Meltdown (Ash album)

Meltdown
Studio album by Ash
Released 17 May 2004 (International)
8 March 2005 (USA)
Recorded December 2003–January 2004
Genre Rock[1][2]
Length 42:24
Label Infectious Records
Producer Nick Raskulinecz, Ash
Ash chronology
Intergalactic Sonic 7″s
(2002)		 Meltdown
(2004)		 Twilight of the Innocents
(2007)
Singles from Meltdown
  1. "Clones"
    Released: 25 February 2004
  2. "Orpheus"
    Released: 3 May 2004
  3. "Starcrossed"
    Released: 19 July 2004
  4. "Renegade Cavalcade"
    Released: 6 December 2004
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]
Drowned in Sound(8/10)[4]
Entertainment.ie[1]
The Guardian[2]
Pitchfork Media(6.8/10)[5]
Playlouder link
Stylus Magazine(C+)[6]

Meltdown is the fourth studio album by Ash, which was initially released on 17 May 2004 through Infectious Records. On 8 March 2005 the album was released in the United States. It is a darker and heavier sounding record than Free All Angels.

Release

Meltdown was released through Infectious Records on 17 May 2004. "Meltdown" was released to American radio on 24 May 2005.[7]

In the UK, a limited edition of the album was also made, comprising two Compact Discs, one with the 11 studio recordings and one featuring live versions of the 11 new songs and live versions of three other songs ("A Life Less Ordinary", "Darkside Lightside", and "Burn Baby Burn"). The Japanese limited edition release added live versions of "Girl From Mars", "Walking Barefoot" and "Projects" to the live disc.

The US release includes bonus tracks "Shockwave", "Solace", and "Cool It Down". While many fans of the band enjoyed Meltdown, the album failed to make a splash in the US and was not able to build on the mild success of Free All Angels. The Japanese release includes "Tinseltown" and "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" as bonus tracks. Other b-sides from this era include "We Don't Care" and a cover of Wizzard's "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday", which was recorded for War Child.[8]

Trivia

Tim Wheeler wrote an (almost) day by day diary during the recording of Meltdown. Tim's Studio Diary. The forum topic where Wheeler originally posted the diary (under the alias Kerouac) can be found here.[9]

The introduction in the album's sleeve is written by American writer JT LeRoy.

The track "Evil Eye" begins with the backward message: "She's giving me the Evil Eye. Suck Satan's cock." [10][11]

In January 2007 the track "Meltdown" was remixed and covered by UK electro rock band KIK. Ash loved the punky-electro revamp of their track and gave full support for KIK to distribute and make the mix available for free download. The song was downloadable via KIK's myspace and received radio play from several UK radio stations, including BBC Sheffield and Kerrang FM!

Critical Reception

The album was certified Gold by the BPI on 18 March 2005.

Track listing

All tracks written by Tim Wheeler except where noted. 

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Meltdown"  Charlotte Hatherley, Tim Wheeler 3:24
2. "Orpheus"    4:16
3. "Evil Eye"    3:26
4. "Clones"    4:00
5. "Starcrossed"    4:50
6. "Out of the Blue"  Mark Hamilton, Wheeler 3:24
7. "Renegade Cavalcade"    3:26
8. "Detonator"    3:38
9. "On a Wave"    4:27
10. "Won't Be Saved"    3:41
11. "Vampire Love"    3:45

Personnel

Ash

Additional musicians

  • Oli Kraus - cello on "Vampire Love"

Technical

  • Nick Raskulinecz - production
  • Ash - co-production
  • Rich Costey - mixing
  • Mike Terry - engineering
  • Claudius Mittendorfer - mixing assistant
  • Miles Wilson - engineering assistant
  • Kevin Szymanski - engineering assistant
  • Howie Weinberg - mastering
  • Jon @ Drum Fettish - drum technician
  • Bobby Schneck - session guitar technician
  • Matt Sharp - photography
  • Adrian Boot - photography
  • Rori Keating - illustrations
  • Jim Fitzpatrick - 'Orpheus' illustration
  • Jt LeRoy - liner notes
  • Craig Gentle - design

References

  1. 1 2 "Ash - Meltdown - Review by Andrew Lynch - entertainment ireland, Music, CD Reviews". Web.archive.org. 2007-09-27. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2016-01-14.
  2. 1 2 Steve Pill. "CD: Ash, Meltdown | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-01-14.
  3. ↑ Damas, Jason. "Meltdown - Ash". Allmusic. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  4. ↑ Adams, Sean (2008-07-26). "Drowned in Sound - Reviews - Albums - Ash - Meltdown". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 26 July 2008. Retrieved 2016-01-14.
  5. ↑ Crock, Jason (2005-03-28). "Ash: Meltdown | Album Reviews | Pitchfork". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 2016-01-14.
  6. ↑ "Ash - Meltdown - Review". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved 2016-01-14.
  7. ↑ "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  8. ↑ Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ "Random ASH Facts". Ashtabs.tripod.com. Retrieved 2016-01-14.
  11. ↑ "Liverpool". BBC News. Retrieved 2016-01-14.
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