Ashes Grammar
Ashes Grammar is the second studio album by American indie rock band A Sunny Day in Glasgow. It was released on September 15, 2009, by Mis Ojos Discos.[4]
Ashes Grammar | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 15, 2009 | |||
Recorded | September – December 2008 | |||
Studio | Downtown Performing Arts Center (Lambertville, New Jersey) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 63:08 | |||
Label | Mis Ojos Discos | |||
A Sunny Day in Glasgow chronology | ||||
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Singles from Ashes Grammar | ||||
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Background and recording
Following a successful European tour, A Sunny Day in Glasgow's Ben Daniels began preparations for the recording of the band's next album.[5] He rented a large dance studio space within the Downtown Performing Arts Center in Lambertville, which became the primary location for recording.[5][6] He and bandmate Josh Meakim then began experimenting with sounds and setting up microphones in the space.[5] Prior to the start of formal work on the album, however, three members of A Sunny Day in Glasgow departed the band under varying circumstances: Brice Hickey, who had "very seriously" broken his legs in an accident while loading equipment into his car on the day that recording was set to begin; Lauren Daniels, who left in order to care for Hickey, her then-boyfriend; and Robin Daniels, who wished to pursue her graduate studies.[7] The band was subsequently reduced to Ben Daniels and Josh Meakim.[7] Annie Fredrickson was later invited to join A Sunny Day in Glasgow on the recommendation of a fan of the band who was familiar to Ben Daniels "from shows", after Daniels asked the fan whether he knew any vocalists.[8] The trio of Daniels, Meakim and Fredrickson helmed the album's recording.[9]
Ashes Grammar was recorded from September to December 2008.[6] The expansiveness of the dance studio space allowed Ben Daniels the freedom to experiment with different acoustics.[8] He has cited Alvin Lucier's I Am Sitting in a Room as an influence on the recording process.[7][8] As Lauren and Robin Daniels, the lead singers on earlier A Sunny Day in Glasgow recordings, had left the band, vocal duties on Ashes Grammar were shared by Fredrickson and Meakim.[5] Fredrickson's friend Beverly Science performed additional vocals on the album.[5] Mich White, who was previously a touring bassist for A Sunny Day in Glasgow, also "contributed ideas" from his home in Austin.[5]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 6.9/10[10] |
Metacritic | 77/100[11] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Drowned in Sound | 8/10[13] |
NME | 5/10[14] |
Pitchfork | 8.3/10[15] |
PopMatters | 6/10[16] |
The Skinny | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Tiny Mix Tapes | 4.5/5[18] |
In 2016, Pitchfork ranked Ashes Grammar at number 35 on its list of the best shoegaze albums of all time.[2]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Ben Daniels, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Magna for Annie, Josh, and Robin" | 0:10 | |
2. | "Secrets at the Prom" | 0:42 | |
3. | "Slaughter Killing Carnage (The Meaning of Words)" | 2:12 | |
4. | "Failure" |
| 3:30 |
5. | "Curse Words" |
| 1:43 |
6. | "Close Chorus" | 6:24 | |
7. | "Shy" | 5:43 | |
8. | "Lights" | 0:22 | |
9. | "Passionate Introverts (Dinosaurs)" |
| 4:31 |
10. | "West Philly Vocoder" | 2:05 | |
11. | "Evil, with Evil, Against Evil" | 2:30 | |
12. | "The White Witch" |
| 3:51 |
13. | "Nitetime Rainbows" |
| 5:31 |
14. | "Canalfish" |
| 1:30 |
15. | "Loudly" |
| 1:51 |
16. | "Blood White" | 4:20 | |
17. | "Ashes Grammar" | 1:11 | |
18. | "Ashes Maths" | 3:23 | |
19. | "Miss My Friends" | 1:30 | |
20. | "Starting at a Disadvantage" | 4:41 | |
21. | "Life's Great" | 0:41 | |
22. | "Headphone Space" | 4:47 | |
Total length: | 63:08 |
Notes
- The track order for the LP edition repositions "Blood White" between "Passionate Introverts (Dinosaurs)" and "West Philly Vocoder".
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[6]
A Sunny Day in Glasgow
- Ben Daniels
- Robin Daniels
- Annie Fredrickson
- Brice Hickey
- Josh Meakim
- Beverly Science
- Mich White
Additional musicians
- Jody Hamilton – horns on "Failure" and "Close Chorus"
- Ryan Mitchell – theremin on "Curse Words"
- Chuck Nicholson – vibraphone on "Nitetime Rainbows"
References
- Fischer, Jonathan L. (December 10, 2009). "On Rabid Dogs and Other Crises: A Chat with a Sunny Day in Glasgow". Washington City Paper. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- "The 50 Best Shoegaze Albums of All Time". Pitchfork. October 24, 2016. p. 2. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
- "Shy by A Sunny Day In Glasgow". United States: Apple Music. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- Breihan, Tom (June 22, 2009). "A Sunny Day in Glasgow Announce Second Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- "A Sunny Day in Glasgow share first MP3 from Ashes Grammar" (Press release). Force Field PR. July 27, 2009. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- Ashes Grammar (liner notes). A Sunny Day in Glasgow. Mis Ojos Discos. 2009. OJO004.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Schube, Will (June 16, 2017). "A Sunny Day In Glasgow Interview". Vinyl Me, Please. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
- Tincknell, Devon; Gordon, Scott (November 19, 2009). "A Sunny Day In Glasgow: 'We don't have a career!'". The A.V. Club. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- Clayman, Andrew (November 26, 2009). "Change is good for Philly dream-popsters A Sunny Day in Glasgow". Nashville Scene. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- "Ashes Grammar by A Sunny Day In Glasgow reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
- "Ashes Grammar by A Sunny Day in Glasgow Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- Reges, Margaret. "Ashes Grammar – A Sunny Day in Glasgow". AllMusic. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
- Takru, Radhika (September 29, 2009). "Album Review: A Sunny Day In Glasgow – Ashes Grammar". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
- Dosanjh, Ash (September 27, 2009). "Album review: A Sunny Day In Glasgow – 'Ashes Grammar' (Mis Ojos Discos)". NME. Archived from the original on November 10, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
- Gaerig, Andrew (September 15, 2009). "A Sunny Day in Glasgow: Ashes Grammar". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
- Schumer, Ben (September 15, 2009). "A Sunny Day in Glasgow: Ashes Grammar". PopMatters. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
- Crichton, Ian (September 4, 2009). "A Sunny Day in Glasgow – Ashes Grammar". The Skinny. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
- Embling (November 19, 2009). "A Sunny Day In Glasgow – Ashes Grammar". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
External links
- Ashes Grammar at Discogs (list of releases)