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How Ace Are Buildings

 
Album Review: How Ace Are Buildings
 

  • Artist: A
  • Rating: StarStarStar
  • Release Date: 1997
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Those familiar with the dialect of A's native eastern England will recognise "How Ace Are Buildings" grammatically as a statement rather than a question. Although its meaning is never totally revealed, it typifies the band's intent to race into rock's psyche with a powerful debut, rather than tip-toe onto the stage with the feelers out. Rock is the passion here: their logo is Aerosmith-esque, AC/DC have taught them well, and no sooner has the leading track invited you to "Turn It Up" than it's headlong into "Foghorn," one of the most impressive tracks and definitive of A's raucous sound. The gesture of an introductory bio in the form of "Cheeky Monkey" is served up, as if it were needed by now, to familiarize you with the group. "My name is Jason/I'll rock your face in/'Cause I've got relations in my band/We like Van Halen and Iron Maiden/And I'll do the talking, understand," yaps Adam Perry, who's infant-like vocal helps put across juvenile lyrical themes coupled with poppy harmonies. An almost visible energy has been pumped into delivering seven of the most mercilessly fast-paced songs you're ever likely to hear in succession, before taking a breather with the summery "Fistral." Superseded with a couple more potential singles (this album is flush with them), and the melancholic farewell "Ender," A's unveiling is a suitable one. In comparison to later efforts, there's little evidence of the impending electro input on 1999's A vs. Monkey Kong, and it's surprisingly several miles from A's powerful nü-metal approach on 2002's Hi-Fi Serious, though there are hints of the shamelessly American style, which comes to the fore in the latter release. Still, it's of its time and it's clear to see how they managed to join hands with Kerrang! magazine and British bands like Feeder and Ash into mainstream rock fame in the early 2000s. It's difficult to section this title, but a mention for Billy Joel's "My Life" on the superbly catchy single "No1" and name-checking Eddie Van Halen, Faith No More, the U.K.'s notorious Wildhearts and the Sex Pistols, Simpsons creator Matt Groening, and Marvel comics in the sleeve credits should give you some idea of whether you would enjoy this record or not. Generally, it's nice to hear a band having so much fun, especially on the self-indulgent hidden track at the end, which if nothing else gives the band a chance to have a final heavy guitar flourish. And why not? It's your first album; don't hold back. ~ Owen Guthrie-Jones, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Turn It Up Graeme Swindon A (1:33)
Foghorn Jason Perry, Graeme Swindon A (3:04)
Cheeky Monkey Graeme Swindon A (3:36)
No1 Graeme Swindon A (3:50)
Bad Idea Graeme Swindon A (2:21)
Sing-A-Long Graeme Swindon A (4:20)
Winter of '96 Graeme Swindon A (5:28)
Out of Tune Graeme Swindon A (4:19)
Fistral Graeme Swindon A (3:59)
House Under the Ground Graeme Swindon A (4:01)
Five in the Morning Graeme Swindon A (3:14)
Ender Graeme Swindon A (18:07)

Credits

Pete Briquette (Mixing), Clive Martin (Producer), A (Main Performer), Mark Chapman (Guitar), Adam Perry (Drums), Jason Perry (Vocals), Jason Perry (Producer), Jason Perry (Sleeve Photo), Giles Perry (Keyboards), Giles Perry (Vocals (Background)), Steve Swindon (Bass), Steve Swindon (Vocals (Background)), Steve Swindon (Sleeve Photo)
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Wikipedia: How Ace Are Buildings
Top
How Ace Are Buildings
How Ace Are Buildings cover
Studio album by A
Released July 29, 1997
Recorded 1996
Genre Alternative rock
Length 57:52
Label Tycoon Recordings/London Records (UK)
Immortal/Epic Records (planned US release)
Producer Thom Wilson
Professional reviews
A chronology
- How Ace Are Buildings
(1997)
A vs. Monkey Kong
(1999)

How Ace Are Buildings is an album released in 1997 by the British alternative rock band A.

The album was re-released in 1998, in the form of cassette and LTD Edition 12". Whereas the cassette featured the same tracks, the 12" album also included a bonus vinyl, featuring 'A' remixes and live tracks.

This vinyl was strictly LTD to just 500 copies, and changes hands for around £30-50. The cassette album was a dying format at the time of release and is now considered to be the rarest of all A releases.

Contents

Track listing

  1. "Turn It Up" – 1:33
  2. "Foghorn" – 3:04
  3. "Cheeky Monkey" – 3:36
  4. "Number One" – 3:50
  5. "Bad Idea" – 2:21
  6. "Sing-A-Long" – 4:20
  7. "Winter Of '96" – 5:28
  8. "Out Of Tune" – 4:19
  9. "Fistral" – 3:59
  10. "House Under The Ground" – 4:01
  11. "Five In The Morning" – 3:14
  12. "Ender" – 18:07

Trivia

  1. "Number One" features a portion of lyrics taken from Billy Joel's 1978 track "My Life". Joel was namechecked in the credits as a result.

The "borrowed" lyrics are:

"Got a call from an old friend, used to be real close Said he couldn't go on the American way Sold his house, sold his car Bought a ticket to the West Coast Now he gives 'em a stand-up routine in L.A."

  1. "Cheeky Monkey" features a sample of the actor/comedian John Thompson using the phrase "oh, you cheeky monkey" - this is taken from Thompson's appearance on Knowing Me, Knowing You...with Alan Partridge in character as "Joe Beesley" an inept ventriloquist with a puppet monkey.

Bonus vinyl Track listing

  1. "Turn It Down"
  2. "Number One (Happy Valley Ranch Mix)"
  3. "Alright (Live)"
  4. "Bad Idea (Live)"
  5. "Sing-A-Long (Post Term Audit Mix)"
  6. "Five In The Morning (DJ Mental Visuals Mix)"
  7. "Foghorn (Live)"
  8. "Barnyard"
  9. "Demolished House" (bside to foghorn, also remix of House Underground)
  10. "Callhimin"
  11. "Cheeky Monkey (Live)"
  12. "Fistral (Major Threat Mix)"
  13. "Out Of Tune (Live)

Singles

Bad Idea

  1. "Bad Idea" – 2:16
  2. "Look What You Made Me Do" – 3:12
  3. "40" – 2:30

Foghorn

  1. "Foghorn" – 3:07
  2. "Last Girl" – 4:24
  3. "A Demolished House" – 5:22

Sing-A-Long

  1. "Sing-A-Long" – 4:19
  2. "Sing-A-Long" – 4:22 (Post Team Audit Mix)
  3. "Singing Out Of Tune" – 3:49 (In A Castle)
  4. "Number One" – 3:22 (Radio Edit)
  5. "Number One" (Video)

Number One

  • CD1:
  1. "Number One" – 3:21
  2. "Good Idea" – 2:18
  3. "Alright" – 2:41
  4. "Sasquatch" – 2:52
  • CD2:
  1. "Number One" – 3:51 (+30)
  2. "Ouch" – 4:02
  3. "Number One" – 6:15 (Happy Valley Ranch Mix)
  4. "Foghorn" – 3:06
  5. "Foghorn" (Video)

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "How Ace Are Buildings" Read more