1977

I somehow was completely unfamiliar with this band so another blank slate to begin on... My initial impressions run from *this is fun aggressive rock album with somewhat typical (in a good way) 90s alt-rock progressions* to *...wow this gets a little boring...* And as I'm into my second listen through, I lean heavily towards the second sentiment. It's decent enough but a cynical commenter (me?) might question why this is one of the 1001 albums you must listen to. Not that it isn't fine, it actually is, but it's also...maybe just not that memorable? I gave this yet another spin today to see if something grabbed hold but you could have told me this was _______ [fill in with any of ~25 early-mid 90s bands from Boston or London or Seattle] and I wouldn't have blinked. Loud stereo guitars with a generally non-aggressive melodic vocal track over the top. Again: decent enough. For the most part. Inoffensive but I don't really remember anything about it. 4/10 2 stars for a fine of-the-period rock album but suffers from a sameness and lack of depth.

I absolutely adore this album, always have. Girl from mars to me is the standout track, this sweet little love song poking its head above this sea of chaotic alt rock. Kung Fu is also great, such an infectious and high energy song. But the whole album is just really solid slightly grungy, slightly garagey alt-rock. Brilliant live band as well, so many good times seeing these guys at festivals. Plus it starts with a tie fighter sound, how could you go wrong.

A bit like a more punk Bandwagonesque by Teenage Fanclub with a little Sonic Youth thrown in for good measure. Pretty solid.

I love that 90s British Rock sound. More "garage rock" than the rest of the genre. Lose Control has Offspring vibes... I like the chaos on I'd Give You Anything a lot. Kung Fu is fun - I remember it from the end of Rumble in the Bronx. It gets more Britpop as the album progresses but keeps the feedback and modulated guitars. Darkside Lightside is a big and awesome ender. Angsty. Young. Gen X shit. Not as catchy and theatrical as Oasis. Not as clever or innovative as Blur. But still a solid effort by a band I've never heard of in a genre I like.

A generic Weezer meets Stroke-9 middle 90's alt rock clone. They probably liked that one high school song by Local H, if I had to guess. It's not that good. It doesn't really belong on a list. Maybe for an angsty 13 year old in 1996? Who was just one album away from finding something with some energy and meaning? Or maybe one album away from the myriad flavors of nu-metals infamous rap-rock-DJ collabs? Can't say. Not good. It's a two because the playing is proficient. It should be a one.

Reminds me of the burning issue of the nineties. Who was fitter: Charlotte from Ash or Hillary from JJ72 (it was Hillary). Fun album but loads better from that particular decade

British Popish

For me this album is all the offcut Brit pop music amalgamated into one album. Then they added one straight Black Sabbath rip off and tried to hide it all under a huge layer of fuzz guitar. No thanks

This hit at the right time. Was very pumped for some 90s butt rock. Closest related listening from me is Sweet Apple. Anyone else trying to play some easy rock? Cmon!

I started listening to this and at first for some reason felt like this wasn’t particularly noteworthy. I was thinking this might be a 3 or so when I had to stop listening. When I picked up listening to it again it suddenly caught fire and I loved the second half. Wondering what had changed I immediately started the album over and decided first-time-listen-me was an idiot. These songs rock! Great guitars and drums and fun songwriting. I love this!

uppa norn iron

Solid. No bad song on this album

Had not heard of this band and after listening I am surprised they are not better known. A shimmering example of 90's grunge. Could hear bits and pieces that sounded like other bands - Weezer, Blur, Oasis, Black Sabbath, The Beatles - and anyone else hearing "Strangers in the Night" in "Lost in You"? Yet they still have their own unique sound.

Has an early Weezer "Blue Album" vibe to it, so I'm all about it

I'd never heard of Ash until today, but everything I've read about the band told me I would like them. This proved true! What a great 90's alt rock/grunge/pop rock band. I heard influence from many different sources while listening to them: (1) Goldfinger sounds quite a bit like Nirvana; (2)the vocals on the chorus of Girl From Mars sounds like Weezer; (3)the chord progression in I'd Give You Anything sounds like N. I. B. by Black Sabbath A few songs on the album run into each other seamlessly (notably Girl From Mars into I'd Give You Anything, and Let It Flow into Innocent Smile) I thoroughly enjoyed this listening experience. From the heavy distortion and sludgy guitars to the tight drums this album was great! If I were to have any criticisms at all it would be that sometimes the vocals fall behind the wall of sound and distortion a bit, and the use of static as a backing sound in a section of Innocent Smile was a bit irritating, otherwise a great album. Favourite songs: I'd Give You Anything, Angel Interceptor, Kung Fu, Girl From Mars, Lose Control, Goldfinger, Darkside Lightside Least favourite songs: Lost In You, Innocent Smile 4/5

Gotta love an album that kicks off with Star Wars sound effects. This album certainly kicks off with a cracking pace and settles into a nice rhythm. Girl From Mars and Kung Fu are certainly the highlights, not bad for a debut.

Great singles - does it work as an album? Hmmm. Quite muffled production. Very impressive for a bunch of 17 year olds though.

This is one of those messy, pop-punk albums that could only be created by teenagers making their first album, but the highs on this record really shine through. 3.5/5

"Girl From Mars" is great, and unsuspectingly has the highest play count of any track on the album via Spotify. I really love the melody and the guitar tones. That distortion really is just too loud though.. when it goes away the rest of the song sounds a little weak volume-wise. Solid besides that. "I'd Give You Anything" got Black Sabbath stuck in my head after listening, because the riff sounds just like the song "NIB". Pretty nice album. Not a ton stood out to me though. It's not exactly bad but I don't know if you need to hear it before you die.

This is fine. I don't know enough about this band too could have been contacts there's some songs that are really fun and some are doing something interesting

Fine. Sounds like a less good Foo Fighters

No. 182/1001 Lose Control 2/5 Goldfinger 4/5 Girl from Mars 3/5 I'd Give You Anything 2/5 Gone the Dream 4/5 King Fu 3/5 Oh Yeah 3/5 Let It Flow 3/5 Innocent Smile 3/5 Angel Interceptor 2/5 Lost In You 4/5 Darkside Lightside 3/5 Average: 3,0 Pretty cool album.

Another Britpop band I’ve never heard of. The first track sounds like Weezer crossed with the Buffy theme song. Cool guitar solo, though. Second track sounds like if Rivers Cuomo became the lead singer of Lit (to be fair, I loved Lit back in the day). Another fun guitar solo. The more this album went on the more I kept thinking about how much they sounded like Weezer, sometimes crossed with a bit of other bands (Oasis, the Beatles, Lit, Travis, Ramones, etc.). Then I got to “Kung Fu,” which I guess is their racist version of “Buddy Holly”? Reading that they in fact opened for Weezer was the least surprising thing I’ve learned all week. Look, this was a catchy album, even if it is repetitive. The lyrics are decently written but trite. Every song is about the same thing — a guy obsessed with a girl who’s not there. The musicianship is pretty good, and there are cool guitar solos on almost every song. The lead singer is good, but he sounds like a carbon copy of Rivers Cuomo. Actually, he’s a little less annoying than Rivers. Is there anything special about this album that I needed to hear before I die? If there is, I must be missing it. To me it sounds like any number of Weezer soundalike bands from the mid to late 90s. There’s nothing memorable about it that would make me want to listen again. 3/5

"Goldfinger" was a good song. These guys want to sound like Nirvana/Smashing Pumpkins, but were a little too watered-down and late to the party. "I'd Give You Anything" is ripped off from Black Sabbath's N.I.B. Other than that, there wasn't anything memorable about any of these tracks.

Generic 90s alt/grunge rock. There was nothing unique, important, or interesting about the music

The sweet spot between Nirvana and the Jonas Brothers.

Definitely my type of music. 0RS

Fully admit: this is one of my favourite albums from thr 90s. I like every track, there are some great transitions between songs. It's one of those albums where if each song wasn't played in order it would sound wrong. Really dig the production as well.

ok

Amazing, the energy picked up my twenty year old self again 😀

Just three teenagers from northern ireland having the time of their lives and it's fucking brilliant. 6 stars.

Thoroughly joyous mid 90s nostalgia. Packed with great songs

A banger for sure

Banda da Irlanda do Norte. A primeira vez que ouço o som deles. Rock alternativo com britpop (pelo o que li, um movimento dos anos 1990 que exaltava o lado de ser britânico). Som leve, cativante... e pop. Me lembrou as canções do jogo "Tony Hawk".

Apple music categorizes this as pop punk and idk that I would have guessed that - but they are totally right. This album would fit right in with the Clueless soundtrack, but give it a smidge of Neutral Milk Hotel.

Loved this album. His voice is still terrible but the songs are great.

Hello teenage me! What a perfect album. Ash got tighter and more professional as they got older (they were sitting exams when they were on Top of the Pops) but in hindsight it's the naivety and wonkiness that makes this. Every poor decision pays off on this album and adds to it's poppy, punky charm. They still have a few good songs each album, but never the hit rate they had on here. Kung Fu, Goldfinger, Angel Interceptor, Lose Control, Oh Yeah and Girl From Mars - it would be hard to make a Best of Ash without most of this album!

Outstanding album. Full of youthful energy, timeless. Still sounds perfect more than 25 years on. I remember the sleevenotes from this having a photo of Tim in a bath, pouring a bottle of vodka into his face and thinking that was the most rock and roll image, and being so happy that kind of slightly intimidating excess was still a thing.

Awesome

Stupendous album from a band who were still teenagers when it was released. Just an instant classic.

Very good hard rock album. Am exited to revisit

This was rad

- This is perfect - Love the garagy, yet clean vibes - Oh Yeah, and Lose Control were great songs - Would for sure go back to this

Brilliant brilliant LP - Oh yeah! Brilliant music

love every track from start to finish

Should’ve known I would like it as soon it opened with the TIE Fighter sound. Enjoyed the whole thing. The front half and final few tracks were all great with a little in the middle I was pretty indifferent too. Rating: 4.6

Kings of cool distorted guitar! Definitely some filler tracks, but the highlights set a massive ceiling

This is the kind of album that this project was built for! Rocks so hard and so awesomely from beginning to end. Loved the use of strings too! Favorite track: “Girl From Mars”.

Dayum, this has been one of my favourite first listens of an album so far. This shit slaps. There's so much energy in the drums and guitar playing it keeps me engaged which a lot of other records can't do. Fav songs: - Lose Control - Goldfinger - I'd Give You Anything - Gone the Dream - Innocent Smile - Angel Interceptor

Wow, this was a great find! I ended up in the deluxe edition which I normally hate, but I could have listened to this all day!

90s Irish rock !? What! How did I not know about these guys? Super awesome and maybe my fave find of this 1001 Albums journey so far.

You know what? I’m at a 5. I really am stunned by that; maybe I’m just sort of overreacting on a first impression, but I seriously enjoyed that a lot. The only track I wasn’t feeling was I’d Give You Anything, which just has a fucking huge wall of noise at the end of it that drowns out any semblance of a melodic structure. Besides that though… yeah, I just really liked it; I think the vocals are the weakest part, but they’re not bad, they just feel like they could’ve added a bit more character to each song. The lyrics, while sort of lackluster, do the job they’re supposed to do, which is to get the feeling across, and the feeling is expertly weaved into the soundscape – I adore the way this album sounds. I think every song here has a really strong structure to it, save for I’d Give You Anything, and that structure, both vocally and instrumentally is what really carries this album to a super honest spot. I can firmly believe this was an album written by a 19-year-old kid, and that honesty makes its way through every track here in a way that I just kind of admire. I’m also a sucker for a good Star Wars reference, which I honestly didn’t pick up on until reading the title of the last track, then hearing them humming the Star Wars theme at the end, and then realizing 1977 is when A New Hope came out. It’s a seriously good album, and I’m feeling super good about giving it a 5. I really liked it, man.

Ohhh I know this one well. So many times cranking 'Let it flow', which is lame and a banger in equal measure. Easy 5 for rock and nostalgia (nostalgia from age 27, so pretty consistent)

1977 was the year of cataclysmic change. Two sevens clash, new hopes, disco fever, stiff little fingers, all the bollocks. It was also the birth year of the principal members of Ash and they congregate to make an absolute blast with this album. More aligned with Dookie than Definitely Maybe, 1977 wears its influences on its sleeve, baring its weird, often angular, at times sincere nature. Britpop this is not and, with the way it was heading, it's for the best.

Buenísimo. Tremenda sorpresa pop-rock-punk. Eso podría no parecer absolutamente genial, pero sí lo fue.

1996

An album I loved at the time, and a band I have seen live a bunch of times - most memorably at T in the Park 2001 when I was taken to the medical tent after bouncing about too much! Hard to believe this was a debut - it sounds so fully realised and confident.

A great great album and another one I heard at a young & important age (still remember staying up late to tape their 1996 concert at the Point off the radio). 5 stars for me for sure. Slightly doubting whether it should be on this list (question how influential it's been) but it is a way better and more polished piece of work than probably half the stuff on this list. And they were *so* young. This album is teenage potential and teenage possibilities in a bottle. Favourite songs: Goldfinger, Angel Interceptor, Darkside Lightside.

Such a good album, very 90's tracks that just hit different, takes me back to better times!

I'm surprised I've never heard of these guys, because this is right up my alley. The singer reminds me so much of someone else. Maybe Weezer, sebadoh, or hum or a combination of them. A bunch of very enjoyable tunes. Some great melodies, and great guitar tone. This will definitely go into my rotation. Mid 5.

Biased because this is one of my seminal rock records/bands but this is a 5 star from track 1.

I've been complaining a lot in my reviews about all of the 90s-00s britpop albums, but I've got to say, I like this. It definitely sounds of its time, but the production is excellent, and the sound is poppy without sounding cheesey. I can see why they got comparisons to the Buzzcocks. The first track on the album is an absolute scorcher, and they keep going from there. I absolutely love the chunky distortion of the guitars 4/5

I really enjoyed this. Hidden gem!

really fun album good time

Cool old school feel

This shit is so 90s and I love it, grunge meets pop

Um excuse me- I'd like to talk to the ambassador of music-Nick-would-have-loved for northern Ireland. The Irish ambassador was able to push cranberries through (not complaining), what the hell! The Blue album was released in 94, this album in 96. It was perfect for the time, and now! Northern Irish prick. Asshole was probably asleep at the wheel trying to figure out if he identifies more with a potato or a scone. Anyways, I loved this album, I would give it 5 stars but I've only gone through it once. I listened to some more singles, all which were great. I'll be listening to this more for sure.

Something about this just felt good. Really struck a lot of chords with me sonically.

Very evocative. A few absolute classics and a fair bit of filler as well.

Grotendeels uit jeugdsentiment 4 sterren. Klinkt inmiddels wel behoordlijk gedateerd, en die zanger mag toch eigenlijk geen zanger heten..... hoezo vals? Maar het scheurt en rockt wel lekker! 🤘

Lekkere plaat hor. Lang geleden dat ik die gehoord heb. Was in de nineties een hete band. Ik vond het toen niet zo geloof ik, maar nu vind het tof en catchy klinken.

Gitaarplaatje met een paar goede nummers, weinig opmerkelijk

Los grandes olvidados del grunge, traileros y atronadores por momentos y cercanos al punk pop a veces, están más cercanos a Soundgarden que a Nirvana. Vitamínico.

Great mix of slamming guitars and pop sensibilities. Maybe not the most original work in the world, but it was a fun ride!

The sound of endless summer, innocent fumblings and cider in the park.

Such a chill, sweet sounding rock album. A very throwback sound, I especially loved "Girl From Mars"!

Good start to the album! Really what I needed for work today. Ok maybe I just really need this album/type of music today, but I'm really enjoying it. Probably going to rate a 4. On the last song now, yeah I really enjoyed this album. It's not quite a 5 cuz of some of the vocal recordings (could just be part of the style) so I'm giving it a 4.

It was pretty good. Kinda metal, kinda punk.

Pretty fun, good vibes and voice

Una onda medio Green Day. El tema 4 "I'd give you anything" esta bueno. El 5 es muy Nirvana jaja. A la vez aveces suena como Coldplay, aveces como Oasis. Muy 90's todo. Tranquilamente podria ser soundtrack de Daria. El ultimo tema esta bueno tambien.

More punk I've never run into until now!

An awesome wave on 90's rock. Heavy distortion, big drums, just a wall of sound, while also using dynamics effectively to give room for wider sonic exploration. Vocals remind me of Rivers Cuomo of Weezer, cementing that 90's power pop feel. This sound is incredible, I love the rawness of the distortion and the chosen riffs. This is definitely a fallout from Nirvana's career, and I have no complaints whatsoever. Sonic Youth is another clear influence, with all of the best parts. 1977 is probably the most straightforward album on the list so far. As in, there isn't much to branch off from here, it's just making the best of it's influences. Ash doesn't do anything inventive or boundary-pushing, they just do the best with this sound and it's great.

Ooh. Grungy britpop. This works for me. I really liked it overall, and though I don't really have any songs that stood out to me, I think the general vibe and atmosphere that was created was pretty neat.

Wow nice album and a good discovery I think I'm going to spend some discovering this bands catalogue. The album has a lot of familiar influences. A little punky, a little grungy, some shoegazzy elements and a little Britton too. A solid 4 🌟

Pop rock perfection. Didnt think i knew any of their songs, actually knew loads and enjoyed a few of the ones i hadnt heard too

This might be my favorite album from a band I’ve never heard of that we’ve gotten so far

Great fun 90s punk album

For nostalgia reasons, it's a classic album. Youth, talent and determination. The original CD had a hidden track at the end - Sick Party - of them all puking up. https://open.spotify.com/track/6m5JPMEeIDUzU6ifOYn9Yr

Cañero, guitarrero, mucha fuerza. Todo un descubrimiento. Realmente buenos.

File under 90s on 9. I have an affinity for the middle of the road 90s rock and this one started with a Tie Fighter so extra points

A charming and fun album. Overall the sound is pretty standard for modern alternative rock, but many of the songs are pretty distinct and catchy.

Really dig this

Pop rock bangers from dusk till dawn!!!

I always loved 'Girl from Mars" but the album can be a bit of a same-y wall of sound.

Reel shit

Decent

I’ve herd girl from mars but than that nothing I do tend to learn towards Britpop albums though due to personal bias… Lose control has this awesome aggressive intro and the pre chorus bit was cool too, felt like a theme song for the band. Goldfinger is a great song works well bringing the pace down after lose control but it’s not super slow. I don’t hate girl from mars but it is awfully “ fuzzy” sounding and other than the fact that it’s got a catchy chorus how was this the band’s big hit. It does flow well into I’d give you anything, a ( very fuzzy) mess of a song (in a good way) and has a good guitar solo adding an extra guitar. Gone the dream is much nicer sounding ( but more boring) than the last two I like the strings in the back of this one. I like the kung fu noises at the start of kung fu and the song sounds nice enough but the lyrics are stupid and when the cheering comes in around the second verse it doesn’t work. Oh yeah is much better a poppier track with some good strings the song really lacks a bridge though but it does have a cool guitar solo which kinda counts. The bit before let it flow explodes should be about half the length, the rest of the song is good though not a favourite but not the worst. Innocent smile flows really well off let it flow this is a heavier cut, with a cool instrumental drum break not the best not the worst. Angel interceptor is awesome great intro great song usually I don’t like backing vocals too much but these (surprisingly) worked quite nicely. Lost in you has been the only time the album’s wanted to slow down, it does build up in aggressiveness but never to the extent of others. Darkside lightside is a huge final blow in the face, for my personal opinions of album tracklisting I would’ve had this as the penultimate and lost in you as the closer until the song goes to its “ lightside” an instrumental bit which really feels like the listener has reached the end of something epic. There are worse Britpop albums on the generator ( elastica’s debut, the cornershop album) much better on the generator ( suede’s dog man star, pulp’s different class) and much better that aren’t on the generator ( ocean colour scene’s Mosley shoals and the longpigs the sun is often out). Overall though it’s very solid and does deserve a place on this generator even if it’s a more mid level Britpop album.

90s nostalgia bias

Det här var jättebra! älskar gitarrer wroom wroom. och sorgliga låtar om kärlek mjao >.>>>>

The opening track “Lose Control” is a high intensity start to the album. Beginning with the sound of a Tie Fighter flying in the song just has an energy to it that you can’t help but bop up and down to. The song “Girl from Mars” sounded a bit familiar. I like the use of intense distortion in that song I think Wikipedia called it wall of guitars. Really enjoyed the interweaving guitars in “I’d Give you Anything.” The track “Innocent Smile” was the standout for me. Great tribute to Sonic Youth in the buildup there. The rest of the album had some good moments but there were a few forgettable tracks on here as well. I think it’s a solid 3 or maybe 3.5 since the tracks that really stood out makes me want to check out some of their other stuff.