Song: "Tracers" (acoustic - featuring Emmy The Great)
Artist: Ash
Album: "A-Z Acoustic EP"
Year: 2010
Place Of Origin: Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland
Years Active: 1989 - present
WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:
"Tracers" is a song that appears to be about knowing that the girl of your dreams is out there, perhaps living a parallel life, but, when the vocalist wakes, he realizes that all it is is a dream. She may be out there, but for now, she's just in his mind. He has hope though, that some day this person will in fact physically come into his life. This is an acoustic version of "Tracers" featuring Emmy The Great on background vocals. You can hear the original full band version of the song on the "A-Z Vol. 1" compilation that came out in 2010.
ASH DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
1994 - Trailer (Infectious Records)
* #143 on the UK Charts
1996 - 1977 (Infectious Records)
* #1 on the UK Charts
* certified platinum
1997 - Live At The Wireless (Deathstar Records)
* #85 on the UK Charts
1998 - Nu-Clear Sounds (Infectious Records)
* #7 on the UK Charts
* certified gold
2001 - Free All Angels (Infectious Records)
* #1 on the UK Charts
* certified platinum
2002 - Cosmic Debris (Infectious Records)
* #3 on the UK Charts
* certified gold
2004 - Meltdown (Infectious Records)
* #5 on the UK Charts
* certified gold
2007 - Twilight Of The Innocents (Infectious Records)
* #32 on the UK Charts
2010 - A-Z Vol. 1 (Atomic Heart Records)
* #68 on the UK Charts
2010 - A-Z Vol. 2 (Atomic Heart Records)
* #130 on the UK Charts
2015 - Kablammo! (earMUSIC)
* #41 on the UK Charts
2016 - Live On Mars: London Astoria 1997 (earMUSIC)
* did not chart on the UK Charts
2018 - Islands (Infectious Records)
* #18 on the UK Charts
MY THOUGHTS ON ASH:
ASH formed back in 1989, originally as an Iron Maiden cover band. Soon, this Norhern Ireland trio would begin writing their own songs and eventually sign on with label Infectious Records, a relationship that has continued to the present day. The band's proper debut was 1994's "Trailer", which is a culmination of some new songs and some old songs. The album featured the single "Jack Names The Planets" which began giving the band some buzz. Their breakthrough was 1996's "1977". With singles like "Goldfinger", "Girl From Mars" and the cult classic "Kung Fu", Ash began making waves on the alternative music scene. In the UK, this album soared to #1 on the charts. After the release of their third album, "Nu-Clear Sounds", Ash was on the brink on going bankrupt. "Nu-Clear Sounds" was also the first album to feature Charlotte Hatherley in the band on guitar and background vocals. Determined to get back on track, Ash released what many feel is their pinnacle album, 2001's "Free All Angels". This was yet another album to reach #1 in the UK, thanks in part to hit singles like "Shining Light" and "Burn Baby Burn". After the 2004 release of the album "Meltdown", Charlotte Hatherley decided to leave the band, making Ash a three piece once again. Surprisingly, Ash has maintained their original line-up since the beginning of the band with Tim Wheeler on guitar and vocals, Mark Hamilton on bass and Rick McMurray on drums. In 2009/2010, Ash took part in an ambitious effort of releasing a single every other week for 26 weeks. This was called the "A-Z" series. Eventually two compilations were released featuring all of these singles. Ash has most recently released the album "Islands" in 2018. Ash broke out just after the Seattle grunge scene. Their music is definitely more upbeat than grunge. It features elements of pop punk and brit pop with great hooks and sing-a-long melodies. They do have the ability of changing styles from track to track. They can put together a harsh, aggressive style song, then follow that up with a pretty, melodic radio friendly type of song. In particular, these shifts of styles show up on their "1977" album with the heavy "Darkside Lightside" and the pop heaven of "Girl From Mars". I discovered Ash through the "Angus" soundtrack in 1995. That soundtrack featured their songs "Jack Names The Planets" and "Kung Fu". Then, once I bought "1977", I was hooked. I'd say their pinnacle area for me is from 1996 to 2004. I loved when they brought Charlotte Hatherley aboard. Her background vocals just brought a special element to Ash's songs and they definitely shine on songs like "Starcrossed", "Burn Baby Burn", "Shining Light" and "Aphrodite". Even still, Ash has been consistently dropping new music every 2 to 3 years and are showing no signs of slowing down. Pretty much all of their records have charted in the United Kingdom while "Free All Angels" reached #11 on the Billboard Heatseekers charts in the U.S. That album is most likely the bands high point, selling over 3 million albums worldwide. Ash didn't explode in the U.S. as much as they did in England and their native Ireland, but they definitely left a mark on me. They combine elements of melodic punk that broke in the States with that melodic pop that was brimming in England to form a sound of their own. This is a really good band. Definitely an unheralded band in my eyes. To this day, "Goldfinger" and "Burn Baby Burn" are staples on any music playlist that I make. Top tier band for sure.
SIMILAR ARTISTS:
Weezer
Superdrag
The Vines
3 Colours Red
Oasis
TEN ASH SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. Goldfinger
2. Burn Baby Burn
3. Jack Names The Planets
4. A Life Less Ordinary
5. Jesus Says
6. Teenage Kicks (The Undertones cover)
7. Tracers (acoustic - featuring Emmy The Great)
8. Starcrossed (acoustic version)
9. Cocoon
10. You Can't Have It All
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