''Kablammo!'' is the sixth studio album by Northern Irish
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
band
Ash
Ash or ashes are the solid remnants of fires. Specifically, ''ash'' refers to all non-aqueous, non- gaseous residues that remain after something burns. In analytical chemistry, to analyse the mineral and metal content of chemical samples, ash ...
. It was released on 25 May 2015, through Earmusic. During 2009 and 2010, the band released a collection of singles as part of the ''
A–Z Series
The ''A–Z Series'' is a series of singles by alternative rock band Ash. Consisting of 26 singles, each represented by a letter of the alphabet, the singles were first released on a fortnightly basis from 12 October 2009 until 27 September 201 ...
''; in the years following, frontman
Tim Wheeler re-thought his stance on albums. Between December 2014 and February 2015, the band recorded their next album at Atomic Heart Studios in New York City, with them and Claudius Mittendorfer co-producing the sessions. Described as a
pop rock
Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...
and
power pop
Power pop (also typeset as powerpop) is a form of pop rock based on the early music of bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. It typically incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, an energetic performance, and ch ...
release, ''Kablammo!'' attempted to capture the live sound of the band.
Preceded by lead single "Cocoon" in February 2015, the band promoted ''Kablammo!'' with in-store acoustic performances. Over the next few months, they toured the United Kingdom and the United States, played a few festivals, and released music videos for "Free", "Evel Knievel" and "Machinery". "Machinery" was released as the second single in October, and was followed by a music video for "Cocoon", which coincided with a UK tour. In 2016, the band toured Australia, released "Machinery" and "Cocoon" as part of a
Record Store Day
Record Store Day is an annual event inaugurated in 2007 and held on one Saturday (typically the third) every April and every Black Friday in November to "celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store". The day brings together fa ...
7" vinyl release, and appeared at the
2000 Trees Festival
2000trees festival is an independent music festival held from Wednesday to Sunday on the second week of July at Upcote Farm, Withington, near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire. It offers a diverse selection of more than 120 acts across five stages, ...
.
''Kablammo!'' received generally positive reviews from
music critics, some of whom commented on its upbeat energy. The album peaked at number 27 in Ireland, and number 41 in the UK.
Background and production
Ash released their fifth studio album, ''
Twilight of the Innocents
''Twilight of the Innocents'' is the fifth studio album by Irish rock band Ash. It was released on 29 June 2007, through Infectious Records. Following the departure of guitarist Charlotte Hatherley in early 2006, the band began recording their ne ...
'', in July 2007. Before its release, the band viewed it as their last album, with frontman
Tim Wheeler explaining that he was consuming music the way other people were at the time, through playlists and individual tracks.
In 2009, they began releasing a collection of singles, under the name of the ''
A–Z Series
The ''A–Z Series'' is a series of singles by alternative rock band Ash. Consisting of 26 singles, each represented by a letter of the alphabet, the singles were first released on a fortnightly basis from 12 October 2009 until 27 September 201 ...
'', which were followed by two compilation albums of the tracks in 2010.
Drummer Rick McMurray said the even though their fans enjoyed the series, record labels had no interest it; he mentioned that as they had spent more money on recording the series, they found it difficult to promote.
[ By the end of the series, Wheeler was feeling burnt out, and was looking for another challenge the band could take on. He decided to make a Christmas album with his girlfriend Emmy the Great, and did some soundtrack work.]
In November 2011, the band released their second best-of album, ''The Best of Ash
''The Best of Ash'' is the second greatest hits album by the band Ash, released on 17 October 2011.
The CD/DVD edition of the album includes the ''Teenage Wildlife'' documentary of Ash's ''1977'' tour, which is narrated by Ewan McGregor, as wel ...
'', which was promoted with a brief United Kingdom tour with former guitarist Charlotte Hatherley.[ The following month, Wheeler said he was beginning to re-think his stance on the album format. To coincide with the band's 20th anniversary in 2012, they released the ''Little Infinity EP''. Over the next two years, the band played shows and festivals across the UK and the United States, a celebratory tour for their debut studio album '']1977
Events January
* January 8 – Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group.
* January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (now the Democratic R ...
'' (1996) in Australia, and Wheeler released a solo album, '' Lost Domain'' (2014).[ Around this time, Wheeler was witnessing the ]vinyl revival
Vinyl may refer to:
Chemistry
* Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a particular vinyl polymer
* Vinyl cation, a type of carbocation
* Vinyl group, a broad class of organic molecules in chemistry
* Vinyl polymer, a group of polymers derived from vinyl m ...
, and buying records again, in order to gain "the essence of what an album was again."[
Wheeler got into the habit of writing multiple songs per day, as many as seven or eight, for up to 12 hour long writing sessions. The attempts were fruitful, resulting in eight tracks that would feature on their next album.][ ''Kablammo!'' was recorded at Atomic Heart Studios in New York City, with Ash and Claudius Mittendorfer co-producing the sessions; Mittendorfer also acted as the engineer.][ The album was financed by their fans through the ]crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising money from a large number of people, typically via the internet. Crowdfunding is a form of crowdsourcing and alternative finance. In 2015, over was raised worldwide by crow ...
platform PledgeMusic in December 2014, and completed by February 2015. 18 songs were recorded in total out of a selection of 40.[ Strings were recorded by Martin Hollis, with assistance from Andy Cook, at British Grove Studios in London. Mittendorfer mixed the recordings, before they were mastered by John Davis at Metropolis.][
]
Composition
Musically, the sound of ''Kablammo!'' has been described as pop rock
Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...
, and power pop
Power pop (also typeset as powerpop) is a form of pop rock based on the early music of bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. It typically incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, an energetic performance, and ch ...
. The album's title ''Kablammo!'' comes from a drum sample that the band was sent from a friend of theirs; McMurray said Wheeler felt this was a good name as they wanted "something fun" to contrast ''Twilight of the Innocents''. Wheeler wrote all of the songs, except for "Dispatch" which he co-wrote with bassist Mark Hamilton.[ McMurray said they attempted to "capture the live essence" of the band, adding that '']Meltdown
Meltdown may refer to:
Science and technology
* Nuclear meltdown, a severe nuclear reactor accident
* Meltdown (security vulnerability), affecting computer processors
* Mutational meltdown, in population genetics
Arts and entertainment Music
* Me ...
'' (2004) was the "closest sonic predecessor", crossed with the writing of the singles from '' Free All Angels'' (2001). He also said they removed the electronic textures of the ''A–Z Series'', in favour of a "streamlined, blazing guitar record."[
For the lyrical themes, Wheeler said he re-listened to ''1977'' and ''Free All Angels'' to evoke nostalgia: "So there’s a lot of summer and referring back to our crazy days on tour when we were kids". He added that it was an intentional upbeat contrast to the dark nature of ]Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegeneration, neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and progressively worsens. It is the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in short-term me ...
that he wrote about on ''Lost Domain''.[ Two years prior, Wheeler got into ]Muay Thai
Muay Thai ( th, มวยไทย, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. This discipline is known as the "art of eight limbs", as it is characterised ...
kickboxing
Kickboxing is a combat sports, combat sport focused on kicking and punch (strike), punching. The combat takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouthguards, shorts, and bare feet to favour the use of kicks. Kickboxing is pract ...
, which he said was alluded to in the album's title, and had influenced some of the songs. He wrote some of the tracks on a ukulele, which he felt showcased their simplicity. Wheeler mentioned that the Australian trek for ''1977'' influenced ''Kablammo!'', as they wanted an album that could work well in a live setting. Strings were arranged by Ilan Eshkeri
Ilan Eshkeri (born 7 April 1977) is a British neoclassical composer known for his concert music, films scores and artist collaborations.
Early life
Eshkeri was born to a Jewish family in London. During his childhood, he learned to play the ...
, conducted by Andy Brown, and performed by the London Metropolitan Orchestra.[
''Kablammo!'' opens with two power pop tracks, "Cocoon" and "Let's Ride".][ The latter sees ]AC/DC
AC/DC (stylised as ACϟDC) are an Australian Rock music, rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by Scottish-born brothers Malcolm Young, Malcolm and Angus Young. Their music has been variously described as hard rock, blues rock, and Heavy metal ...
-like guitar riffs being played over a Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991) was a British singer and songwriter, who achieved worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. Regarded as one of the greatest singers in the ...
-styled chorus section.[ "Machinery" comes across as a mix of ]Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and m ...
and Rivers Cuomo, and is followed by the slow-building pop
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Pop music, a musical genre Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade
* Pop!, a UK pop group
* Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band
Albums
* ''Pop'' (G ...
song "Free". With the former, Wheeler attempted the song as if "someone from the 90s to have just passed out for 20 years and woke up today". "Go! Fight! Win" features cheerleader chants from Leanne Macoomber, Laura Mittendorfer, and Danielle Johnson.[
"Moondust" is a piano-and-strings ballad that comes across as a mix between James Bond theme songs and "]Don't Stop Believin'
"Don't Stop Believin' is a song by American rock band Journey (band), Journey. It was released in October 1981 as the second single from the group's seventh studio album, ''Escape (Journey album), Escape'' (1981), released through Columbia Reco ...
" (1981) by Journey.[ "Evel Knievel" is an instrumental surf song, which features dialogue from the film '']Evel Knievel
Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel (; October 17, 1938 – November 30, 2007) was an American stunt performer and entertainer. Over the course of his career, he attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps. Knievel was inducted into the Motor ...
'' (1971), and is followed by the Killers
The Killers are an American rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingd ...
-tinged "Hedonism".[ "Dispatch" was compared to " Stay Together for the Kids" (2001) by Blink-182, and features an ]Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. While fluid in the early years of the band, the lineup for most of the band's history has consisted of Harri ...
-indebted guitar solo; it is followed by the power pop song "Shutdown".[ Penultimate track "For Eternity" is a piano ballad that is followed by the closer, "Bring Back the Summer", an ]electropop
Electropop is a hybrid music genre combining elements of electronic and pop genres. Writer Hollin Jones has described it as a variant of synth-pop with heavy emphasis on its electronic sound. The genre was developed in the 1980s and saw a re ...
song with synthesizers and drum machines.[
]
Release
"Cocoon" was released as the lead single on 18 February 2015; it was released on cassette on 28 March. On 1 April, ''Kablammo!'' was announced for release the following month, with its track listing being posted online. ''Kablammo!'' was released on 25 May, through Earmusic, and was promoted with a few in-store acoustic performances.[ The following month, the band went a short UK tour in June, and an appearance at the Long Division Festival. On 17 June, a music video was released for "Free", directed by ]Mat Whitecross
Mat Whitecross (born 21 September 1977) is an English film director, editor and screenwriter. He began his career working for filmmaker Michael Winterbottom and producer Andrew Eaton at Revolution Films, being also known for directing ''The Road ...
; it shows the band performing inside of an insane asylum. In August and September, the band performed at the Bingley Music Live
Bingley Music Live was an annual music festival held in Myrtle Park, Bingley, West Yorkshire, England. The festival featured a range of musical genres including rock, alternative rock, indie rock and pop music. Organised by City of Bradford Coun ...
, Y Not
''Y Not'' is the 16th studio album by Ringo Starr, released on 12 January 2010 on the UMe and Hip-O Records labels.
Music, lyrics and recording
"Peace Dream" features former Beatle Paul McCartney on bass; another Beatle, John Lennon is re ...
, and Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend. The Reading Festiv ...
. Music videos were released for "Evel Knievel" and "Machinery" on 18 August and 23 September, respectively.
On 7 September 2015, the band released the ''Kablammo! Acoustic EP'', which featured acoustic versions of some of the tracks. The band then went on a tour of the United States, which continued into October. On 9 October, "Machinery" was released as a single. On 1 December, a music video was released for "Cocoon". Later in the month, the band toured the UK, with support from Asylums. In March 2016, the band embarked on a tour of Australia. The following month, "Machinery" and "Cocoon" were released as a 7" vinyl as part of Record Store Day
Record Store Day is an annual event inaugurated in 2007 and held on one Saturday (typically the third) every April and every Black Friday in November to "celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store". The day brings together fa ...
. In June, the band appeared at the 2000 Trees Festival
2000trees festival is an independent music festival held from Wednesday to Sunday on the second week of July at Upcote Farm, Withington, near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire. It offers a diverse selection of more than 120 acts across five stages, ...
. "Cocoon" and "Machinery" were included on the band's third compilation album ''Teenage Wildlife: 25 Years of Ash'' (2020).
Reception
''Kablammo!'' was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...
, the album received an average
In ordinary language, an average is a single number taken as representative of a list of numbers, usually the sum of the numbers divided by how many numbers are in the list (the arithmetic mean). For example, the average of the numbers 2, 3, 4, 7, ...
score of 76, based on 11 reviews.[
'' Alternative Press'' writer Annie Zaleski said that "as its name implies, ''Kablammo!'' is exuberant and energetic," adding that it "even succeeds when it puts the brakes on fuzz and speed".][ Joe Whyte of '' Louder Than War'' wrote that all of Ash's typical trademarks "are present and correct. Summery, slicing power-punk gusto, Laurel Canyon meets The ]Ramones
The Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first true punk rock group. Despite achieving a limited commercial appeal in the United ...
harmonies and string-bedecked pop nuggets frame Tim Wheeler’s lovelorn lyrics." He complimented the production for "benefiting
Ing, ING or ing may refer to:
Art and media
* '' ...ing'', a 2003 Korean film
* i.n.g, a Taiwanese girl group
* The Ing, a race of dark creatures in the 2004 video game '' Metroid Prime 2: Echoes''
* "Ing", the first song on The Roches' 1992 ...
Ash; they sound leaner, hungrier and quite frankly, burn like they’re having a whale of a good time."[ '']Classic Rock
Classic rock is a US radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the mid 1990s, primar ...
'' Michael Koehler wrote that the album can be "paraphrased with a full set of adjectives that read: dynamic, powerful, energetic, fresh, young, fiery, present and gifted ingenious."[ '']musicOMH
MusicOMH (stylized as musicOMH) is a London-based online music magazine which publishes independent reviews, features and interviews from across all genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.
History
MusicOMH was founded and launched by ...
'' contributor Graeme Marsh saw it as a "mixed bag f styles but this is no mixed bag quality wise. ... is album provides ample proof that Ash’s embers still fizzle away and look likely so to do for some time yet."[ ]AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance writer, occ ...
wrote that it was "nicely paced, bursting out of the gates with big hooks and thunder beats, finding space to breathe ... ending with a pair of bittersweet elegies."[
'']PopMatters
''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...
'' writer Matt James called it "pretty much a triumph ... clearly prov ngthat, despite the passing of time, Ash can still kick ass." He added that it was " ankfully more rebirth than retread".[ '' The Music'' Mac McNaughton wrote that the band "refocused and delivering what they always did best: an album full of rambunctious songs that could be singles."][ Lisa Sookraj of '']Exclaim!
''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly Exclaim! print magazine publishes 7 ...
'' wrote that the album "feels more like driving across the prairies than a trek across the mountainous peaks of their earlier work." She explained that the band "still generate radio-friendly tunes", though they "lack the depth that they demonstrated at their peak," coming across as a re-hash of their older material.[ '']Evening Standard
The ''Evening Standard'', formerly ''The Standard'' (1827–1904), also known as the ''London Evening Standard'', is a local free daily newspaper in London, England, published Monday to Friday in tabloid format.
In October 2009, after be ...
'' reviewer John Aizlewood said it was the band "at their most powerful and concise", with Wheeler having "never lost the knack of penning a short, sharp punk anthem .[ '']Drowned in Sound
''Drowned in Sound'', sometimes abbreviated to ''DiS'', is a UK-based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway. Founded by editor Sean Adams, the site features reviews, news, interviews, and discussion forums.
History
''D ...
'' writer Paul Brown said that while the album offers " enough to justify its existence within Ash’s powerful back catalogue, it really does feel like it tails off towards the end."[
''Kablammo!'' charted at number 27 in Ireland,][ and number 41 in the UK.][
]
Track listing
All songs written by Tim Wheeler, except where noted.[
]
Personnel
Personnel per booklet.
Ash
* Tim Wheeler – vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards
* Mark Hamilton – bass
* Rick McMurray – drums, percussion
Additional musicians
* Leanne Macoomber – cheerleader (track 5)
* Laura Mittendorfer – cheerleader (track 5)
* Danielle Johnson – cheerleader (track 5)
* Ilan Eshkeri
Ilan Eshkeri (born 7 April 1977) is a British neoclassical composer known for his concert music, films scores and artist collaborations.
Early life
Eshkeri was born to a Jewish family in London. During his childhood, he learned to play the ...
– string arrangement
* London Metropolitan Orchestra – strings
* Andy Brown – conductor
Production
* Ash
Ash or ashes are the solid remnants of fires. Specifically, ''ash'' refers to all non-aqueous, non- gaseous residues that remain after something burns. In analytical chemistry, to analyse the mineral and metal content of chemical samples, ash ...
– producer
* Claudius Mittendorfer – producer, engineer, mixing
* Martin Hollis – recording
* Andy Cook – assistant
* John Davis – mastering
* Pedro Inoue – art direction, illustrations
* Alex Lake – photography
Charts
References
External links
''Kablammo!''
at YouTube
YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
(streamed copy where licensed)
{{Authority control
2015 albums
Ash (band) albums