SONG: "Jack Names The Planets"
ARTIST: Ash
ALBUM: "Live On Mars: London Astoria 1997"
YEAR: 2016
PLACE OF ORIGIN: Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland
YEARS ACTIVE: 1992 - present
WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:
The lyrics for "Jack Names The Planets" were in major part inspired by the 1984 novel "The Talisman" by Stephen King and Peter Straub. The novel is horror/fantasy and is about a boy named Jack Sawyer who must travel between two worlds to retrieve an object (the Talisman) that will save his dying mother. The Sunlight Home is a evil 'home for wayward boys' in the novel that plays a key role in the plot. Anyway, the lyrics are directly related to this novel.
ASH DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
1994 - Trailer (Infectious Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
1996 - 1977 (Infectious Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
1997 - Live At The Wireless (Deathstar Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
1998 - Nuclear Sounds (Infectious Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2001 - Free All Angels (Infectious Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2002 - Cosmic Debris (Infectious Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2004 - Meltdown (Infectious Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2007 - Twilight Of The Innocents (Infectious Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2010 - A-Z Vol. 1 (Atomic Heart Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2010 - A-Z Vol. 2 (Atomic Heart Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2015 - Kablammo! (earMUSIC Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2016 - Live On Mars: London Astoria 1997 (earMUSIC Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
2018 - Islands (Infectious Records)
* did not chart on the Billboard 200
MY THOUGHTS ON ASH:
Ash is a Northern Ireland band that formed back in 1992. The band recorded many demos and singles, which ultimately made their way on a 1994 release, "Trailer". This would begin a long relationship with Infectious Records. Their proper debut album would be 1996's "1977". This album reached #1 in the United Kingdom thanks in part to hit singles "Goldfinger" and "Kung Fu". The "Goldfinger" video received moderate airplay in the States and was part of the alternative music movement of the mid 90's. The band followed that album up with 1998's "Nuclear Sounds". The band added guitarist/vocalist Charlotte Hatherley to their line-up for this album, a very welcome addition. "Nuclear Sounds" nearly bankrupted the band however. Luckily for the band, their 2001 album "Free All Angels" really hit the ball out of the park for Ash. Yet another album reaching #1 in the U.K. In 2004, the band released "Meltdown". Unfortunately, Hatherley left the band in 2006. I wasn't happy about this. Her background vocals were an awesome element of Ash's sound and worked so well with lead singer Tim Wheeler's vocals. The band's first release back as a three piece was 2007's "Twilight Of The Innocents". In 2009, the band started releasing a single with b-sides like every two weeks for a year. These singles would ultimately get comped in the releases, "A-Z Vol. 1" and "A-Z Vol. 2". These would also be their first releases off of Infectious Records. In 2015, the band returned to releasing proper albums starting with "Kablammo!". The band's most recent release would be 2018's "Islands", signaling a return to Infectious Records. Ash gets a little lumped in with the Brit Pop movement of the mid 90's, probably because they hail from Northern Ireland. Their melodic sound is similar to bands like Oasis or Hurricane #1, but I always felt that had a little more of a punk influenced edge to their style. I first heard of these guys from the "Angus" movie soundtrack that also featured Green Day's "J.A.R." on it. Once I heard "Goldfinger", I was hooked. I loved when the band added Charlotte Hatherley. Her background vocals really fit the band and I thought they were an intricate part of the band's sound. Their last few albums really seemed to be missing that. Still, Ash is a really good band. Catchy as hell and in my mind, a totally underrated band, especially here in the States. They definitely achieved more success in the their homeland Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. These guys are due for some new music for sure.
SIMILAR ARTISTS:
Oasis
Beady Eye
Superdrag
Hurricane #1
Everclear
TEN ASH SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. Goldfinger
2. Burn Baby Burn
3. A Life Less Ordinary
4. Jesus Says
5. Starcrossed
6. Petrol
7. Tracers (featuring Emmy The Great) (acoustic version)
8. You Can't Have It All
9. Buzzkill
10. Cocoon
No comments:
Post a Comment