Nu-Clear Sounds
Nu-Clear Sounds is the second album from Northern Irish rock band Ash, released on 5 October 1998. It followed their debut, 1977, and arrived with a new member in guitarist Charlotte Hatherley. The band wrote the songs at a farmhouse, then headed to Rockfield Studios in Wales to record, with extra sessions at the Astoria in London. Ash produced it themselves alongside Chris Kimsey and Owen Morris.
It is a garage rock record, shaped by the New York Dolls, the Rolling Stones and the Velvet Underground. Critics were generally positive, praising the musicianship, though some found it uneven. It reached number seven in the UK and went gold there, while "Jesus Says" and "Wildsurf" both made the UK top 20. Worth hearing for the sound of a young band toughening up with a bigger line-up.
Nu-Clear Sounds: tracklist, credits and charts
11 tracks · 46:14Tracklist
- 1ProjectsHamilton, Hatherley, Wheeler3:54
- 2Low EbbTim Wheeler5:00
- 3Jesus SaysMark Hamilton and Tim Wheeler4:44
- 4WildsurfTim Wheeler and Charlotte Hatherley3:26
- 5Death Trip 21Mark Hamilton and Tim Wheeler4:09
- 6Folk SongTim Wheeler4:55
- 7NumbskullMark Hamilton and Tim Wheeler3:10
- 8Burn OutTim Wheeler4:02
- 9AphroditeTim Wheeler4:18
- 10Fortune TellerTim Wheeler3:22
- 11I'm Gonna FallMark Hamilton and Tim Wheeler5:13
- Produced by
- Ash, Chris Kimsey, Owen Morris
- Recorded at
- Astoria (London), Rockfield Studios (Wales), Cello Studios, NRG Recording Studios
- Recorded
- 1998
- Mixed by
- Ash, Owen Morris, Butch Vig
- Mixed at
- Cello Studios, NRG Recording Studios
- Engineered by
- Nick Brine, Damon Innings, Sorrel Marchant, David Nicholas, Michael Elvis Baskette, Billy Bush, Bill Kinsley, Katy Teasdale
- Labels
- BMG Japan, Infectious, Home Grown
- Length
- 46:14
Line-up
- Mark Hamilton · electric bass guitar
- Charlotte Hatherley · guitar, vocals
- Rick McMurray · drums (drum set)
- Tim Wheeler · guitar, vocals
Singles
- “Jesus Says” · 1998
- “Wildsurf” · 1998
- “Numbskull” · 1999 (EP)
Peak chart positions
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart · 1998 | 7 |
| Scottish Albums · 1998 | 8 |
| Norwegian Albums · 1998 | 37 |
| Australian Albums (ARIA) · 1998 | 44 |
| German Albums · 1998 | 86 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom · 1998 | Gold |
From MusicBrainz, Wikipedia and Wikidata. Only what the sources record is shown.
Released the same week
Also released on 5 October
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Releases and pressings
How we know the release date wikipedia + musicbrainz
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 5 October 1998 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | 5 October 1998 | |
| Wikidata | 1998 | |
| UK / Europe release | 5 October 1998 | earliest UK or European date |
10 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | XW | Echo | 4050538909043 | remaster |
| 1998 | JP | BMG Japan | 4988017081020 | other |
| 1998 | XE | Homegrown | 743216048526 | other |
| 1998 | AU | Infectious Records | 9397603316425 | other |
| 1998 | XE | Homegrown | 743216217526 | other |
| 1998 | XE | Facedown | 4009880849323 | other |
| 5 October 1998 | GB | Infectious Records | 5026854006024 | original |
| 1999 | CA | DreamWorks Records | 600445012127 | other |
| 28 September 1999 | US | DreamWorks Records | 600445012127 | other |
| 5 September 2001 | JP | Sony Records International | 4988009252216 | other |
Cover art sources
coverartarchive · cropped: cropped from 2847x2816 to 2816x2816
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| coverartarchive ✓ | 2847×2816 | cropped: cropped from 2847x2816 to 2816x2816 |
| deezer | 1200×1200 | upscaled |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |