in the 80's and my ears have never fully recovered...... The dodgy lyrics and nihilist image don't detract in my view but only add to the mythos surrounding the band. Lemmy is a 100% cast-iron Legend to me and the fact that some of the WOKE reviews are seriously worried that their sons and daughters will be tainted by listening to this make me chuckle. Musically it's quite accomplished (especially the guitar solos) and needs to be played at top volume. 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟

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Jul 05 2022
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5

WHERE DO I EVEN START?!?!? Love this album to pieces, though if I had to pick my top 3 tracks: "(We Are) The Roadcrew," "Love Me Like a Reptile," and "Shoot You In the Back".

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Jul 07 2022
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5

Pretty much one of my favourite listening experiences ever. I've owned the album for about twenty years and it simply never gets dull. Title track is, of course, a scorcher but there's fuck all filler on this platter. A locomotive, an absolute juggernaut of an album.

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Jul 26 2022
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5

Fast chaotic motion. Riding on a machine, roaring through the wind, parts threatening to shake themselves loose, but everything holds together somehow. For 36 minutes at least. Never* tips over into nasty egotism like so many imitators, Motorhead is shouting who they are over the roar of the engine, and you can take them or leave them. Personally, I will take them. This is my first time listening to a full album of theirs, and it won't be the last. *ok just that one time

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Sep 02 2022
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5

This is a masterpiece. Ace of Spades is the ultimate Motörhead song.

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Sep 07 2022
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5

First listen. Classic! Heard many of the songs before but it was nice to put a name to a face.

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Sep 13 2022
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5

Will never forget hearing the title song as a young child watching the Young Ones; at which point it cemented itself as one of my favourite songs (despite the ludicrous lyrics) of all time.

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Sep 13 2022
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5

What’s not to like. Gritty, fast paced, great bluesy solos!

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Sep 15 2022
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5

Great album, love all the songs tbh. Some weird lyrics, but it's the 80s no? eh.

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Sep 26 2022
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5

Kaboom and Hell Yeah! Let's keep the party going and kickstart the weekend. And that's exactly what Motörhead does on "Ace of Spades," their fourth studio album: their most commercially successful one and US debut release. My second relentless album in a row after The Germs. This album is considered the proto-type for thrash, equal parts metal and punk. That pissed off their lead singer and bassist Lemmy Kilmister who said it's just rock and roll. However, you classify, it just rocks. I do hear a lot of Deep Purple cranked up a couple of notches with the speed. It was produced by Vic Maile who tried to translate the band's live act to vinyl and he nailed it. Besides Lemmy, Motörhead consisted of "Fast" Eddie Clarke on guitar and Phil "Philthy Animal" on drums. All great rock and roll names - check. The album cover is an ode to Western movies with each of the band members dressed as famous actors who played in Westerns. Let's not waste getting this going with "Ace of Spades," Motörhead's biggest song. Great guitar intro, searing guitar solo and Lemmy's voice. Lemmy uses gambling as metaphors for living life hard. "I don't want to live forever." "Love Me Like a Reptile" is one song that reminded me of Deep Purple with its more heavy metal guitar. The pace is kept fast though. The lyrics compares love/sex to lizards, black mambas, rattlesnakes and electric eels. The first side ends with "(We Are) The Road Crew" which is a tribute to their roadies. My head is now in consistent bob motion. Driving bass and drums. Two absolute stud guitar solos. The second side continues the musical barrage with "Fire, Fire" and "Jailbait." Both songs about women and sex. "Bite the Bullet" takes the title track to another speed level. Bye, bye Deep Purple. "The Chase is Better than the Catch" slows it down a bit but continues the theme. "The more I get the better it is." "The Hammer" ends the album in proper thrash fashion. "Believe me the hammer is coming down!" It's too bad if the only Motörhead you know is the song "Ace of Spades." This whole album is exhibit A as to why you need to listen to more and more. I need a cold shower now.

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Nov 26 2022
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5

Iron Maiden yesterday and Motörhead today! Does the metal gods smile on me? Yes they do! There aren't much good extreme metal included in this here book, but some of the original classics are here at least. The pummelling is endless, it's like a bulldozer going on and on, riff after riff, while Lemmy shouts on top of it. It's simple really. But also very effective.

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Dec 03 2022
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5

I was expecting this to be more lame music that old white divorced men play when they work on their motorcycle but it’s actually awesome. Every song gets you amped but especially ace of spaces and fast and loose. Just a great kinetic energy running through the whole thing. Also I was looking through my history and I meant for kind of blue to be a 4. Th Bee Gees are nowhere near a miles Davis John Coltrane collab and should not have the same score.

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Jan 20 2023
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5

Hell yeah, Motorhead! Punks love 'em. Rockers love 'em. I love 'em. Got me so pumped up I played it a second time.

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Jan 20 2023
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5

Excellent. Fast, hard, energetic. Can you imagine what it would've been like to be at a live Motörhead show? And in the pit? I wish.

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Feb 09 2023
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5

Had this album before, but a pleasure to listen to again

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Feb 24 2023
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5

If you like Metal this album is foundational. Non stop licks that will force your head to bang. Who would win a fight between Lemmy and God? Trick question. Lemmy is God!

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Mar 06 2023
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5

Excellent effort, plenty of classic tracks, raw power all the way through

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Mar 06 2023
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5

As a metal fan, I loved this. I really had not listened to a ton of Motorhead outside Ace of Spades but this was very sold. Lemmy is one of the best to do it. Stand outs were Ace of Spades, Live to Win and Fire Fire.

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Mar 25 2023
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5

As an album gets a little samey however is such a tour de force of great hard rocking music and attitude impossible not to love. 4.8

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Mar 27 2023
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5

Never heard this album before. Obviously the title track is a classic but the rest holds up and really is rock n roll/metal/punk combined. can here some many links to other tunes and band. fantastic

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May 08 2023
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5

Side one is immense. Side two is even better. This is undoubtedly my favourite album from the so-called "classic" line up.

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Jun 08 2023
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5

Obviamente, escutar esta obra-prima é obrigatório, é garantia de uma experiência fundamental com o rock, emoção que nos transporta para um universo de energia, atitude e rebeldia. Desde a primeira faixa, a icônica "Ace of Spades", até a última, "The Hammer", o álbum é uma sequência poderosa de intensidade e paixão pelo rock.

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Jul 10 2023
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5

Don’t listen to this while driving. This album was awesome.

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Jul 11 2023
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5

I've never listened to this album before, although a few of the tunes I knew from a live Motorhead album I had when I was a kid - We are the road crew in particular. So, quite jolly here and I enjoyed the extended album. Brought back memories of Scumbag College in the 80s as well - probably the first time I'd have heard Ace of Spades I suppose. One I'll definitely listen to again. Somewhere between 4 and 5 stars, but it's got enough memories on it to push it up to 5 just about.

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