... It's the spirit of Ash, which is captured on their first release, Trailer. Bouncy, a bit silly, loud.
This is earlier, less commercial Ash, but for most of the tracks you wouldn't know it. They sound as good as the slightly later stuff, and you wouldn’t think these kids were only 17 when ... Read review
A review by thefrogprincess on Trailer - Ash November 5th, 2002
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
Value for Money
Advantages:
Rocks
Disadvantages:
Ends
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Ash are a relatively recent discovery for me. After seeing them for the first time nearly a year ago now, I became a bit obsessed, and was extremely pleased when it turned out I could see them at the two festivals I was going to over the summer. For Ash are a blinding band live. It's not just the songs that everyone knows. It's not just Tim looking sweet at the front of the stage. It's not just Rick's silly haircut. It's not just Charlotte looking hot. It's not just the frickin brilliant music they make. It's the spirit of Ash, which is captured on their first release, Trailer. Bouncy, a bit silly, loud.
This is earlier, less commercial Ash, but for most of the tracks you wouldn't know it. They sound as good as the slightly later stuff, and you wouldn’t think these kids were only 17 when this was released. Trailer-era Ash consisted of Tim (guitar, vocals), Rick (drums) and Mark (bass).
Trailer roars off with Season, the main riff of which should have 'copyright Ash' stamped on it. It's insistent and dark, which is appropriate for the subject matter, news of a friend's suicide. It's sad, but you almost don't have time for it until you hear Tim's vocal coming through the guitar at the end, and it nearly breaks your heart.
Between Season and Jack Names The Planets is a bizarre interlude with people doing silly Dutch accents, which never fails to make me laugh. Jack Names The Planets is probably one of the best known songs from Trailer. It was certainly the only one I knew this time last year, and even then just the chorus. Which is ridiculously singable in its nonsensity. Naming planets? Preposterous, they've already got names. But Ash wish to sing about naming planets in a catchy manner. Actually, it's not that much about planets. Just the Ash staple of teenage love, the complexities and joys of.
Intense Thing follows with some slightly painful feedback bits, bangy guitars and drums and a bit of shouting. Not up to the standard of the rest of the album, I feel, but no matter. It's still quite good when it gets to the middle - "she looks so lovely, standing on her own". Uncle Pat is a more laidback song, about a walk of reminiscence, with lovely images of countryside. It's got a very melodic intro, which clashes with the crazy tempo of Get Out.
"Hi, you guys rock my world". Another brief interlude which goes straight into Get Out. Just over 100 seconds, less time than it takes to pull a pint of Guinness, and Ash have finished with their speed-punk ode to capitalism.
The penultimate song on this fantastic debut is Petrol. One of my favourite Ash songs ever. Gah ... indescribable. Absolutely gorgeous imagery - "the house is drenched in light", making you think of sunset in summer. It's a great great song. And finally is Obscure Thing, an appropriate title, as I always forget about it, skipping back to hear Petrol again. It has a great intro, and is actually quite good. From the same mould as Season, it's mostly driving guitar and some 'obscure' yelling that you can't understand.
Trailer lives up to its name, being a definite (if brief) promise of things to come (and that did come) in the Ash future. May there be many more like it.
Advantages: raw, unadulterated energy Disadvantages: short, far too short
...(they were still teenagers when Trailer was released), gave them something awfully big to live up to with the next album. 1977 came close, and was a fine album in its own right, but it was a different style and album for Trailer shows definite punk influences, jam packed full of youthful exuberance and energy.
Starting with Season, a lively track where the electric guitars positively sing and Tim Wheeler’s angelic vocals are heard for the ... ...for saying it again, but Trailer is blindingly good and stands as Ash’s best work to date (only equalled by their new album, Free All Angels) Most bands will waste their careers attempting to produce an album of this high quality yet Ash managed it with their first try. Perhaps that was what made the new sound of 1977 all the sweeter, for the two worked so well together.
Bottom Line: As always in the music industry the early, less commercialised ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: stand out song - 'The Intense Thing', no bad songs Disadvantages: short, and few great songs
...be an average listen, hence I can only recommend it to Ash fans who haven't already got this. Trailer does exactly what it was meant to do - it's an example of what Ash would be well known for, but just don't expect it to be full of pop choruses. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Uncle Pat Disadvantages: Not many songs...
Trailer is the first album to be released by the band Ash. It totally differs from their more modern releases such as 'Free All Angels', in that it has the raw energy of three teenagers, rather than the more mellow maturity now present in their music.
The album itself is quite impressive, as it was recorded by the boys of the band whilst they were still in their teens. This can be seen in the recording quality of the album, and perhaps in some of ... ...makes it a bad album. The music can be seen as intense chords with a bit of a punk tinge and great use of power chords, but the solos are still pretty good.
There are, unfortunately, only seven tracks on the album. This can be taken in two ways though, it may not be the greatest value for money, but, it does leave you wanting more and means as it is short, you concentrate heavily on the music while it is there.
The track listing is as follows: ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: value for money Disadvantages: not as smooth as later work
...Here we have one of the enduring albums of the 90's. An undisputed classic 1977 followed on from 'trailer' ash's first release a short album relatively unknown but a great introduction to this huge Irish trio. just as an aside If you have this album scan back from track 1 and you'll find 2 hidden tracks, a bonus! I have to say that I've bought all of Ash's singles and albums but they just couldnt top 'girl from mars' at current market prices it's a steal. I have to say though that if you are only familiar with ash's latest work (not including the disaster of nu-clear sounds) then you may find it a bit immature but you can see the potential for greatness This album will appeal to young and old alike, unlike 'nu-clear sounds' there is no swearing, a plus for parents. my recommendation is to buy this album get in your car and drive then...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
...This was one of the first CD albums I bought. It isn?t, as I thought at the time, Ash?s debut album, but their second after the less memorable Trailer Park. Including the hit singles ?Goldfinger?, ?Girl From Mars?, ?Oh Yeah?, ?Angel Interceptor? and my personal favourite ?Kung Fu?, this is an album of variety. If has some pop, some rock, some madness (attitude, not the 80s band!), and also some very dark moods. The album was named after the year of their birth, although I?m not entirely sure why.
The first track kicks the album off with a band, a largely instrumental piece with some brilliant filtered guitar and samples. I also like ?Gone The Dream?, quite a mellow song as far as Ash go, but pleasant nonetheless. And ?Innocent Smile? is a whole lot darker and more interesting. Altogether, it?s a great album, especially when you need...
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Advantages: Their best album Disadvantages: It's not all great songs
...’s debut, Trailer Park, which is Ash’s debut album, not 1977. Luckily they turned themselves round for this album. Let’s take a quick look through some of the more interesting tracks.
The opening track, Loose Control, is one of my favourites, starting with the sound of a Star Wars Tie Fighter flying past – great stuff before breaking into a fast strumfest of a song. Goldfinger, a song of contrast. A rocky thumping chorus and a verse that alternates between delicate strumming and chorus style thumping. Girl from Mars, a track you must have heard if you have any interest in Ash. It really shouldn’t need any explanation from me, but just in case it’s one of Ash’s more poppy songs and one of the lighter moments on the album. The above tracks are the first three tracks on the album and get the album off...
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Album Notes: Ash: Tim (guitar, vocals); Mark (bass); Rick (drums). Additional personnel: Oscar Wilde, Patrick The Brewer (spoken vocals). Producers: Marc Waterman, David Lewis Gedge, Tim Russell, Ash. Engineers include: Louise McCormack. All songs written or co-written by Tim Wheeler except "Punk Boy" (Helen Love).
Titles on disc 1
1.: Season
2.: Message From Oscar Wilde And Patrick The Brewer (spoken )/Ja