Nu-Clear Sounds

Nu-Clear Sounds
Studio album by Ash
Released	5 October 1998(UK) May 11, 1999(USA)
Recorded	March- June 1998
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	50:25
Label	Infectious
Producer	Ash, Chris Kimsey, Owen Morris
Ash chronology
Live at the Wireless (1997) Nu-Clear Sounds (1998) Free All Angels (2001)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Pitchfork Media	(6.9/10)[2]
Sorted	(Positive)[3]
The Observer	(Negative)[4]

Nu-Clear Sounds is the second official studio album by Ash, released on 5 October 1998. Despite not being as publicly acclaimed as the other albums, it was certified Gold by the BPI.

On May 11, 1999 Nu-Clear Sounds was released in the United States.

Background

It was the first album by the band to feature new member Charlotte Hatherley. However, the majority of the album, along with Free All Angels and Meltdown, has rarely been played as of 2008^[update] since her departure from the line-up. The tone of the album was a noticeable departure from the sound of 1977, having a much darker edge, reflecting the mood of the band at the time, who were suffering from burn out as a result of near non-stop touring since their 1996 album 1977. Despite this, the songs still contain the trademark elements of Ash songs. The album also had more of a American indie and Grunge influences from the like's of The Smashing Pumpkins, Husker Du, Nirvana and Nada Surf along with Weezer's first 2 albums Weezer and Pinkerton.

Track listing

1. "Projects" – 3:53
2. "Low Ebb" – 5:00
3. "Jesus Says" – 4:44
4. "Wildsurf" – 3:26
5. "Death Trip 21" – 4:08
6. "Folk Song" – 4:54
7. "Numbskull" – 3:09
8. "Burn Out" – 4:02
9. "Aphrodite" – 4:17
10. "Fortune Teller" – 3:22
11. "I'm Gonna Fall" – 5:13

Produced by Ash, Chris Kimsey and Owen Morris
Mixed by Owen Morris and Ash
Recorded by David Nicholas
Additional Engineering by Nick Brine, Sorrel Merchant and Damon Iddins
Mastered by Mike Marsh

Alternate editions

The American version of the album features the song "A Life Less Ordinary" (taken from the film of the same name) as track 12, the Japanese version has "Taken Out" as track 12 with "A Life Less Ordinary" as track 13. The tracks "Jesus Says", "Wildsurf" and "Folksong" were remixed by Butch Vig for the American edition. The Australian edition featured two bonus tracks, "Radiation" and "Dancing on the Moon".

References

1. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Review: Nu-Clear Sounds - Ash". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r378973. Retrieved 29 July 2009. 
2. ^ Pitchfork Media review
3. ^ Gleeson, Michael. "Review: Ash - Nu-Clear Sounds (Infectious)". sortedmagazine.com. http://sortedmagazine.com/archive/magazine/albums/ash.htm. Retrieved 29 July 2009. 
4. ^ Spencer, Neil. "Review: Ash - Nu-Clear Sounds". The Observer Review (Guardian Media Group) (October 4, 1998): 7.