The lads in Ash have made an interesting career decision. They are no longer making and releasing full-length albums. In no way does this mean they are breaking up, as they are going to continue writing and recording new material. With the music industry circling the drain, Ash have decided to abandon the normal album business model for something new. Plus, frontman Tim Wheeler thinks most bands release shitty albums these days anyways.
He explained: “The way people listen to music has changed, with the advent of the download the emphasis has reverted to single tracks. It hasn’t helped that most people have forgotten how to make a decent album. I’m constantly disappointed with records I buy. I believe our new album is the pinnacle of everything we’ve done thus far, and I’m proud that this will be remembered as our last album. The future lies elsewhere and we can have a lot of fun by changing things up. It’s like the Wild West at the moment, a time to take chances and try out new ideas.
When you’re tied to the album format, you find yourself waiting six months between finishing a record and releasing it. By leaving this behind we can enter a new phase of spontaneity and creativity. We have our own studio in New York, we can record a track and release it the next day if we feel like it, give it to people while it’s fresh. We’re the first band to do this, but I very much doubt we’ll be the last.
We’ve been one of the best singles bands of the last two decades and we’re still younger than a lot of bands on the current scene. I’m excited to push this claim further by dedicating ourselves wholly to the art of the single for the digital age.”
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