Chart veterans before their 30s, over the course of their career Ash have faced the same problem that’s troubled the likes of The Undertones and Ramones: once capturing teendom’s fizz and angst so effortlessly (as Ash did with debut album 1977), what to do? Ash flirted with scuzzy alt.rock and fragile ballads on underrated follow-up Nuclear Sounds, before rediscovering their pop suss with Free All Angels and floundering thereafter.
Wisely, this compilation is firmly rooted in those early years. The first half zips by: a relentless rush of effervescent hits from Girl From Mars to Burn Baby Burn. The arrangements may be route one and frontman Tim Wheeler’s voice never up to much, but the performances and melodies still thrill. Things begin to get a little more problematic midway; singles such as You Can’t Have It All and Starcrossed feel like directionless, leaden attempts at capturing past glories.
The deluxe edition’s DVD features the long-buried tour documentary, Teenage Wildlife. An account of their international adventures following the release of 1977 and boasting a wicked script courtesy of Steven Wells, narrated by a note-perfect Ewan McGregor, the antics of the then-teenage popstars makes it obvious why it remained on the shelf for so long. It’s great, gonzoid fun and fans willing to pay the extra cash won’t be disappointed.
