Islands
Islands is the seventh studio album by Northern Irish rock band Ash, released on 18 May 2018. It followed the touring cycle for Kablammo! (2015), at a time when frontman Tim Wheeler was going through a break-up. He travelled the world to isolate himself, writing several songs in each place he stopped. The band then regrouped to record at Atom Heart Studios in New York City, with Wheeler producing.
The result is a power pop record, one that drew comparisons to the Beach Boys, the Ramones and the Undertones. "Buzzkill", "Annabel" and "Confessions in the Pool" were released as singles, and critics generally responded warmly, noting its catchy songs and Wheeler's lyrics. It reached number 18 in the UK. If you like your heartbreak wrapped in big hooks, it's worth a listen.
Islands: tracklist, credits and charts
12 tracks · 50:05Tracklist
- 1True StoryTim Wheeler3:20
- 2AnnabelTim Wheeler3:13
- 3BuzzkillTim Wheeler2:31
- 4Confessions in the PoolTim Wheeler4:23
- 5All That I Have LeftTim Wheeler3:32
- 6Don't Need Your LoveTim Wheeler3:55
- 7SomersaultTim Wheeler3:05
- 8Did Your Love Burn Out?Tim Wheeler4:35
- 9Silver SuitTim Wheeler4:13
- 10It's a TrapTim Wheeler4:27
- 11Is It True?Tim Wheeler4:03
- 12Incoming Waves / Easy GirlTim Wheeler8:46
- Produced by
- Mark Hamilton, Rick McMurray, Claudius Mittendorfer, Tim Wheeler, Mark Hamilton, Rick McMurray, Claudius Mittendorfer
- Recorded at
- Atomic Heart Studios, Atom Heart, New York City
- Mixed by
- Claudius Mittendorfer
- Engineered by
- Claudius Mittendorfer, Tim Wheeler, John O’Neill
- Labels
- Hostess Entertainment Unlimited, Infectious, BMG
- Length
- 50:05
Line-up
- Mark Hamilton · bass
- Rick McMurray · percussion, drums (drum set)
- Tim Wheeler · guitar, keyboard, lead vocals, handclaps
- Mark Arigho · handclaps · guest
- Claudius Mittendorfer · handclaps · guest
- Pat Wheeler · handclaps · guest
- Michael Bradley · background vocals · guest
- Damian O’Neill · background vocals · guest
- Ilan Eshkeri · mellotron · guest
Singles
- “Buzzkill” · 8 February 2018
- “Annabel” · 10 April 2018
- “Confessions in the Pool” · 11 May 2018
Peak chart positions
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart · 2018 | 18 |
| Scottish Albums · 2018 | 13 |
| Ireland 2 · 2018 | 34 |
From MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Only what the sources record is shown.
Also released on 18 May
Every year →
More from Ash
Full discography →
The best of 2018
All of 2018 →
More on Hostess Entertainment Unlimited
The label →
How we know the release date wikipedia + musicbrainz
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 18 May 2018 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | 18 May 2018 | |
| Deezer | 18 May 2018 | |
| UK / Europe release | 18 May 2018 | earliest UK or European date |
4 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 May 2018 | JP | Hostess Entertainment Unlimited | 4582214518091 | original |
| 18 May 2018 | GB | Infectious Music | 4050538368086 | original |
| 18 May 2018 | XW | Infectious Music | 4050538368109 | original |
| 18 May 2018 | XE | Infectious Music | 4050538368086 | original |
Cover art sources
deezer · upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25)
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| deezer ✓ | 1200×1200 | upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25) |
| coverartarchive | 600×592 | upscaled |