Customer Reviews

Rings Around The World (Expanded Edition)

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

You know, with this release and the last couple Gorky's Zygotic Mynci albums, I'm starting to suspect (nay, hope) that the best, and most influential, pop music right now is coming from strange Welsh bands with brilliant names. Not only is RINGS AROUND THE WORLD a teriffic album, it's arguably the best new album I've heard in a very long time (maybe since Sigur Ros). Everything about this album is great, from the production to the vocals to the pop culture references, to the songs themselves, it's all top-notch.

The most intriguing thing about this album is the way it combines so many different influences, from so many different genres, and makes it all sound both unique, and perfectly natural. Beyond the obvious Beatle/Beach Boys nods, I pick up references to Elvis Costello, Beck, Neil Young, Harry Nillson, the entire Stax catalogue, the list goes on and on. Basically, any semi-popular, semi-influential band in the last 30 years seemed to make an impression on this band, and they turn up here in various ways, sometimes within one song ("Receptacle For The Respectable," for instance, opens with a bouyant 1964-era Beatle romp, then slows things down to a nice mid-70's Elton John ballad, takes a brief excursion into "Cool Cool Water"-era Brian Wilson-- complete with Sir Paul McCartney munching on veggies-- before finally bringing it home with Chemical Brothers-esque sonic textures and a bit of Korn grumbling), and the effect is both staggering and really, really neato.

The lyrics are a treat as well, usually inventive wordplays ("You came to me in piece, and you left me in pieces"), a couple very nasty turns ("Don't try me for sympathy; I don't feel sorry for thee; You deserve to die"), and really interesting takes on religious fanatacism ("Run Christian Run," a somewhat cynical tome set to a tune that's pure Pink Floyd) and even the whole Monica Lewinsky debacle ("Presidential Suite"). There are a few moments when the music does get rather cheesy ("Juxtaposed With U" has some nice lyrics but the melody is quite gewwy), but by and large this is a remarkably consistent album. The second CD of bonus tracks is great to, icing on an already gourmet cake.

So, in other words, I really reccommend this one! You won't be disappointed, unless you're expecting something like Radiohead, which this isn't (it's better, frankly), or if you're not really into impossibly catchy ear candy with substance. There's nothing really new here, and other bands have attempted this before, but one thing's for sure-- these guys got it right.

My favourite new albums are the ones that are both instantly pleasing to hear as well as being challenging at the same time, records that throw convention out the window, great pop music that's a bit off-kilter, with clever lyrics to boot. Super Furry Animals' new album Rings Around The World is the first new album of 2001 to completely blow me away, a soaring, aural mindfunk of a pop album.

Where should I begin? Every track is musically vastly different from the other and is punctuated by Gruff Rhys's oddball lyrics, the first five songs getting the album off to a flying start. The mellow piano ballad 'Alternate Route To Vulcan Street' kicks off the album with the enigmatic line "sometimes I ponder/what if the Caspian Sea/should merger/over my shoulder", 'Sidewalk Serfer Girl' lampoons the Beach Boys with a bit of a glam twist, the irresistable electropop of '(Drawing) Rings Around The World' perfectly mirrors the sound of ELO, and Rhys's impeccable singing on the plaintive ballad 'It's Not The End Of The World' sounds as good as the best work by Blur. The album's best moments, though, are in the amazing 'Receptacle For The Respectable' (talk about the song title of the year). It starts at a midtempo, acoustic guitar-driven pace with harmonies that sound lifted straight from Wings, then suddenly breaks down to half the speed in an Abbey Road-styled segue before slowing down even more, with a gentle, horn-driven melody that also features the sound of Paul McCartney eating celery and carrots, then builds up to the final section where, over faux-industrial keyboards, Rhys belts out the song's title in his best death metal impersonation. All this happens in less than four exhilerating minutes, making it one of the most stunning songs you'll hear in a long time.

There are no low points on the rest of Rings Around The World: '(A) Touch Sensitive' is an effective stab at trip-hop, 'Shoot Doris Day' sounds a lot like Elvis Costello and just might hint at someone's great dislike of The Man Who Knew Too Much ("Sentimentality pause/as Jimmy Stewart ignores her question"), the grim, folky 'No Sympathy' that metamorphoses from a Crosby, Stills & Nash homage into a boisterous exercise in electronic knob-twiddling, the Marvin Gaye-influenced 'Juxtaposed With U' that combines biting social commentary with bizarre humour ("I'm not in love with you/but I won't hold that against you") and makes Rhys sound like a Welsh Jarvis Cocker, the hilarious lampooning of the Clinton-Lewinsky controversy in 'Presidential Suite', the Pink Floyd sounds of 'Run Christian Run', and the gentle "doo doo-wah"'s of 'Fragile Happiness that evoke the Velvet Underground.

Super Furry Animals have made a major statement with this spectacular album, which was close to a year in the making, and as a result they have emerged as one of the best bands on the planet. You can't go wrong with this flawless piece of work, which will end up close to, or perhaps, at the top of my best of 2001 list.

I have to admit to coming to Super Furry Animals rather late in the game. I am unfamiliar with their earlier albums (though I plan on rectifying that very soon), so I didn't know what to expect except that the album had come highly recommended by my brother. There are so many very good things that I would like to say about this one. First and foremost, it is immensely enjoyable, and by that I mean that a large number of the cuts engender a sense of joy while listening. I hate metaphors that cut across genres, but you know the way that champagne fizzles in the mouth when you drink it? Well, that is almost how I feel when I hear these great songs. Second, although all the songs are great, each one manages to be great in a way that depends in no way on the other songs. For instance, the title cut sounds like the Beach Boys processed through alternative, punk, and power pop. It both sounds like the Beach Boys, and doesn't, but either way does not sound like any other song on the album. Similarly, the boys in the band see fit to raid at random the entire rock and roll songbook. In a couple of spots they actually use the same guitar/voice synthesizer that Peter Frampton popularized. They constantly sound completely original and yet very much like someone else. This willingness to create new syntheses from a huge range of musical influences is one thing that a host of the more creative current bands in rock have in common.

This is also one of those rare albums that completely justifies being issued on two CDs. This is not a function of insufficient discipline in editing: there simply is a lot of great music. From the very first song with the enticing title "Alternate Route to Vulcan Street" through a host of superb songs, this is just great stuff. Some of my favorite include the title track, the stellar "Receptacle for the Respectable," or "Juxtaposed with U" (which uses the Peter Frampton synthesizer, and in other ways sounds as if it warped straight out of some seventies soundtrack), and "Sidewalk Serfer Girl." The bonus disc contains many cuts just as excellent as those on the original disc, making the American version of the album an amazing bargain for the price.

What especially intrigues me about these guys is that several things I have read indicates that many people prefer some of their earlier albums. If they have done stuff better than this, then I can barely wait.

I first heard about SFA when they received a mention on the VH1 show "Fresh". I was intrigued by the video clip they showed for "It's Not the End of the World?" and bought the cd a little while later. The first time I listened to this cd, I was blown away at how diverse this band is, yet their songs are always rooted in some form of britpop. The musical styles on this album range from (of course) britpop, techno, noise rock, glam rock, prog, trip hop, '70s soul, pschydelia and many others. As previous reviews have stated, the influences of such greats as The Beatles, Beach Boys, Elvis Costello and Elton John are apparent. I also noticed a few similarities to people like Radiohead, Barry White and Basement Jaxx.
My favorite tracks are:
Alternate Route to Vulcan Street--sounds like a reject from Amnesiac by Radiohead. Very gentle, eerie melody with piano and drum machines.

Rings around the World--the glam rock influeneces are really easy to see on this track. Catchy as anything I 've ever heard.

It's Not the End of the World--sounds like something that could have been on Pet Sounds or Abbey Road. Great, great song.

Juxtaposed with U--an intersting mix of '70s smooth soul and '90s alternative techno. Me and my friends always sing along with the chorus.

Run, Christian! run--the most beautiful song on the album. squiggly synthesizers meet up with a horn section and make for the best seven minutes of your life.

What else can I say? "Rings Around the World" by Super Furry Animals is the perfect introduction this band's unique musical style and will be one the best albums you buy this year.

Considered to largely be their most accessible album (& the most overproduced), My entry into the world of the Furry animals was via this album. And admittedly other albums have a more abrasive, Experimental sound, but the impact of the songs here are no less worthy than ones found on previous albums. In fact with the lush psych-pop of "Alternate Route To Vulcan Street", or the Warped beach boys melodies of "(Drawing) Rings Around the World", and sensitive ballads "It's not The End of The World"....Its hard for me not to give this album the same critical acclaim that I'd deservedly heap upon its predecessors. Purists will argue that "Fuzzy Logic" & "Radiator" are the bands best work and there are largely right, but if your new to the band, this makes for a fantastic starting point and eases you into their Quirky / Psychedelic sound...before progressing onto their more Experimental albums. But for me...the easiest (& occasionally most enjoyable) starting point is here.

I picked up this one on a whim after reading a review for it in a UK mag. I had never heard of them before, and had never cared to, but it turned out being one of the best purchases I've ever made. Some may say that this album never really "takes off," but I'd have to disagree. I think the reason some might say that is because almost all tracks here superb in their own right, and none stand out over others...because they are all great. Others say it is directionless. Sure. That's the point. If you bought this looking for the exact same formula of boring 3-string riffs atop repetitive drums, I feel sorry for you. You've made a bad decision. You should probably return to the White Stripes chat rooms while the gimmick is still fresh. However, if you are looking for something diverse and imaginitive, pick this one up!

This album is their best since "Radiator". "Alternate Side To Vulcan Street" is a cool, dreamlike starter - sort of reminds me of a cross between a mellow XTC and Radiohead, if that's possible. There are several up tempo tracks as well - "Sidewalk Serfer Girl", "Receptacle For The Respectable", which winds up with a monstrous shout-a-long, and the first single "Juxtaposed With U", with it's '70s soul feel.

A couple of the tracks don't do it for me - "No Sympathy" is just too sluggish and while "Run Christian Run!" isn't all bad it goes on for a little too long. But everything else is vintage SFA. I especially like the eerie instrumental "Touch Sensitive", which they opened up their live shows with last Spring.

I have to say that the bonus disc was an excellent touch for people who don't want to shell out the big bucks to get the import singles which has these b-sides. I couldn't believe they didn't put "A Roman Road" on the album. This song alone was responsible for keeping the bonus disc on my player for months. It's steeped in 70s influences, like many of their songs. I would have replaced "No Sympathy" with "Roman Road". "Tradewinds" was also good enough to make the album.

Any fan of SFA should snatch this release up. For those new to SFA I would probably start with "Radiator" and then look into "Rings Around the World " or "Guerilla".

Hearing these guys, for the first time, is inspiring!!
What can't they accomplish, with song form, rhythm, and
harmony?Throw in their ascerbic wit,and a hint of Elvis Costello, and The Beatles-voila'-SFA!!!Fun and life's
apparent dynamic foibles; never a cliche, or an
expected outcome!All in all, a damn great CD!!!

I can't put this album into words. If I had to choose one album as the only album I could listen to for the rest of my life, this would most definitely be it. As the Furries' hero Howard Marks put it, "Listening to the Super Furry Animals is like listening to all the music I've ever enjoyed in my life, at once." Finding inspiration from almost every genre imaginable, the Furries have produced a sound that is totally original and utterly unique. This album has certainly solidified them as my favorite band. BUY THIS ALBUM NOW!

SFA's 5th album is, as are all the others, an instant classic. there is no other band that can maintain their consistent brilliance from album to album. there ar no suprises here, if you liked their other albums, well then this has it all. the fun pop tunes, the ballads, the techno freak-outs, the keyboard tracks, the great artwork. as usual the lyrics are hilarious, the tunes are fantastic, and it is more coherent than, say, guerrilla. album of the year.