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Ashes Grammar is the second studio album by American indie rock band A Sunny Day in Glasgow. It was released on September 15, 2009 by Mis Ojos Discos.[4]

Ashes Grammar
Studio album by A Sunny Day in Glasgow
Released	September 15, 2009 (2009-09-15)
Recorded	September – December 2008
Studio	Downtown Performing Arts Center (Lambertville, New Jersey)
Genre	Dream pop[1] shoegaze[2]
Length	63:08
Label	Mis Ojos Discos
A Sunny Day in Glasgow chronology
Tout New Age (2007) Ashes Grammar (2009) Nitetime Rainbows (2010)
Singles from Ashes Grammar
"Shy" Released: November 10, 2009[3]

Background and recording

Following a successful European tour, A Sunny Day in Glasgow's Ben Daniels began preparations for the recording of the band's next album.[5] He rented a large dance studio space within the Downtown Performing Arts Center in Lambertville, which became the primary location for recording.[5][6] He and bandmate Josh Meakim then began experimenting with sounds and setting up microphones in the space.[5] Prior to the start of formal work on the album, however, three members of A Sunny Day in Glasgow departed the band under varying circumstances: Brice Hickey, who had "very seriously" broken his legs in an accident while loading equipment into his car on the day that recording was set to begin; Lauren Daniels, who left in order to care for Hickey, her then-boyfriend; and Robin Daniels, who wished to pursue her graduate studies.[7] The band was subsequently reduced to Ben Daniels and Josh Meakim.[7] Annie Fredrickson was later invited to join A Sunny Day in Glasgow on the recommendation of a fan of the band who was familiar to Ben Daniels "from shows", after Daniels asked the fan whether he knew any vocalists.[8] The trio of Daniels, Meakim and Fredrickson helmed the album's recording.[9]

Ashes Grammar was recorded from September to December 2008.[6] The expansiveness of the dance studio space allowed Ben Daniels the freedom to experiment with different acoustics.[8] He has cited Alvin Lucier's I Am Sitting in a Room as an influence on the recording process.[7][8] As Lauren and Robin Daniels, the lead singers on earlier A Sunny Day in Glasgow recordings, had left the band, vocal duties on Ashes Grammar were shared by Fredrickson and Meakim.[5] Fredrickson's friend Beverly Science performed additional vocals on the album.[5] Mich White, who was previously a touring bassist for A Sunny Day in Glasgow, also "contributed ideas" from his home in Austin.[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	6.9/10[10]
Metacritic	77/100[11]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[12]
Drowned in Sound	8/10[13]
NME	5/10[14]
Pitchfork	8.3/10[15]
PopMatters	6/10[16]
The Skinny	[17]
Tiny Mix Tapes	4.5/5[18]

In 2016, Pitchfork ranked Ashes Grammar at number 35 on its list of the best shoegaze albums of all time.[2]

Track listing

Notes

• The track order for the LP edition repositions "Blood White" between "Passionate Introverts (Dinosaurs)" and "West Philly Vocoder".

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[6]

References

External links

• Ashes Grammar at Discogs (list of releases)

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