Ash
1977

THE REVIEW

Undoubtedly one of the debut albums of the much-missed '90s. Ash (at the time a trio of barely adult guys) delivered a debut that is still considered one of the most important on the British indie scene today.

As is typical of emerging groups, this "1977" includes the singles released by the band during their "apprenticeship" period that preceded the album's release: the bubblegum-punk "Kung Fu", a playful tribute to actor Jackie Chan, "Goldfinger" driven by a Nirvana-like riff, the summer super-hit "Girl From Mars" (3 minutes that are a manual on how to write an immortal pop song), and the ballad "Oh Yeah" embellished by an orchestral arrangement reminiscent of the Beatles (or Spector) that introduces the Irish band to the path of those lilting ballads that would later become a true "trademark" of their subsequent production.

But "1977" is a startling and lively album that swings from one extreme to the other: from the initial and very violent "Lose Control" that flows into the early Iron Maiden's heavy metal, to the powerful "I'd Give You Anything", to the punk-noise of "Innocent Smile", it transitions to romantic tracks like "Gone A Dream" (also enriched by the string arrangement) and the reflective/adolescent "Lost In You".

In between, many other schizophrenic surprises: the britpop of "Let It Blow" and the beautiful "Angel Interceptor" where the "angelic" melody contrasts with the screeching of electric guitars, making it one of the most exciting songs. The album concludes with the vigorous "Darkside Lightside" featuring a death metal intro (!) that in the end indulges in a citation of the "Star Wars" theme, which was released precisely in 1977. The bonus track is a gem I'll leave to the listener. An album that exudes energy and vitality from every track, from the slowest to the fastest, and that, even 8 years later, remains noteworthy for all indie rock enthusiasts.