Meltdown (Ash album)
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox album <ref name="NMEheavy" />Meltdown is the fourth studio album to be recorded by the Northern Irish rock band Ash. The album was released on 17 May 2004 through Infectious Records and Home Grown. Following the success of their third studio album Free All Angels (2001), Ash debuted several new songs while touring throughout 2003. By October that year, they had travelled to Los Angeles, California, to record a follow-up album, which was co-produced by Nick Raskulinecz and the band. Recording sessions were held at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys and at Chalice Studios, Hollywood. Meltdown, which is described as a hard rock album, drew comparisons to the work of The Smashing Pumpkins and critics said the guitar work resembles that of Black Sabbath and Metallica.
The album's lead single "Clones" was released in late February 2004, coinciding with a European tour and a UK club tour. The second single "Orpheus" was released in May to accompany another UK tour. "Starcrossed" was the third single; it was released that July. During the next few months, Ash appeared at the Reading and Leeds Festivals, embarked on a European tour, and supported the Darkness on their UK tour. With the release of the fourth single "Renegade Cavalcade" in December, the band twice toured Japan and the US; the second stint coincided with the release of the fifth single "Meltdown" in May 2005.
Meltdown received generally positive reviews from music critics, some of whom commented on the band members' musicianship. The album peaked at number five in the UK and Scotland, and at number six in Ireland. It also charted in Australia, Austria, Germany, and Norway. Meltdown was certified gold in the UK. All of the singles except for "Meltdown" reached the top 40 in the UK and Ireland; "Clones" was the best-selling single, peaking at number 12 in Ireland.
Background and production
In April 2001, Ash released their third studio album Free All Angels,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which was a commercial success, saving the band from the brink of bankruptcy. It reached number one in the UK and spawned five UK top 40 singles.<ref name="NMEheavy">Template:Cite web</ref> As early as August 2001, the band were pondering what to do for their next album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> When touring the US, they listened to a lot of rock radio.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Frontman Tim Wheeler wanted the follow-up to be a heavy rock album with similarities to Guns N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction (1987) and Nirvana's Nevermind (1991).<ref name=Neumureview>Template:Cite web</ref> In September 2002, Ash released their first compilation album Intergalactic Sonic 7″s,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which they promoted with a three-month supporting US tour with Saves the Day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wheeler wrote 14 new songs after attending a February 2003 peace march.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In March 2003, Wheeler told the NME he wanted to experiment with electronic music for the band's next album after using computers to score a short film.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May and June 2003, Ash embarked on their first headlining US tour in five years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Throughout the year, the band debuted several new songs.<ref name=NMEheavy/> In October, Ash went to Los Angeles, California, to record their next album, staying at Julia Roberts' former home in Beverly Hills.<ref name=NMEHR>Template:Cite web</ref> Recording sessions were held at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys and at Chalice Studios in Hollywood; recordings were co-produced by Ash and Nick Raskulinecz.<ref name=Meltdownbooklet/> Ash worked with Raskulinecz at the recommendation of Andy Gill from Gang of Four, who told Wheeler he "got the best drum sound he's ever heard" from using Raskulinecz.<ref name=NMEHR/>
The band also chose to work with Nick Raskulinecz because they wanted the album to have an American sound to it; according to Wheeler, American-made albums "sound better sonically", with "better engineering, better studios, so we wanted to check it out Template:Notatypo."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wheeler said they recorded guitar, vocals, drums and bass in that order, which contrasted with their usual method of recording bass and drums first.<ref name=KMinterview>Template:Cite web</ref> Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl visited the studio a few times during the recording but the band refrained from asking him to play on any recordings; Wheeler said; "There's a whole bunch of people we could have called, but we just want to get our band's sound on record".<ref name=NMEHR/> Despite planning to have finished by November, the sessions continued until January 2004.<ref name=NMEheavy/><ref name=NMEHR/> Rich Costey mixed the recordings at Cello Studios, also in Hollywood, with assistance from Claudius Mittendorfer. Howie Weinberg mastered the album at Masterdisk.<ref name=Meltdownbooklet/>
Composition
Meltdown has been described as a hard rock album<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> that has influences from metal<ref name=Stylusreview/> and has been compared with the works of Smashing Pumpkins.<ref name=PFreview/> The guitar work throughout the album is similar to that of Black Sabbath and Metallica, and includes numerous solos played by Ash's guitarist Charlotte Hatherley.<ref name=YLreview/><ref name=PMreview/> Meltdown is a departure from the pop punk style of Free All Angels, and is the band's heaviest-sounding release.<ref name=Melodicreview/><ref name=E.ie/> Discussing the album's title, Wheeler said; "Why? Cos it's a meltdown. A full-on rock monster. A real face-melter. It'll tear your face off."<ref name=NMEreach/> Wheeler wrote all of the songs except "Meltdown" – which he co-wrote with Hatherley – and "Out of the Blue", which he co-wrote with bassist Mark Hamilton.<ref name=Meltdownbooklet/> Dracula is a reoccurring lyrical theme on the album.<ref name=YLreview/>
The opening track "Meltdown" is a political piece that channels the sound of AC/DC and Foo Fighters.<ref name=PMreview/><ref name=AMreview/> Wheeler wrote it after witnessing a peace demonstration and Hatherley wrote the middle eight guitar riff.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Orpheus" switches between indie pop and heavy rock, and the verses include Wheeler's 1970s metal-style guitar riffs.<ref name=AMreview/><ref name=Orpheussingle>Template:Cite web</ref> Wheeler said the lyrics were taken from the eponymous Greek myth and is about the death of his friend's mother.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Evil Eye" is a slower track on which Wheeler and Hatherley trade vocals that tells the story of a female suitor.<ref name=YLreview/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It features a backwards message that says "She's giving me the Evil Eye. Suck Satan's cock."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wheeler said "Clones" is about the homogenization of mankind, and is "a rant about some person who's let you down, a person you thought was different and they turn out to be the same as everyone else".<ref name=NMEHR/> The song has an instrumental break section that was influenced by the works of Rage Against the Machine.<ref name=Guardian/>
"Starcrossed" is a string-led power ballad that is reminiscent of the material on Free All Angels.<ref name=AMreview/><ref name=PLreview>Template:Cite web</ref> It re-tells the story of Romeo and Juliet.<ref name=YLreview/> "Out of the Blue" evokes "Song 2" (1997) by Blur and "Surf Wax America" (1994) by Weezer.<ref name=DISreview/><ref name=IGN/> Wheeler said the final version of "Out of the Blue" is the result of merging two separate songs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Renegade Cavalcade" features staccato guitar parts during the verses.<ref name=AMreview/> "Detonator" utilizes the talking guitar in vein of Peter Frampton during the verse sections; it is followed by the Foo Fighters-esque "On a Wave".<ref name=Neumureview/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Won't Be Saved" is similar to the band's earlier material and was nearly left off the final version of the album but the band's agent persuaded them to keep it.<ref name=Guardian/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Vampire Love", which has Placebo-like lyrics and a cello part played by Oli Kraus, closes the album.<ref name=PFreview/><ref name=Meltdownbooklet/>
Release
On 29 January 2004, Meltdown was announced for release later that year.<ref name=NMEreach>Template:Cite web</ref> "Clones" was released as the album's lead single on 25 February as a download-only single.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The song's music video, which was filmed in the basement of a house in London, was directed by Jeff T. Thomas and premiered on MTV2 on 26 February.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band's US label Kinetic Records was dissolved on 26 March; the band's manager was in talks in an attempt to release the album in that territory later in the year.<ref name=AshNews070206/> On 3 May, "Orpheus" was released as a single; the CD version includes "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" (with Chris Martin of Coldplay) and "Tinsel Town".<ref name=AshNews070206/><ref name=Orpheussingle/>
Meltdown was released through Infectious Records and Home Grown on 17 May 2004.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album's cover shows a tattoo-styled phoenix rising from flames. Its booklet features liner notes written by author JT LeRoy.<ref name=YLreview/> A special-edition double CD version, the second disk containing live recordings from Ash's UK tour earlier in the year, was released in the UK.<ref name=AshNews070206/> Two versions were released in Japan; one that added "Tinsel Town" and "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" to the main album and the other added extra live recordings to the UK special-edition live disc.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
Ash promoted the UK release with a series of in-store signings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Starcrossed" was released as a single on 19 July 2004; the CD version includes "Cool It down" and "Solace".<ref name=AshNews070206/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The song's music video is a homage to Romeo + Juliet (1996) and was filmed in a church in Bucharest, Romania.<ref name=ADinterview>Template:Cite web</ref> "Renegade Cavalcade" was released as a single on 6 December 2004; the CD version includes "We Don't Care" and the 7" vinyl version includes "Shockwave".<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The song was initially planned for released in November but was postponed because in Ash's absence, their record label made a video for it, which the band disliked.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A second video showcasing a performance of the band was made.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 8 February 2005, Ash released an Extended Play (EP) called Commando, which includes "Meltdown", "Clones", "Evil Eye", and "Tinstle Town".<ref name=AshNews070206/> Meltdown was released in the US on 8 March through the label Record Collection to coincide with the band's US tour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The US version includes the bonus tracks "Shockwave", "Solace", and "Cool It Down", as well as a DVD of music videos.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The title-track "Meltdown" was released to American radio stations on 24 May.<ref name=FMQB>Template:Cite web</ref>
"Orpheus", "Clones", and "Starcrossed" were included on Ash's second compilation album The Best of Ash (2011).<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> "Orpheus" and "Clones" were released on 7" vinyl as part of '94–'04 The 7" Singles Box Set (2019).<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> "Orpheus", "Clones", and "Starcrossed" were also included on the band's third compilation album Teenage Wildlife: 25 Years of Ash (2020).<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Meltdown was reissued on CD through BMG in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Touring
In February and March 2004, Ash embarked on a tour of Europe and then a club tour of the UK.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=NMELondon>Template:Cite web</ref> The following month, the band appeared at the Skate and Surf Festival, and headlined BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 2 May, the band headlined one of the stages at the Coachella Festival.<ref name=AshNews070206/> In May and June, Ash went on another UK tour with support from Saves the Day and The Crimea.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August, the band appeared at the Reading and Leeds Festivals,<ref name=AshNews070206>Template:Cite web</ref> and in October and November, they again toured Europe.<ref name=AshNews070206/> Ash supported the Darkness' arena tour in December.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
At the start of 2005, Ash toured Japan,<ref name=NMEFortune>Template:Cite web</ref> and in March and April that year, they embarked on a headlining US tour with support from the Bravery.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> While touring the US in June, the band were travelling to San Francisco when their bus caught fire; while they waited on the roadside for a new bus, the band received a call telling them the replacement bus had also caught fire. Ash drove themselves to a show in a van and borrowed equipment from The Bravery.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In July, the band supported U2 for three shows in Europe.<ref name=AshNews070206/> Template:Clear
Reception
Template:Album ratings Meltdown received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, the album received an average score of 78 based on 16 reviews.<ref name=metacritic/>
AllMusic reviewer Jason Damas wrote Meltdown is "burst[ing] with the hooks and little musical flourishes that have made the more mature Ash records such a treat" with minimal "meandering malaise" that plagues the band's second album, Nu-Clear Sounds (1998). He added it is a "surprisingly strong and assured record" that would enhance the band's legacy.<ref name=AMreview/> Yahoo! Launch writer Emma Morgan said the album "sounds exactly like what it is – a post-pubescent take" on the band's debut studio album 1977 (1996). She also called the album a "sturdy, well-written and ... mature addition to Ash's enduring and near-essential canon".<ref name=YLreview/> JR of IGN said Meltdown is "every bit as good as you'd hoped it would be", providing "on enough levels to accept the invitation into your stereo ... and your brain".<ref name=IGN/> Drowned in Sound founder Sean Adams called it a "combo of Ash of all ages ... This is the kinda rock record us malnourished Brits can be proud of. It's Ash being Ash".<ref name=DISreview/> Andrew Unterberger of Stylus Magazine said the album's metal influence delivers "enough to give the album a bit of personality and distinctiveness without totally overpowering the band's signature sound".<ref name=Stylusreview/>
Entertainment.ie reviewer Andrew Lynch wrote Meltdown is "by far the heaviest-sounding album they've made to date, sometimes a bit too heavy for Tim Wheeler's slightly weedy voice". He added, "for all the bulldozer riffs and ferocious guitar solos on display here, the superb melodies prove that they're still just a great pop band at heart".<ref name=E.ie/> Mikael Wood of The Boston Phoenix said the band "punch up the guitars and drums until they threaten to drown out Wheeler’s voice altogether, and the thick, chewy distortion is a return to the days of Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins".<ref name=TBPreview>Template:Cite web</ref> Pitchfork contributor Jason Crock noted while the album "rock[s] harder, and with more snarl" than the band's past works, they "still can't help but reveal their melodic sweet tooth".<ref name=PFreview/> PopMattersTemplate:' Adrien Begrand said the album is "slightly more consistent" than the band's previous one, highlighting Hatherley's talents as a guitarist and her vocals.<ref name=PMreview/> The Guardian writer Steve Pill said the album is "a festival set list in waiting ... this may be the first rock album of the year you can sing in the shower and make a better hash of".<ref name=Guardian/> Kaj Roth of Melodic wrote the band "cranked up the volume to 11 and then just rocked", and called it one of the better albums of the year as well as "one of the most fun to listen to".<ref name=Melodicreview/>
Meltdown entered the charts at number five in the UK,<ref name=UKchart/> number five in Scotland,<ref name=Scochart/> and number six in Ireland.<ref name=Irechart/> It reached number 25 in Norway,<ref name=Norchart/> number 65 in Germany,<ref name=Gerchart/> number 78 in Austria,<ref name=Autchart/> and number 87 in Australia.<ref name=Auschart/> The album was later certified gold in the UK, and ranked at number 173 on the UK year-end chart.<ref name=UKYE/><ref name=UKcert/> "Clones" charted at number 12 in Ireland; "Orpheus" charted at number 13 in the UK, and number 17 in Ireland; and "Starcrossed" charted at number 19 in Ireland and number 22 in the UK. "Renegade Cavalcade" charted at number 22 in Ireland and number 33 in the UK.<ref name=UKchart/><ref name=Irechart/>
Track listing
All tracks written by Tim Wheeler, except where noted.<ref name=Meltdownbooklet/> Template:Tracklist
Personnel
Personnel per booklet.<ref name=Meltdownbooklet>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2 Ash
- Tim Wheeler – guitar, vocals
- Rick McMurray – drums
- Mark Hamilton – bass guitar, design
- Charlotte Hatherley – guitar, backing vocals, piano
Additional musicians
- Oli Kraus – cello (track 11)
Template:Col-2 Production
- Nick Raskulinecz – producer, engineer
- Ash – co–producer
- Rich Costey – mixing
- Mike Terry – recording
- Claudius Mittendorfer – mix assistant
- Miles Wilson – second engineer
- Kevin Szymanski – second engineer
- Howie Weinberg – mastering
Design
- Matt Sharp – studio photography
- Adrian Boot – band photography
- Rori Keating – Tribal illustrations
- Jim Fitzpatrick – 'Orpheus' illustration
- JT LeRoy – liner notes
- Craig Gentle – design
Charts and certifications
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2
Weekly charts
| Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|
Year-end charts
| Chart (2004) | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums (OCC)<ref name=UKYE>Template:Cite web</ref> | 173 |
Certifications
Template:Certification Table Top Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Bottom Template:Col-end
References
External links
- Meltdown at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
- Template:Usurped at Atomicduster