1977

Spin (7/96, p.96) - "...at their best...these Irish teens are power-pop heartthrobs..." Q (12/99, p.90) - Included in Q Magazine's "90 Best Albums Of The 1990s." Q (7/96, p.112) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...Words informed by Star Wars, Jackie Chan and fancying girls, Wheeler's voice imbues a Ramonic sneer with playful elasticity....1977 is rich with cherishable brio and bluff romanticism..." Alternative Press (8/96, p.70) - 3 (out of 5) - "Ah, so someone else has been at the Black Sabbath albums, and Ash's true intentions are finally laid bare....Ash remain all chirp and charm, but that guitar presages something more than a simple hankering for volume...." Melody Maker (12/21-28/96, pp.66-67) - Ranked #34 on Melody Maker's list of 1996's `Albums Of The Year.' Melody Maker (5/4/96, p.54) - "...`Honestly,' you sneer, before going all funny. 1977 never aspires to be anything beyond `My Guy' indie, boys-next-door making music for girls-next-door. It's as exciting as school discos promised to be, but ultimately as fulfilling..." Kerrang (Magazine) (p.51) - "Ash's timely debut straddled the divide between indie, punk-pop and hard rock with ease." Mojo (Publisher) (p.118) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he bonus material commemorates Ash's early breadth, with a masterful cover of Abba's 'Does Your Mother Know?' offset by creditable faux-American post-hardcore in the shape of '5am Eternal.'" NME (Magazine) (12/21-28/96, pp.66-67) - Ranked #25 in NME's 1996 critic's poll. NME (Magazine) (5/4/96, p.54) - 7 (out of 10) - "...a happy-go-speedy thruzz and thrumble....vaguely charming [with]...simple, honest, priceless standbys--top-hole tunes..."