A aren't a band that would make many people's favourite bands lists, if you're not scratching your head right now saying "Who?" then you probably know them for Nothing, their 2002 hit single that bore little resemblance to the vast majority of their other songs. I know them as a band with massive tunes, massive guitars, too many E numbers and in Jason Perry a man with a voice that just begs you to sing along in an equally high pitch. The best singalong band bar none.
After the Jesus Jones gig I was impressed enough to watch out for their name in future and sure enough, 8 days later, Kerrang gave away a free CD, Radio Kerrang Vol. 2, that featured Foghorn. The purchase of the No. 1 7" and How Ace Are Buildings debut quickly followed. Then a few months after that, and one change of bassist later, their lineup solidified and I saw them again at my first festival, Reading 97. After seeing another support slot with Symposium in 98 and two more festival gigs, it seems strange looking back to think I've never seen them headline.
There were a fair few bands around in those late 90s Britrock times with a decent album full of harmonies or terrace chant choruses, bands like 3 Colours Red, Symposium or Silver Sun, but A consistently delivered, ticking all of the boxes on several albums. They never really seemed to be taken as a serious proposition though, probably because they never took themselves too seriously, but that's ignoring the fact they had some amazing songs, head and shoulders above more celebrated bands from similar genres.
So despite only having 4 studio albums and 83 songs in total to draw on, this is one of the best top 50s I've done, the top half in particular being absolutely incredible and a great legacy from a great band. If you haven't already, and you like loud guitars coupled with massive tunes, it goes without saying that I'd recommend them highly.
1. No. 1 (from How Ace Are Buildings)
2. Nothing (from Hi-Fi Serious)
3. W.D.Y.C.A.I (from Hi-Fi Serious)
4. Old Folks (from Monkey Kong)
5. She Said (B-side to Old Folks)
6. Monkey Kong (from Monkey Kong)
7. Foghorn (from How Ace Are Buildings)
8. Bad Idea (from How Ace Are Buildings)
9. Cheeky Monkey (from How Ace Are Buildings)
10. Hopper Jonnus Fang (from Monkey Kong)
11. Someone Else (from Teen Dance Ordinance)
12. Rush Song (from Teen Dance Ordinance)
13. Starbucks (from Hi-Fi Serious)
14. Winter of 96 (from How Ace Are Buildings)
15. Something's Going On (from Hi-Fi Serious)
16. Better Off With Him (from Teen Dance Ordinance)
17. Singalong (from How Ace Are Buildings)
18. Five in the Morning (from How Ace Are Buildings)
19. Out of Tune (from How Ace Are Buildings)
20. I Love Lake Tahoe (from Monkey Kong)
21. Miles Away (from Monkey Kong)
22. Alright (B-side to No. 1)
23. Summer on the Underground (from Monkey Kong)
24. Down on the Floor (from Monkey Kong)
25. Good Time (standalone single)
26. Hi-Fi Serious (from Hi-Fi Serious)
27. Coming Around (B-side to Starbucks)
28. For Starters (from Monkey Kong)
29. If It Ain't Broke Fix It Anyway (from Monkey Kong)
30. Champions of Endings (B-side to Starbucks)
31. T-Shirt Money (B-side to Nothing)
32. Just Like Paradise (B-side to Something's Going On)
33. Took It Away (from Hi-Fi Serious)
34. Human Condition (B-side to Something's Going On)
35. Shut Yer Face (from Hi-Fi Serious)
36. The Distance (from Hi-Fi Serious)
37. House Under the Ground (from How Ace Are Buildings)
38. Ender (from How Ace Are Buildings)
39. Get Out More (B-side to Rush Song)
40. I Wonder (B-side to Better Off With Him)
41. Black Hole (from Teen Dance Ordinance)
42. The One (B-side to Rush Song)
43. We're Equal (B-side to Old Folks)
44. 6 O'Clock On a Tube Stop (from Hi-Fi Serious)
45. Pacific Ocean Blue (from Hi-Fi Serious)
46. Full Pelt (B-side to Good Time)
47. Afterburner (from Teen Dance Ordinance)
48. Die Tonight (from Teen Dance Ordinance)
49. Worst Thing That Can Happen (from Teen Dance Ordinance)
50. The Art of Making Sense (from Teen Dance Ordinance)
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