Minimalism Project - Free All Angels by Ash

A couple of years ago I started attempting to review all the albums that I owned. I got about four or five in and lost momentum. This year I intend to listen to every CD I own - and if I don't love it I will get rid of it. (read more about my minimalism project here) I am going to do mini reviews of the albums as I go.


Free All Angels - Ash (2001)

This is an album I bought three or four years ago in a sale and for some reason it never even made it out of its cellophane wrapper. Ash very much evoke the early 2000's for me - they have a very particular pop-punkish style that is very much of that time. Ash remind me a of quite a few other - some of their tracks are definitely almost pop-punk but others are more influenced by bands like The Happy Mondays and Oasis. I am surprised at just how many tracks are familiar - my top track, and probably their best known from this album, is Shining Light. Ash was one of those bands that were featured quite a lot on the soundtrack of Teachers - a TV programme that was really popular in the early 2000's and listening to this CD really made me want to rewatch it. Maybe it will be revived on Netflix eventually.

I thought this was a CD that was headed straight for the go pile but am finding it surprisingly enjoyable. Apparently this was in Q magazines top fifty albums of 2001. A keeper for now.

Minimalism Project - Hello Love by The Be Good Tanyas

A couple of years ago I started attempting to review all the albums that I owned. I got about four or five in and lost momentum. This year I intend to listen to every CD I own - and if I don't love it I will get rid of it. (read more about my minimalism project here) I am going to do mini reviews of the albums as I go.

Hello Love by The Be Good Tanyas (2006)

I was introduced to The Be Good Tanyas and Frazey Ford by the sister of my ex partner. Frazey has a unique singing style which is not everyone's cup of tea, but I really like it. She almost slurs her words at times and it is sometimes hard to make out the lyrics. This could be in part due to her accent but might also be a country/folk style choice.

Probably the most famous track on this album is A Thousand Tiny Pieces but there are a host of great songs on here - including a rather lovely folky cover of Prince's When Doves Cry. I was interested to read on Wikipedia that members of The Old Crow Medicine show are guest players on the album. I have been a fan of Old Crow saw the film Big Easy Express.

This album was a bargain - I picked it up for a pound in a charity shop recently. A pound well spent. Definitely a keeper.