Ash Ad Astra
Early read based on 2 professional reviews. Ash's Ad Astra arrives as a celebratory, career-spanning blast that trades in nostalgia and rocket-fuelled power-pop. Across two professional reviews the record earned an 80/100 consensus score, and critics consistently point to its blend of post-punk energy, space imagery and hook-first songwriting as the album's driv
The best song is a classic punky power-pop anthem like "Give Me Back My World" because it crystallises the album's youthful verve.
Shared criticism is still limited across the current review sample.
Best for listeners looking for nostalgia and space/astronomy imagery, starting with Fun People and Which One Do You Want?.
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Full consensus notes
Ash's Ad Astra arrives as a celebratory, career-spanning blast that trades in nostalgia and rocket-fuelled power-pop. Across two professional reviews the record earned an 80/100 consensus score, and critics consistently point to its blend of post-punk energy, space imagery and hook-first songwriting as the album's driving forces.
Reviewers praised specific standouts that answer the question of the best songs on Ad Astra: “Give Me Back My World” repeatedly surfaces as an uplifting highlight, while “Fun People”, “Which One Do You Want?” and the sharp modern-romance vignette “Ghosting” receive clear nods for their immediacy and melodic craft. Clash Music applauds the cinematic opener “Zarathustra” and the addictive cover “Jump in the Line”, noting Graham Coxon's textured guitar and the sun-drenched swells that keep the record buoyant. Kerrang! frames the album as a defiant, youth-preserving statement, describing tracks like “Give Me Back My World” and “Keep Dreaming” as classic punky power-pop anthems infused with space-obsessed flourishes.
While praise centers on spirited songwriting and a cohesive career retrospective, critics also imply that the album's celebratory sweep occasionally favors style over deeper surprises. Still, the critical consensus suggests Ad Astra is a worthwhile addition to Ash's catalog - a jubilant, genre-mashing collection that highlights why the band remains a vital force after decades. Below, detailed professional reviews unpack how those standout tracks and recurring space motifs shape the record.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Fun People
1 mention
"the brilliant ‘Fun People’ which confronts the social nightmares of modern life"— Clash Music
Which One Do You Want?
1 mention
"the contemplative ‘Which One Do You Want?’ which is all about being indecisive"— Clash Music
Give Me Back My World
2 mentions
"Written in the throes of lockdown, ‘Give Me Back My World’ still feels strikingly relevant five years on"— Clash Music
Written in the throes of lockdown, ‘Give Me Back My World’ still feels strikingly relevant five years on
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Zarathustra
Which One Do You Want?
Fun People
Give Me Back My World
Hallion
Deadly Love
My Favourite Ghost
Jump in the Line
Keep Dreaming
Dehumanised
Ghosting
Ad Astra
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 2 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Ash sound like a band refusing to age on Ad Astra, and the best songs - notably “Give Me Back My World” and “Keep Dreaming” - wear that defiant youth like a badge. Mark Sutherland writes with gleeful astonishment, pointing out how these tracks are classic punky power-pop anthems that sit alongside the album's space-obsessed flourishes. The record distils the band's career into an all-bases-covered extravaganza, so if you search for the best tracks on Ad Astra you will keep returning to those hooky, verve-filled standouts. It feels like a multiverse of Ashness, a jubilant, buccaneering celebration rather than a stopgap.
Key Points
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The best song is a classic punky power-pop anthem like "Give Me Back My World" because it crystallises the album's youthful verve.
Themes
Critic's Take
The review highlights 'Fun People' and 'Which One Do You Want?' as standout singles, praising Graham Coxon’s textured guitar and sun-drenched swells. 'Ghosting' is noted for its sharp, satirical take on modern dating, while 'Jump in the Line' is celebrated as an addictive, high-energy cover. The opener 'Zarathustra' is described as a cinematic, epic launch to the album and 'Give Me Back My World' is singled out for its uplifting, optimistic charm.
Key Points
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‘Fun People’ is the best song for its explosive post-punk energy and Graham Coxon’s dynamic guitar textures.
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The album’s core strengths are its ambitious, cinematic scope, energetic post-punk hooks, and lyrical engagement with modern life and nostalgia.