Customer Reviews

Daniel Ash

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As a long-time fan of Love and Rockets, Tones on Tail and Daniel Ash's previous solo efforts, I was initially somewhat disappointed with his latest self-titled album, although several songs immediately rocked my little world and took me to 'places' I'd never been to listening to music- which in the past had always been something that his music did for/to me. After a few more listens and "adjusting" my head to what I was hearing as opposed to what I had expected to hear, I began to recognize and appreciate the real genius of Mr. Ash, as I have on what I consider to be his finest works: 'Foolish Thing Desire' and Love and Rockets' 'Earth, Sun, Moon', 'Seventh Dream of a Teenage Heaven', 'Hot Trip to Heaven', 'Lift' and the masterpiece 'Sweet F.A.'. I agree with two other reviewers who suggest that critics of this work don't get it. Daniel Ash is obviously not content to rehash his past successes- he continues to create music which in additon to being extremely creative both lyrically and musically, stretches the boudaries of rock music. I had the pleasure of seeing him perform some of the new songs live with a three-piece band- Daniel, a bass guitarist and a drummer and they were quite incredible live. Daniel's voice was amazing, his guitar work typically 'Daniel' (great), and the trio sounded very well-rehearsed considering the nearly fatal accident which the band was involved in just prior to the start of the tour forcing Daniel to find a new bass guitarist at the last minute. No this album is not for everyone, but the 7 or 8 "gems" on it make up for the somewhat weaker tracks- all of which is subjective as with any artist's work. Daniel Ash is true to himself when writing and creating his music; something which is quite evident on all of his solo work and the songs he wrote and sang with Love and Rockets. I applaud him for not "selling out" and trying to be something he's not.

This is a really good album.

Daniel Ash's previous solo efforts have been favorites of mine over the past several years. "Foolish Thing Desire" in particular is an album that I still listen to frequently, even a decade after it was released.

The "Daniel Ash" album may be a bit disappointing if you expect the somewhat traditional rock of earlier Ash recordings. This album is more electronic oriented, like the last few Love & Rockets records.

With the exception of "The Money Song", the first few tracks on "Daniel Ash" are fairly unremarkable techno. They aren't necessarily bad, but they're not particularly interesting.

The rest of the album contains solid songs interspersed with a few sublime ones. "Ghost Writer", "Chelsea", "Sea Glass", "Trouble" and "Walk On The Moon" are especially excellent.

Some of these songs have outstanding melodies, some have great hooks, and some have hypnotic, droning bass lines. One constant is the crystalline voice of Daniel Ash, as sexy and menacing as ever. My only complaint is that his superlative singing is distorted too often on this album.

"Daniel Ash" isn't perfect, but it's certainly worth a listen. If you're already a fan of the many projects that Ash has been involved in, this album is really a "must buy".

Mr. Ashes latest release shows us everything he's made of.
Here we get Tones on Tale to the Electronica of LnR LIFT.
It's all about the hypnotist and Ash is a master. It's refreshing to hear an artist make an album for himself and not the fans who want the same songs written over and over.
He's never been afraid to evolve as an artist and I've had to relearn at every release. Look at each departure the LnR releases took from their previous. Viva Le Daniel.
If you don't like the latest, you clearly don't get it.

Boy, you characters are brutal!!!

Obviously, this is an album with song brilliance more readily apparent when experienced in a live venue. Can't you imagine that Daniel Ash actually considers this when making albums these days. He is always looking forward and this is magically reflected in the wonderful set list he is offering on the current tour. The songs on this latest work complement nicely his back catalog and all of it makes for an astounding evening on the town.

When Daniel Ash emerges upon a glistening stage of smoke and soothing lights, you simply cannot resist the hypnotic temptations that rock like nothing else. The drummer (who plays much more solid live than the persussives on disc) and sonic guitar playing, all conspire to provide psychedelic rock that is as close to Jimi Hendrix as you'll ever get!

Let's face it - you've got to be in the proper state of mind to enjoy certain media, and Daniel Ash has his accoutrements that enhance his music.

Dispense with the artifacts and concert requirements and listen to the album, you may say? Fine, these ears pick up on new musical directions and sensibilities that come across in a unique, ethereal, dreamy neuralscape. The Hollywood he writes of is one he knows well and the confluence of those impressions - as well as many others - (with his flair for masterful guitar synced with synths), kicks much more musical [butt] than most of the [stuff] you're probably listening to this week.

Yes, the pedigree of Daniel Ash in your little world mandates genius with every new release; but just because you're not grooving after the second listen, don't bleed your ire on the page and castigate it.

Just chalk it up to your subjective inadequacies and move on.

Sad. Just sad. At this point, Daniel Ash appears to just be going through the motions. The cover of Spooky is nice, but seems like a throwaway embedded in a series of forced tunes. I saw him here in DC and he didn't even play most of the songs...I think he's tired of being a rock star. I worshipped him for many years, but I think at this point I have to agree.

It looks like good old master Ash made this record in his room with a computer, which is not bad. Grooves are fantastic and it's great for playing at a trendy bar. But it does not resist for long the passage of time, and soon you'll get tired of it. It's very, very far from his Love and Rocket masterpieces such as Express or Seventh Dream, and even from his classic solos like Coming Down. I'd say Ash is not at its best. However, I would encourage you to buy it only for one mega-marvelous song: "Burning Man". It's worth the price of the whole album.

This album is great and while it is a turn from his other works (Of course! Give him some credit, Mr. Fanbase) it can be compared a little to Love & Rockets' "Lift". My favorite songs are "Walking on the Moon," "Ghost Writer," and "Come Alive." His cover of Spooky is kind of stupid though.

The worst solo outing yet from the man who put the "rock" in Love & Rockets, 2002's DANIEL ASH is most immediately comparable not to either of his previous solo forays, but instead to his former band's HOT TRIP TO HEAVEN, a 1994 techno-oriented release that succeeded musically far beyond this present record.

There's nary a winner to be found among the listless mess that passes itself off as an album, each immediately forgettable track distinguishable from the other only by changes in drumbeats. Even the semi-interesting yet quickly boring cover, "Spooky," struggles to earn the obligatory 1-star.

To Ash's credit, he has never relied on the "trademark" Love & Rockets sound on his solo releases (though the best tracks on those albums were easily those which closely resembled the hard edge of Love & Rockets), but he hasn't quite found a sound of his own that doesn't immediately offend most listeners' taste. Not quite as good as 1991's COMING DOWN (would you ever have imagined it could get worse?), DANIEL ASH is by far a step - or a leap - backwards from the surprisingly satisfying FOOLISH THING DESIRE (1992).

I like Ash best when he rocks out. HOT TRIP TO HEAVEN proved that he could trip out. On DANIEL ASH he not only trips, but he stumbles and falls.

Daniel's long awaited album is like taking all of his work with Bauhaus, Love and Rockets and Tones on Tail and putting it into a blender. If you like any of these bands this album is a must.

I think this CD is very weak, but to prove I'm not a heartless poison-pen jerk, I'll point out that Daniel Ash's 20+ years in the music industry has been a wonderful rewarding experience. Throughout his imaginative years with Bauhaus/Tones on Tail, Love and Rockets & solo, he's only made 2 CDs I didn't like - L&R's violently uneven 'Sweet FA', and this self-titled solo album.

The first 4 tracks are easily the worst, coming off like an outre British music vet trying beyond hard to be both LA sexy and techno-hip. ("Hollywood Fox" is about exactly that, probably the only time you could compare Daniel Ash with ...Billy Idol.) Ash can work with electronica - 'Hot Trip to Heaven' & 'Lift' worked quite well. But half of this album plays like a demented Energizer Bunny soundtrack. (And most people will agree that the Energizer Bunny was always pretty dumb.)

The album perks up later, when Ash slows the tempo and creates mood and space. Although "Ghost Writer" & "Trouble" are galaxies from great, they recall the creative taste of Ash's previous work. (So does "Kid 2000", but you get no points for guessing which Brit band inspired THAT title.) I really like two tracks: "Burning Man" & "Walk on the Moon" are catchy and hypnotic. Ash's cover of the '60s R&B classic "Spooky" is good if uninspired, perhaps included to boost a weak record. The final two instrumental tracks are hardly 'songs', but any material that erases the memory of "Hollywood Fox" is loved and wanted by me.

Believe me, I understand that the music industry has undergone a major generational shift in the last year, with virtually all artists/bands over the young age of 30 having the commercial door slam them in the backside, unseated by a new army of 18 year-olds. (That shift is the major reason Love & Rockets disbanded.) So yes, it's a good thing Daniel Ash finally got a record deal - I just wish I could say this CD will thrill the older audience he once had. But I just don't see how that could ever happen. Oh well, better luck next time. (I hope there is one...)