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Rings Around the World

Super Furry Animals
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews) | More about this product

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Super Furry Animals
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Product Details

  • Audio CD (March 19, 2002)
  • Original Release Date: March 19, 2002
  • Number of Discs: 2
  • Label: Xl Recordings
  • ASIN: B000060MMJ
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #95,604 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Disc: 1
1. Alternate Route To Vulcan Street
2. Sidewalk Serfer Girl
3. (Drawing) Rings Around The World
4. It's Not The End Of The World?
5. Receptacle For The Respectable
6. (A) Touch Sensitive
7. Miniature
8. No Sympathy
9. Juxtapozed With U
10. Presidential Suite
See all 12 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2
1. Tradewinds
2. The Roman Road
3. Patience
4. Happiness Is A Worn Pun
5. Gypsy Space Muffin
6. Edam Anchorman
7. All The Shit U Do

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The fifth album from Welsh pop prodigies Super Furry Animals is their most ambitious work to date. Featuring everything from status quo-style boogie-rockers to technofied drill and bass meltdowns, this is an immaculately conceived pop masterpiece that has more in common with the excitable genre-crushing of 1999's Guerrilla than with their previous album, the respectable but defiantly firework-less Welsh-language folk outing Mwng. One of the great joys here is that, though the lyrics are imbued with dippy fun, closer inspection reveals a satisfyingly off-kilter--and frequently inspirational--intelligence. The gorgeous "Presidential Suite"--which, incidentally, features John Cale tickling the ivories--marries the classic SFA psychedelic shimmer to a weary lyric concerning the Monica Lewinsky scandal that rocked the Clinton presidency. Frontman Gruff Rhys questions the event sadly, as if it's the most passé thing he can comprehend. Perhaps that's so: when you're playing with the sort of magic that's scattered liberally over Rings Around the World, even the salacious exploits of world leaders pale into tedium. --Louis Pattison


Product Description

Exclusive U.S. edition features a 6 track bonus disc of material! Guests include Paul McCartney, John Cale (Velvet Underground) & Sean O'Hagen (High Llamas). Co-produced by recent Bob Dylan producer Chris Shaw. Bonus disc tracks - 'Tradewinds', 'The Roman Road', 'Patience', 'Happiness Is A Worn Pun', 'Gypsy Space Muffin', 'Edam Anchorman' & 'All The Shit U Do'. Beggars Banquet.

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Customer Reviews

42 Reviews
5 star:
 (27)
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 (9)
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (42 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Cripes, This Is Good!, April 24, 2002
By Ben C-F (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews
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.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars This is just flat out awesome music, March 5, 2005
By Robert Moore (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      
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.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Man, can you say COOL AS HELL!!, July 31, 2002
A Kid's Review
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.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Rings Around the World
Rings Around the World being SFA's 5th studio album and their 2001 release was their first major label debut. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Bjorn Viberg

5.0 out of 5 stars One Of My Favorite Albums Of All Time.
I first remember hearing about Super Furry Animals right around the time this album came out. I didn't hear it until a few years later, around when "Phantom Power" came out and I... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Erik Norman

4.0 out of 5 stars Ambitious and intelligent but could have used some editing
If Brian Wilson was a young man today who was weaned in the indie pop/rock scene, this is the sort of music he'd probably have made. Read more
Published on July 6, 2007 by Matthew T. Medlock

5.0 out of 5 stars Rings Around the World
Simply put, this is the most refreshing listen I think I've ever heard.

SFA is a hybrid of 70% Beck and 30% Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Published on July 28, 2006 by P. Schmitt

4.0 out of 5 stars A good neo-psychedelia album that is hindered by a few problems - for genre fans only
Super Furry Animals' "Rings Around The World" is a great album which barely falls short of being a classic. It's fault are pretty noticable. Read more
Published on January 4, 2006 by C. Cross

5.0 out of 5 stars Super Furry Animals Most immediately accessible album.....
Considered to largely be their most accessible album (& the most overproduced), My entry into the world of the Furry animals was via this album. Read more
Published on March 22, 2004 by fetish_2000

3.0 out of 5 stars good album, great bonus
This is the first SFA album i ever bought, and it pretty much ruled my summer. The entire album is entertaining, but Sidewalk Surfer Girl is my favorite. Read more
Published on March 21, 2004 by P. R Sundeen

5.0 out of 5 stars a remarkable achievement
In describing this album it is a quite simple question/phrase that would illustrate what the furries did here, Do you like enjoyable yet (but not to an inaccessable... Read more
Published on February 23, 2004 by Jose J. Robles

4.0 out of 5 stars A fine step
Rings Around the World is the worst release by Welsh britpoppers Super Furry Animals, but it still warrants a 9/10. This says a lot about the magic of this group. Read more
Published on January 30, 2004 by Oliver Ignatius

5.0 out of 5 stars at least it's not the end of the world
Length - 53:11
Rings Around the World is a consummate, genre-blending wonder. A lot of comparisons are made to their Welsh compatriots Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, but I think the... Read more
Published on October 14, 2003 by A. Bubul

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