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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Free All Angels
by Ash


9.0

based on 11 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 5 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

This is the third album for the Irish indie-punk quartet, and takes a less harsh, more pop approach than their poorly-received 1998 sophomore effort 'Nu-Clear Sounds.'

LABEL:	Kinetic / Infectious / Edel
RELEASE DATE:	25 June 2002
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Indie, Rock, Britpop

NOTES: The Kinetic release in 2002 contains a bonus DVD. Originally released 16 April 2001 in the UK.

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Entertainment Weekly

Ash have returned to the clean, uncomplicated sound of their mid-'90s debut. [2 Aug 2002, p.74]

Splendid

A modern-rock radio record for folks with a few more brain cells to rub together than the Andrew WK set.

All Music Guide

At times, John Barry conducting the Buzzcocks; at others, EMF covering Petula Clark.

Launch.com

It strikes a balance between the buzzy pop of their first album and the heavier thud of their second.

Blender

A further step forward. [Jun/Jul 2002, p.102]

Alternative Press

Free All Angels is punchy guitar pop in extremis, sliding so breathlessly from anthemic chorus to soaring hook that it's hard to believe any band could actually want to have this much fun and sound this important. [Aug 2002, p.69]

Stylus Magazine

For the first time since their full-length debut album 1977, Ash have achieved synergy between their sweet-as-milkshake pop and the full-on heavy metal and punk that inspired Hamilton and Wheeler to pick up guitars in the first place.

Pitchfork

It's a damn good pop album, with a little muscle behind its melodies to boot.

Austin Chronicle

Free All Angels is awfully consistent in its ardent desire to make your ears ring.

Rolling Stone

Half of Free All Angels sinks under sluggish ballad tempos, sour strings and, in "Submission," unnecessary electronica. But the half that doesn't, such as "Walking Barefoot," is solid chain-saw fun, some of the best '77 you'll hear in 2002.

PopMatters

Fact is, a good song's a good song, no matter how derivative it is, and Free All Angels is loaded with them.

The average user rating for this album is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 5 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

tim gave it a9:
their best album yet

matt a gave it a9:
Catchy and engaging. Plus, gotta love the dvd that comes with it. The video for Candy just makes that classic even better.

Gavin R gave it a9:
tim wheeler is one of the best sonwriters around... shining light is one of the best love songs of recent times. its a shame they cant reproduce music to this standard more consistantly, their previous two albums fell short of the mark but this is a true return to form and arguably better than'1977'

Amber C. gave it a 10:
i love this album! i can't get it out of my head!

Gerry L. gave it an 8:
Excellent, powerful and melodious pop.

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Free All Angels by Ash

Free All Angels
by Ash