Meltdown [ENHANCED] [LIMITED EDITION]

Ash

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 8, 2005)
• Original Release Date: March 8, 2005
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Enhanced, Limited Edition
• Label: Record Collection
• ASIN: B0007LXP1I
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #177,552 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Irish punk-pop vets Ash have vacillated between poles of pop-suffused charm and energetic thrash on their albums since 1989, and this fifth release (the first for LA-based indie Record Collection after the collapse of their original American label delayed its stateside release) finds them fusing the best of those approaches with polish and some success on the lead single "Orpheus" and elsewhere. Recording for the first time in California seems to have imparted a brightness to even poison pen letters like "Evil Eye" and the hard-rocking, if cliched political agit-prop of the title track and the raging condemnation of conformity, "Clones" (also theme song for the Lucas Arts Star Wars video game Republic Commando). The quartet offers up a bonafide, back-to-the-80's head-banger of a power ballad via "Starcrossed" while incorporating new wave-y dynamics in "Renegade Cavalcade." Three exclusive bonus tracks are featured on the American release: the droning "Shockwave," the ballad "Solace" and the blitz-"Cool It Down"'s blitz-pop. This deluxe edition also features a DVD that includes videos for the previous "Girl From Mars" single and the album's "Orpheus" (also the subject of a "making of" clip here), "Clones" and "Starcrossed," as well as an album mini-documentary. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Ash's debut full-length, "1977", has SoundScanned 45,000 since its 1996 release. "Free All Angels" followed in 2001 and has sold 47,000 units to date. "Meltdown" has been certified Gold in the UK and is now available domestically. Initial shipments include a bonus limited edition DVD disc with a five videos, a making-of video, and a mini documentary.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Here Just in Time to Be Criminally Ignored, March 10, 2005

By	drew m (maryland United States) - See all my reviews

Meltdown was supposed to be released here in the US months and months ago. But Ash's record label went into bankruptcy just as it was about to drop, and so the record never saw the light of day until now.

It was only a couple of years ago during the release of Free All Angels that Ash were being touted as candidates for breakout US success, but that time has come and gone. Meltdown isn't anywhere near as pop-friendly as that record. In fact, it's a metal record. And one of the better metal records of the past few years.

And when I say "metal," I'm not talking about six-minute dirges sung by 17 year-olds trying to sound like 52-year-olds. If you're looking for that, go by a Slipknot album and bang your head against a desk. For those of us that grew up in the 80's, the magical decade that provides VH1 its only source of revenue, standard metal revolved around riffage, riffage, and more riffage. And so it is with Meltdown, an 11-song battering ram of chunky guitar goodness. The riffs on "Clones" and the title track can pretty much lay waste to any set of eardrums, while "Evil Eye" and "Vampire Love" bring back 80's style goth (think Ozzy's Bark at the Moon), which was always wayyyyy more fun than 90's style goth (think being forced to take a poetry class at RISD).

But the centerpiece of Meltdown remains "Orpheus", a song that masterfully blends Ash's pop knowhow with their thunderous guitar attack. The bridge alone has a Chill Factor of about 12. It was by far the best song of 2004, and now it's available to you without the hefty import price tag. Lucky you.

With Meltdown, Ash continue their streak as one of Briitain's most versatile and hard-rocking outfits. They may never reach soaring heights here in the US. But they remain a hidden rock treasure for anyone willing to look hard enough. At least now you can look for Meltdown without crossing the Atlantic.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Is The Best Album Nobodys Ever Heard Of, February 11, 2006

By	D. Smith (York, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's such a shame that the best album released last year had absolutely no airplay. every song on this album is amazing and the album as a whole is very upbeat and fast except for the very few slow songs which are written well too. unbelieveable and a must own.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MUSE?? Please. This is Ash's best album yet...pure punky metallic powerpop goodness..., September 26, 2006

By	Larry Davis "powerpoplarry" (NYC/Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews

Tim Wheeler is possibly the best powerpop songwriter right now. Bar none. Too bad this album was caught in the crossfire in the US between their prior US label Kinetic collapsing, delaying it for months and months, and the momentum gone and changing tastes amongst popular tastes here and the media.

What will probably happen is their NEW US label, Warner's Record Collection, will put it out just so it's out, have the band go on a small tour, and when they do their NEW album, which is being recorded now in NYC, might be a DOUBLE album of 27 tunes BTW, RC will put $$$ into promoting that one properly, with no delays, top priority.

Now, they are back to being a 3-piece, circa "1977", with Charlotte gone, preferring to focus on her solo career. This final Charlotte album is top-to-bottom great, with no dud tracks, catchy chunky loud powerpop riffage, hooks to die for, energy to burn for years, and just killer songs with not an ounce of pretentiousness.

All the singles are great here, espesh the tour-de-force "Orpheus", the gorgeous "Starcrossed" (like "There's A Star" part deux), and the unbelievable "Renegade Cavalcade". "Clones" is their hardest track yet, and yes it burns but brightly, with killer riffs and an even better chorus and Tim's scream in the middle is way cool and not out of place.

Fave overlooked tune here is "Won't Be Saved", a hidden powerpop gem, with an ace melody and creamy harmonies. The bonus B-side tracks are great and the bonus DVD is good value.

Basically, they are amongst the best bands out now that have been around a decade at least, and have not broken huge in the US. This next album could be their time though. Discover a gem of a band if you haven't yet. The best Irish band out now, and yes, that includes U2.