Meltdown - Ash
Metascore
78 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
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  1. Playlouder
    100
    Great pop from a great band.
  2. Dot Music
    80
    “Meltdown” is a sturdy, well-written and (perpetually adolescent lyrics aside) mature addition to Ash’s enduring and near-essential canon – ample reward for ten years’ loyal support.
  3. Under The Radar
    80
    The band's melodies continue to be undeniable, but when guitar solos are added to the mix, the combination is electric. [#9]
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  4. Mojo
    80
    Retains the gum-tingling pop harmonies and guitar-throttling riffs of previous albums, but their reedy punk sinew has swollen into rock muscle. [Jun 2004, p.112]
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  5. All Music Guide
    80
    A surprisingly strong and assured record.
  6. Q Magazine
    80
    Ash have turned in a bullish and cocksure fifth studio album to delight the faithful. [Jun 2004, p.95]
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  7. Alternative Press
    80
    Noisy pop-punk that's bratty with pogoing entitlement. [Apr 2005, p.124]
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  8. Drowned In Sound
    80
    This is Ash ready for stadiums, standing their ground and treating us to the kind of rock their heroes made.
  9. Neumu.net
    80
    If you're a fan of tuneful, American-influenced pop-punk, Ash are waiting to burn a hole through your heart.
  10. Amazon.com
    80
    Meltdown is easily Ash's best album since 1977; this is the sound of a band becoming interesting again. [Amazon UK]
  11. Logo
    70
    A below par effort by their high standards.
  12. Pitchfork
    68
    Sadly missing here is Ash's sense of vulnerability, a key element to their charm.
  13. Entertainment Weekly
    67
    Meltdown gets stuck in a hard-rock rut. [11 Mar 2005, p.104]
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  14. The Guardian
    60
    A straight-ahead rock album that already sounds like a festival set list in waiting.
  15. PopMatters
    60
    Ash manage to connect more often than not, and when the songs do work, the riffs and hooks achieve a surprisingly effective balance.
  16. Stylus Magazine
    58
    Ultimately, Meltdown isn’t as dramatic a failure as its title seems to be begging me to pronounce it--in fact it isn’t really a failure at all. It’s just a crucial dip in momentum.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 17 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
  1. Ricko
    8
    In trying to follow up their number 1 hit album Free All Angels, Ash went
    for a heavier sound this time round. An album that really deserved m    ore
    success and recognition than it got. While it doesn't have the same volume
    of radio hits as Free All Angels or 1977, as a whole album it's arguably
    the bands strongest. Some great guitar work going on while Dave Grohl was
    reportedly a major fan of Rick McMurrays drumming on the album. Perhaps the
    reason for its commercial underperformance slipping off the radar was that
    it was caught between being too heavy for Ash's core fans and having too
    much pop melody going on to attract in the rock element.    … Full Review »
  2. matta
    9
    Overall, a great album and an amazing singles album. Just as good and maybe even better than the much-hyped Free All Angels
  3. TimothyF
    8
    A lot harder than the last. More mature than those before. It fits.
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