AC Acoustics - Understanding Music
by Tony Gaughan
published: 29 / 7 / 2010

Label:
Select Label
Format: N/A
intro
Tony Gaughan looks at Glaswegian indie rock band AC Acoustics' inconsistent, but sometimes rewarding 2000 third album, 'Understanding Music', which has been just been reissued
This 2000 re-issue by Fire Records at first seems a bit of a strange one. A four piece from Glasgow who never quite got there, despite some fairly hefty critical acclaim re-issuing an album of ten years ago which promised much, but did not fully deliver the goods before the band fizzled out three years later. There is no sign of any reformation or tour support either. Fire Records, however, say about it on the sleeve that "Some records are of a time. Some are timeless,then there are a few that just can't be bothered and aspire to greatness,clawing at eternal glory dragging us into the light -this is one of those records." It is repackaged with some notable extra tracks such as 'Like Ribbons' and 'Lemon'. There are a few great tunes on the original album too, such as 'Crush' which features Placebo's Brian Molko on vocals and 'She Kills for Kicks'. There are, however, also some that drone on and are unfortunately hardly worth the effort. Released as part of the Fire Records 'Embers' reissue series and joining Spacemen 3, Teenage Fanclub, the Television Personalities and the Adverts, it is, however, definitely worth an airing. While at its worst it is reminiscent of Snow Patrol, at it best it has the timeless sound of the Jesus and Mary Chain and Pavement.
Track Listing:-
Picture Gallery:-

most viewed articles
current edition
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every SongArmory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Colin Blunstone - Thalia Hall, Chicago, 16/7/2025
Bathers - Photoscapes 1
Visor Fest - Valencia, Spain, 26/9/2025...27/9/2025
John McKay - Interview
Billie Eilish - O2 Arena, London, 10/7/2025
Robert Forster - Interview
Loft - Interview
Sir Tim Rice - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPManic Street Preachers - (Gig of a Lifetime) Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, December 1999
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Pixies - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
Paul Clerehugh - Interview
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Doris Brendel - Interview
Prolapse - Interview
Peter Perrett - In Dreams Begin Responsibilities Interview Part One
most viewed reviews
current edition
Phew, Erika Kobayashi,, Dieter Moebius - Radium GirlsAmy Macdonald - Is This What You've Been Waiting For?
Sick Man of Europe - The Sick Man of Europe
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the Jumbo
Cynthia Erivo - I Forgive You
Lucy Spraggan - Other Sides of the Moon
Bush - I Beat Loneliness
Alice Cooper - The Revenge of Alice Cooper
Blueboy - 2
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart