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	Vol.7, No 41, November 8, 1999
	Ash creates a simple Brit-pop masterpiece By Jason Kosareff Daily Forty-Niner Brit-pop rockers Ash have always taken a different road then their more famous contemporaries such as Blur and Oasis. On their new album, "Nu-clear Sounds," Ash has created a masterpiece of minimalism and understatement. Ash keeps their music even more simplified than Jesus and Mary Chain, producing a sound similar to Sonic Youth while remaining distinctly English. This stripped down, straightforward rock sound upliftingly recalls the days before life became a complicated drag. The simple, somewhat naive lyrics Tim Wheeler sings in his straining voice are tributes to sadness and happiness, without weighing things down with details or hyperbole. While firmly rooted in the punk genre, Ash keep a tight lock on their aggressiveness and don't try to compensate for the simplicity of their music with noise and feedback the way contemporary bands such as Smash do. The first three tracks on the album have the common theme of Butch Vig's masterful mixing. Vig is the guitarist and producer for Garbage. He also produces Smashing Pumpkins. "Jesus Says," "Wild Surf," and "Folk Song" all have the texture and feel of Vig's mixing of layers of chords and multiple vocal dubs. "Numbskull" is an outstanding track about teenage goofiness, an intelligent rejection of conformity. "Burn Out" and "A Life Less Ordinary" are enjoyable tracks about having a crush on someone. Guitarist Charlotte Hatherley chimes in with her melodic vocals on these and a couple of other tracks, adding to the melancholy air of the songs. As on past albums, Wheeler's vocals are rich in tone though rather limited in scale. He perfectly portrays the mood of his lyrics through his innocent voice. Rick McMurray's drumming and Mark Hamilton's bass playing lock into minimalistic rhythms to create a light, lolling pace behind Wheeler and Hatherley strumming, simple punk chords. "Nu-clear Sounds'" end result is a devastating sound filled with resonating loops propelling the songs along.		Vets celebrated in L.B.   Black issues explored   Campus art museum receives gift   Professors show their works at seventh annual book fair   Asthmatic children compete at CSULB   Conference discusses college preparation Boxing fights fixed   Customer service not any help Ash creates a simple Brit-pop masterpiece   Live falls short of credibility Team gets two wins   Basketball teams get feet wet   Women's volleyball team prepares for showdown against Pacific Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.