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 The volcano has erupted, soon the land will be covered in Ash, and earth's inhabitants will smile. Ash's latest release, Free All Angels, is one of those albums that you listen to once and its streamlined rock won't leave your head. The charming band from Belfast began in 1989 when Mark Hamilton and Tim Wheeler made the decision to be the next Megadeth. But after drummer Rick McMurray joined the band, they literally changed their tune. The group released Trailer in 1995 and the disc 1977 in 1996. At the wee age of 17, the members of Ash were soon the media darlings of the UK. In 1999, a second guitarist, Charlotte Hatherley, came aboard and the band released Nu-Clear Sounds to lukewarm reviews. But then the phoenix peaked her head out of the ashes (heh heh) and 2001's Free All Angels was released to non-stop praise across the globe. What a kick in the pants – the album was released last year but smarties like you and me are only hearing it now. As the cliché goes, better late than never. A band doesn't sell out two shows at the Bowery Ballroom and get invited to open for Coldplay if it's mediocre. NY Rock caught up with Rick McMurray to talk about being a teenage rock hipster, the new sound of Ash, and what the band brings to the American table. (Note: Rick's brogue is thicker than molasses in January. I did my best to interpret the guy. Apologies, Rick. I owe you a pint.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NYROCK: |
What was it like to be lavished by the press at such a young age? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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RICK: | It was totally insane coming from a little town where not much happened. We went around the world, had a number-one album... We weren't adults; we were still basically kids. We didn't really understand the business side of things, how they worked or the whole press thing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NYROCK: |
Were there any downsides to being so-called "media darlings" and "chart-toppers"? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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RICK: |
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NYROCK: |
The new album is a bit more shiny than past releases, more of a pop-rock twist. Was that a conscious change in style? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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RICK: | When writing the album we didn't really think of any specific direction for it. It was just very natural. You know, we didn't sit down with a specific direction. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NYROCK: |
Are you happy with the outcome? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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RICK: | Oh, yeah, definitely. I think it's our best album. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NYROCK: |
What are some of your favorite new songs? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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RICK: | Um, "Burn Baby Burn" seems to be good and "Shining Light" as well – it's the first single in the UK. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NYROCK: |
What do you want to bring to your American audiences? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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RICK: | We're quite different from most of the music out there. There's a lot of nu-metal out there, and that seems quite angsty and little bit depressed, so I think [we'll bring] positivity. I think the timing's right as well. Bands like Weezer and Jimmy Eat World seem to be kicking off here as well so there seems to be more of a mood towards melodic music. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NYROCK: |
Are you guys excited to tour with Coldplay? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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RICK: | Oh yeah, we're big fans of them. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NYROCK: |
Who would win in a bar fight, Ash or Coldplay? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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RICK: | Oh, I think Ash would win definitely! September 2002
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