Rings Around The World

Right up my alley. Loved the switches between harmonic and abrasive sounds

I was expecting electronic music going by the cover, but instead it's more UK rock. This shit all just sounds the same - it's not bad, but I'm bored of the sound. It's really.... pretentious/ambitious/etc, but it's actually just long, pompous pop songs and a lot of samples, vocal layering etc. I mean there's a song called "juxtaposed" ffs. 2/5. Would have been a 3 but it just goes way too long.

So far this has been the most unexpectedly amazing album on the list. How have I not heard about this album? Loved it.

I truly wasn't expecting the wide variety of styles in this album, or how they'd be so artfully combined into a cohesive album that managed to hang together despite covering so much musical territory. I will definitely revisit this album going forward, as well as tell others to check it out. Top Track - No Sympathy.

I'm down with vagueness, especially when it corresponds to ambiguity, but this type of unplaceable nostalgia is all artifice. It's a distancing act between perfomer and audience, form and meaning. It's a period piece made solely so the performers can raid the costume cupboard. It might be tolerable if they weren't so insist that "floaty" and "evocative" are the same thing.

You'd think that mashing up Flaming Lips with Polyphonic Spree, the dude from Ween as the singer, + some rock opera aspirations would be fun to listen to. You would be wrong.

Genre bending prog that's full of surprises. His voice reminds me of Damon Albarn at points but really doesn't sound like anything I've heard before. Some of the songs are hilarious in both their writing and progression, like the industrial noise outro of No Sympathy that transitions into the lounge strings of Juxtaposed with U. Also loved the places that Receptacle for the Respectable took me. Presidential Suite also gets an honourable mention. Loved it all.

Honestly one of the best albums I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen to. It’s fun, every track has incredible song progression, and it never gets stuck in one specific sound.

What's this? Cover looks like potentially electronica? No. I mean yes, but really, no. Also, no thank you. This album is a mess. Nothing especially landed with me, and nothing made it gel as an album either. I didn't hate ever song, but also none were outstanding. Surely there are 1001 albums in the world better than this one.

It’s a surprise to have a second Super Furry Animals album. I’m curious to see how this varies from Fuzzy Logic. Right away I noticed the difference. Some cool harmonies - “Rings Around the World” is like a 21st successor to The Beach Boys by way of ELO with the noise turned up. I love it! Nice harmonies throughout, some clever lyrics, and a whole lot of great sounds to take in. Horns that could have come from Burt Bacharach, lounge music, grinding guitars, electronica, beach-friendly harmonies, weird sci fi effects and a lot more merge into some catchy, catchy songs. Really unique and really wonderful! Speaking of lyrics: “You expose the film in me” “I got some feelings I can’t get through, I’ll just binge on crack and tiramisu” “You came to me in peace and left me in pieces” “I’m not in love with you, but I won’t hold that against you” “With knives to their throat they’ll depart on the midnight train to Jordan” “But I’m in Deep Space Nine, Hitting wormholes all the time” And how about that ending to “No Sympathy”?! YES! Then dive into the oh so robot lounge-y “Juxtaposed With You.” OH YES! The 1001 gods have been serving up some good, unique albums lately. When I first saw this I worried it wouldn’t hold up. I’m glad to find it’s a great album I’m very happy to have around!

Really interesting. I personally loved the cinematic feel to this album

Blunt vocals coupled by translational instrumentals scores. Appreciated each song of this album for its different moods. Can’t complain about any part of this album.

first of all i’d been wanting to check out super furry animals some time soon so i’m glad they were recommended to me today when the genre said rock i was kinda worried bc i don’t like anything too heavy but this was a pleasant surprise. rly chill, rly enjoyed listening

I think this solidified my love of the Cool Cymru movement. Phenomenal stuff, psychedelia that isn't all about the trip if that makes sense.

There's a certain brand of British pop/rock, produced around the late 90's to early 00's, that has just never worked for me. Music that sounds like the musicians throwing every quirky little idea they have at a wall to see what sticks, a wall of sound that only manages to give you a headache (without any real earworms). Music that sounds like it was written by guys who idolize the Beatles, but write like the Monkees. Anyways, yes, this is that brand. That's not to say that it is entirely devoid of interesting ideas. There is a lot here that I like in theory. It was just too much. Too much melding of sounds and styles, too much of an effort to sound weird or unique, and not much of it worked for me. I could absolutely see this growing on me, but it would require several more listens, and I simply don't have the energy.

Listenable but not likeable.

meh

Acid-induced drivel. Just because you have the idea to blend 5 different genres doesn’t mean you can execute that idea successfully. The thing is, Super Furry Animals *can* legitimately play, and there’s a moment or two that comes close to decency. The problem is that these aren’t songs, they’re just ideas and experimentation. Nothing here left anything close to an impression on me as a self-contained song. It’s not bad because it lacks talent, but rather, it’s bad because lacks cohesion, so the end product is just gobbledygook mush. And that’s maybe a worse offense, and makes for a more painful listen.

A failed attempt at fusing and melding different music styles. No place on this list.

What a treat. I've never heard of these guys! Stylistically interesting with a dynamic range between songs. I was kept interested. Eventually the 4 hour Remastered album I was listening to devolved into remixes but I powered on. Really great stuff. I'm going to seek out more stuff the Super Furry Animals.

excellent album, really enjoyed the quirkiness of it. Would like to listen some more.

One of, if not the very, finest Welsh bands ever, duking it out with the Manics. Such a great body of work.

I love how damn tangible and chunky this album is, like a colorful toy from the 1970s that's been cleaned up and made better.

such a versatile album. i will be looking into their discography. AND they’re a welsh band with a punk-left grunge feel, i fuck w it.

Very good! They are wild and contained at the same time. I am glad I discovered this band.

Generally, and typically excellent, but gets an extra star for Run Christian Run, which is up there as one of my favourite tracks ever

killer!

Probably my favourite Super Furries album, and I'm pretty sure I saw them live on the tour supporting it, and that was one of my all time favourite gigs. Fave track - "Run! Christian! Run!" - absolutely blew my tiny mind when I saw it live, and it's been one of my favourite tracks by any band ever since....

Nice memories of this one

Neat rock album! Very interesting. Not a bad track on the album.

Gaaf!

An endlessly and wildly inventive and (authentically) eccentric band. Clearly, under-rappreciated, too. These songs are consistently interesting and ambitiously arty. “Rings Around the World” is a delight, one of the decade’s hidden gems. “Shoot Doris Day” is excellent. “Juxtapozed with U” is an impressive melange – autotune in the verses, an Elvis Costello-soundalike in the chorus, with a disco beat and a Love Unlimited Orchestra to round out the anthem of personal toleration and world peace – just fucking great! “Presidential Suite” is an ideal follow-on. “Run Christian Run” is equally lazy and lovely. The only downside in reconnecting with this group is being reminded that one never got to see them live. There is something in the sprawl and kitchen-sink creativity that suggests this was one possible future for arena rock, which of course arena rock squandered, but this holds up so much stronger than much else of this ilk and vintage.

Turn of the century British music was an interesting period to say the least. Britpop had imploded under its' own unbearable weight, and the result was a musical landscape in search of meaning. What we got was a lot bands expanding their sphere of curiosity, and 'Rings Around The World' is an output from such a band. One can hardly keep track of all the different genres and sounds, but everything kind of works. Sure, it's not a cohesive album in any way, but the experimentation and songwriting ('It's Not The End Of The World?', 'Shoot Doris Day') are stellar.

TWO Super Furry Animals albums??be so for real right now

I used to be really into the British Music Magazines, like Mojo and Q - but Mojo primarily. I remember this record getting a lot of hype when it was released and purchasing it. I probably still have it somewhere in a box with other cds in my closet, untouched for 20 years or more, since George W Bush’s first administration and before some of you who are reading this were even born (no disrespect). I don’t think I really liked the UK bands that were being covered that much or had much interest in the UK music scene, it was just that there was a dearth of quality music journalism among the American magazines, at least when it came to music that was outside of the mainstream. As a result, I was buying a lot of records from UK bands like Super Furry Animals and the Beta Band, hoping to find something that pushed the right buttons for me. Almost invariably, I’d be left feeling let down by those records after a few listens. For whatever reason, those records don’t have a lot of staying power for me. This record is a great example. At first glance, I should like this. It’s got a strong Beach Boys influence and it kind of fits nicely with the sort of synth heavy experimental retro pop that Stereolab and Air were putting out around the same time. It even has some of the electronic craziness that you might find on Cornelius’ Fantasma (speaking of albums you must hear before you die, holy fuck…this one and its follow up, Point, should definitely be on the list). The thing is, to my ears, Stereolab, Air, Cornelius do it so much better and their records have held up really well in the decades since their release. Especially Stereolab, their records still sound fantastic and I think they really nail that sort of Beach Boys/ Bacharach-esque orchestral pop better than just about anyone else and they did it in such a way that it didn’t feel like it was just a superficial homage; they had deep understanding and love for the music and they were making something unique from that influence. It’s weird to me that they aren’t really talked about very much these days, they were a consistently great and innovative band. Rings Around the World feels like 2001 to me, like maybe it’s ok if it got left there. I don’t know. I guess I’m saying that I find it kind of boring and lacking depth, which doesn’t surprise me, because I felt that way about the record after living with it for a few weeks back in 2001. In closing, why don’t you give Cornelius’ “Fantasma” or “Point” as spin and forget about the Super Furry Animals?

liked this at the time, but now can't really remember much about it. doesn't quite have the staying power for me

Sigh, Super Furry Animals... the creative highlight from the Stella'n'shirt'n'sneakers dregs of Britpop; a band packed full of ideas and who know their way around a tune; a band who have no concept of quality control. This album has some great moments (Juxtapozed With U especially), while also characteristically overlong and indulgent. The Spotify version is almost 4 hours long! Who the fuck needs all this "bonus" material? I'll recommend their Best Of here - with apposite warning that is has 37 fucking tracks (90% great)!

I enjoy each individual track and I like the bands sound, but as an album I do agree that it falls short. It just a grab bag of tracks, it lacks a really solid through line.

Rings around the world? Maybe rings around the bath. This is probably the last hurrah of the britpop era, before the early 2000s curse kicked in. Fortunately, very little of it is actually britpop, which had overstayed its welcome by this point in history. There's great variety in this, and I genuinely like some of the tracks, but I don't think it works as a cohesive album.

this album has its moments, some really great stuff, but i think ultimately it is balanced by some less interesting stuff. it's highs are high, but its lows are... boring. and that's ok. but ultimately, not my most favorite listen out there.

The lyrics and general vibes are a bit too self-aware and "quirky". I do appreciate the mix of classic rock/pop inspirations with occasional electronica inserts, though.

this album is okay some songs sound really good but there’s a lot of elements on here that remind of the beach boys and that’s not bad but I think they could have been more original with this psychedelic sound as this album is made like 40 years after The Beach Boys were active. There’s some songs on here that I don’t enjoy but most of them are good or okay especially the last 4 songs or so I really liked da . 7/10

I need to listen to this again, there’s a lot going on here, but in a good way. I feel like I hear twenty different acts that influenced this, and also at least twenty other acts that were influenced by this. I’m impressed. It’s getting a 3 today, but I expect that score to increase the more I listen to it

Ok, so this is an electronica/ambient album. Wait no, this is rock album. No, this is definitely pop. Wait no, we are back to electronica. Wait, wtf is this random answering machine message or this autotuned elevator music? I don't even know how to categorize this. The smooth jazz saxophone, the beeps and boops, the moments of harder rock and sugary pop close harmonies mixed in...this album broke my brain. I get wanting to be unique, but this tripping over themselves to not be pinned down just comes across as a seriously debilitating fear of commitment. Clearly the "genre" of prog pop/rock/techno is not for me.

It's... it's really boring, isn't it? SFA doesn't seem capable of committing to a bit. Consequently, the album slips and slides from one flavor of mediocrity to the next without leaving any lasting impression whatsoever. I can't give it a one-star review because there's not anything actively BAD about it other than it's just not good.

Somewhere in the territory between boring and actively unpleasant most of the time. Genuinely my favourite moment in this record was the second or so of silence between the end of the dire Receptacle for the Respectable and the start of [A] Touch Sensitive.

I still really don't like this group. Although this album sounds more psychadelic/spacey a la Flaming Lips and is better than Fuzzy Logic, I still find the lead vocalist's singing to be annoying and I could barely make it thru the entire album.

So little for me to enjoy with this one.

Great sound, really unique vibe. Sounds like spiritualized if there was some rock/alt influence

I'll be honest here, I was fucking terrified when I saw "BRITPOP" in the tags for this album. Thank Christ it wasn't actually proper Britpop, this shit was so much more tolerable. In fact, not even just tolerable, this album was pretty awesome. For a band with such a shit name and a style looking like Britpop bands of the 90's, I was pleasantly surprised to note that it wasn't that, at all. I loved how the theme stayed similar yet all the songs differed. 52 minutes really felt like 30. There was definitely some weird moments, like on No Sympathy. The freaky steps into electronic and fast paced video game music / acid house wigged me the fuck out. I actually enjoyed that song way more than I expected though. Somehow it works. Rings Around the World and Miniature were probably the favourites here I think. They were super catchy and fresh. I actually can't believe I went into this thing expecting to hate it, especially seeing Britpop as the genre. But there was something about the weirdness and wackiness of the constant switch between song styles that really kept me plugged in and interested. This album had me focusing on it, I couldn't even get any work done to it because I was just sitting along enjoying the ride. If that's not tell of a great album, I don't know what is. I also really enjoyed the singers voice, it scratched a part of my brain that I didn't know needs scratching. He sounds similar to a singer I know, but I can't put my finger on it. It really annoys me that I can't figure out who. Update: HE SOUNDS LIKE FUCKING ELVIS COSTELLO CUNT THAT IS UNCANNY HOLY SHIT ITS LIKE IDENTICAL Anyways, brownie points for surprising me so well. This gets a 5. Definitely coming back to this to re-listen a few more times.

This album is great. Combination of Beck and Puscifer.

Never heard this before! Loved it, what a great musical journey

Very Of Montreal. Kind of Surreal, Kind of pop, all wonderful.

No Sympathy goes hard... super eclectic and unexpected.

Wow, I actually ended up really enjoying this. Just incredible fun.

Welsh alt-rock loveliness

I loved this album especially juxtapozed with you. Definitely underrated artist.

"Rings Around the World" sounds like a sort of sibling album to Quebec, and no, it's not just because both albums feature cumming in someone's mouth (although it's pretty similar lurid ground). really, i think it's because both albums feel like reactions to the end of the Big Decade of the Future, the time when anything felt possible, before slowly realizing that there are limits to boundless optimism and cynicism. "Quebec" does this musically, keeping the goofiness in spots while also evolving into something more musically mature than you would normally get from Ween; you could argue they toned it down. i've only sort of heard another album from Super Furry Animals, Radiator, and it's got its moments of being silly, but never crude and rude like Ween are. really, i think they may have gotten weirder over time, with offbeat trip-hop and techno interludes in between glam and and straightforward 60's pop appreciation. its uplifting, manic starchild music and i loved almost every second of it. where i am it's January 14th, 2025. in six days, Donald Trump serves a non-consecutive term as President in an increasingly cruel and reactionary United States following a piss poor emergency campaign led by the faltering Democratic Party. just today, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested for an attempted coup that he performed because he was "lonely". two and a half decades ago, George Bush stole an election from Al Gore because the state his votes were contested in had the former's brother as governor. that last political event is the environment that "Rings Around the World" found itself released in, an age hit by the internet revolution and a brave new future for television, movies, and even video games. now the internet is run by fascist ghoul billionaires, and our the main media of planet Earth is provocateurs on Kick showering the Wal-Mart produce in wasp spray, and Mr. Beast. the albums of the 2000's like this and "Quebec" were the last hug out the door before we faced the cruelty of the coming future, much as people had been hugged in 2024 by Imaginal Disk or Diamond Jubilee or The New Sound -- the weird eventually gives way to sobering reality. it always has. it is easy to believe that we are slipping into dark times, or that we're living the new dark age now, but the truth is found in the album sitting between your bong and your record player, as per an old, wise doorman outside Abbey Road Studios: "Matter of fact, it's all dark. The only thing that makes it look light is the sun."

Very reminiscent of some of my favorite stuff: The Beatles, Tally Hall, They Might Be Giants. Every song is a great, and there's a huge variety in songs and sounds.

First album I've actually listened to in a while (too familiar with everything since). Gruff Rhys rules. John Cale featuring is an instant 20 cool points. Just on the arsty enough side of indie rock for me. 10 cymrus

if you took the best harmonies from the beach boys, mixed them with the amazing inventiveness of the beatles and blended them together with a dash of post-millenium paranoia youd get this this IMMACULATE album. sfa forever. side note. if youre new the the super furries and like this, a. listen to their discography its damn near perfect.. and b. check out Das Koolies, after Gruff left the band went on hiatus or whatever so they started Das Koolies as a four piece and the album and single theyve put out are just as flawless

a Kyle album. riiing riiiiing riiin riing rings around the world. at leeeeast its not the the end of the world.

I'd never heard of this before. I loved it! Especially track 9 "No Sympathy" I had to listen to it 4 or 5 times in a row. Its been a while since one song stuck in my brain for this long before.

Yeah I jerked off so what

This is a beautifully produced album. It's been years since I've listened and I don't know why i took so long. Lots of fun! Liked Songs Added: - Sidewalk Seefer Girl - It's Not The End Of The World? - Receptacle Forr The Respectable - No Sympathy - Juxtaposed With U

Fun, different and interesting – and engaging in the most thoroughgoing sort of way. Because everything works well (and well together), it's hard to pick individual standouts but one has enjoyed these the most: the ecstatic title cut, "Not the End of the World," “Shoot Doris Day” and “Juxtapozed with U" and “Presidential Suite” “Run Christian Run" and "Roman Road." The more outre moments (scary voices on "Respectable" and sound effect montage on "No Sympathy" go borderline too far) but are mostly additive. usually, music of this quanity faces quality issues – not this one. SFA are a band one wishes one knew better and had more time for when one was younger, when life was more sprawling and delicious, weirder and more exciting, just like this most excellent record.

A really cool record from the britpop era that I had a great time listening to. Some of the experimental parts fell a little flat for me and fell into a bit of a silly annoying noises category, but some of them were lovely surprises, particularly the forays into styles of dance music and incorporation of record scratching just really amped up the level of fun you can have listening to this. The main highlights for me were the ballads on the backend of the album that may borrow a liiittle heavily from Blur's sound, but they do it justice so who gives a shit lol the songs are good. Overall had a great time and cherry on top I'm a big Rhys Ifans fan really cool to find out he was in this group for a time.

This album really blew me away. I was very impressed by the seamless mix of different styles and genres. "Receptacle for the Respectable" and "No Sympathy" really stood out as amazing surprises. I loved every song but "Presidential Suite", which was the clear low point on the album. All that considered, 12/13 is pretty damn impressive. 4.8/5 -> 5/5

This surprisingly slapped.

I hadn't heard of this album and judging by the first song, I didn't think I would like it. Turns out all the other songs are incredible and it's just that first song I don't like. In fact, the rest of this album is so good! It all works together making an album which sounds unique and works together. Favorite songs: Sidewalk Serfer Girl, It's Not The End Of The World, Shoot Doris Day, No Sympathy, Juxtaposed With U, Presidential Suite, Fragile Happiness

A great baroque Brit pop album with wonderful arrangements.

### "Rings Around the World" by Super Furry Animals: An In-Depth Review **Introduction** "Rings Around the World," released in 2001, is the fifth studio album by the Welsh band Super Furry Animals. Known for their eclectic and innovative approach to music, the band delivered an ambitious project that blends genres, sophisticated production, and thought-provoking lyrics. This review delves into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, and also evaluates its strengths and weaknesses. **Lyrics** The lyrical content of "Rings Around the World" is a rich tapestry of social commentary, surreal imagery, and introspective musings. Gruff Rhys, the band's lead vocalist and primary lyricist, explores a variety of themes with wit and poignancy. 1. **Social Commentary**: Tracks like "Receptacle for the Respectable" and "No Sympathy" tackle consumerism and societal apathy. In "No Sympathy," Rhys sings, "There’s no sympathy for the devil / And no sympathy for the poor," a biting critique of modern society's lack of empathy. 2. **Environmental Concerns**: The title track, "Rings Around the World," reflects on the environmental impact of human activity. The lyrics, "We got the rings around the world / We got the strings that pull the world," metaphorically suggest both the global reach of human influence and the consequential strain on the planet. 3. **Surreal and Abstract Imagery**: Songs like "Sidewalk Serfer Girl" and "Presidential Suite" showcase Rhys's ability to weave surreal narratives. "Presidential Suite" references political scandals with a whimsical twist, blending real-world events with absurdist humor. 4. **Personal and Reflective**: "It's Not the End of the World?" touches on personal resilience and optimism in the face of adversity. The chorus, "It's not the end of the world / No, not even close," serves as a reassuring reminder of perseverance. **Music** The musical landscape of "Rings Around the World" is vast and varied, showcasing the band's versatility and experimentation. 1. **Genre-Blending**: The album fuses rock, pop, electronic, and orchestral elements. Tracks like "Juxtapozed with U" mix funk and soul influences, creating a catchy, groove-laden sound. 2. **Innovative Arrangements**: The band employs unconventional song structures and diverse instrumentation. "Receptacle for the Respectable" evolves through multiple sections, including a Beach Boys-inspired harmony breakdown and a heavy metal finale. 3. **Melodic Richness**: Super Furry Animals are known for their strong melodies, and this album is no exception. Songs like "It's Not the End of the World?" and "Juxtapozed with U" are instantly memorable, thanks to their compelling hooks and harmonious vocals. 4. **Textural Depth**: The album features a rich tapestry of sounds, from the lush string arrangements in "Run! Christian, Run!" to the electronic bleeps and bloops in "Shoot Doris Day." This sonic diversity keeps the listener engaged and showcases the band's technical prowess. **Production** The production of "Rings Around the World" is polished and ambitious, reflecting the band's desire to push boundaries. 1. **High Fidelity**: The album was one of the first to be simultaneously released on CD and DVD, with the latter offering high-definition audio and visual content. This commitment to quality is evident in the pristine sound of the album. 2. **Collaborative Effort**: Produced by the band alongside Chris Shaw, known for his work with Bob Dylan and Public Enemy, the album benefits from Shaw's expertise in capturing diverse sounds and blending them seamlessly. 3. **Innovative Techniques**: The production incorporates a wide array of studio effects and techniques. From the phasing and flanging effects on "Sidewalk Serfer Girl" to the reversed guitar loops on "No Sympathy," the album is a playground of audio experimentation. 4. **Attention to Detail**: Each track is meticulously crafted, with layers of instrumentation and subtle nuances that reveal themselves upon repeated listens. This attention to detail enhances the overall listening experience and underscores the band's dedication to their craft. **Themes** "Rings Around the World" explores a variety of themes, many of which are interconnected and reflective of the band's worldview. 1. **Globalization and Environmentalism**: The album frequently addresses the impact of globalization and the corresponding environmental consequences. The title track and "Run! Christian, Run!" both highlight the tension between progress and preservation. 2. **Technology and Isolation**: Songs like "Juxtapozed with U" and "No Sympathy" explore the double-edged sword of technological advancement, which brings people together yet often fosters a sense of isolation and disconnection. 3. **Political Satire**: "Presidential Suite" and "Receptacle for the Respectable" contain pointed political commentary, using satire and absurdity to critique contemporary political figures and systems. 4. **Human Experience**: At its core, the album is a reflection on the human condition, with songs that touch on love, loss, hope, and despair. This thematic breadth makes the album relatable and emotionally resonant. **Influence** "Rings Around the World" has left a lasting impact on both fans and fellow musicians. Its innovative approach to production and genre-blending has been influential in the indie and alternative music scenes. 1. **Critical Acclaim**: The album was well-received by critics, praised for its ambition and creativity. It has been included in several "best of" lists, cementing its status as a significant work in the band's discography. 2. **Inspiring Musicians**: The album's eclectic style and production techniques have inspired a generation of musicians to experiment with their sound. Bands like The Flaming Lips and Animal Collective have drawn comparisons to Super Furry Animals' innovative approach. 3. **Cultural Impact**: Beyond its musical influence, the album's themes of globalization, environmentalism, and technological impact resonate with contemporary societal issues, making it a culturally significant work. **Pros and Cons** **Pros:** 1. **Eclectic and Innovative Sound**: The album's genre-blending and experimentation make it a standout in the band's catalog and the broader music landscape. 2. **Strong Lyrics**: Gruff Rhys's lyrical prowess shines throughout, offering insightful commentary and vivid imagery. 3. **High Production Quality**: The meticulous production and attention to detail result in a polished and immersive listening experience. 4. **Diverse Themes**: The album's exploration of globalization, technology, politics, and human experience provides depth and relevance. **Cons:** 1. **Overambitious at Times**: The album's complexity and eclecticism might be overwhelming for some listeners, making it less accessible. 2. **Inconsistent Pacing**: The varied styles and shifts in tone can result in a disjointed listening experience for those seeking a more cohesive narrative. 3. **Niche Appeal**: While critically acclaimed, the album's experimental nature may not appeal to mainstream audiences. **Conclusion** "Rings Around the World" by Super Furry Animals is a landmark album that showcases the band's creativity, technical skill, and willingness to push boundaries. Its rich lyrical content, innovative music, and polished production make it a standout work that continues to influence and inspire. While its ambitious scope and eclectic style may not be for everyone, it remains a significant and enduring piece of the early 2000s music scene. The album's exploration of relevant themes such as globalization, technology, and the human condition ensures its continued relevance and impact.

This is definitely an album that requires several listens to fully absorb. Stylistically, it moves all over the place the ambition of the album is very much intentional and really requires your attention. Genres shift significantly even within songs. No where is that more dramatic than the sweet folk of 'No Sympathy' that morphs into a chaotic acid-tinged drill n bass song. It's a clear highlight for me, along with the title track and 'Receptacle for the Respectable'. The latter is another genre bending track, featuring the likes of Paul McCartney munching on vegetables against poppy rock n roll before diving into a heavy metal influenced breakdown. The more I listen to this album, the more I enjoy it. I'd love to hear the surround mix one day.

I loved this album when it first came out. Sidewalk Serfer Girl and Receptacle for the Respectable are six star songs frankly. In any civilised era, SFA would have been Beatles level big.

I could write an essay on this one if I had the time. It’s a fantastic listen all the way through. Genre-bending throughout, the path the listener is taken on is completely unpredictable. And yet, each turn kind of makes sense to me. For example, “No Sympathy” is a quiet acoustic track, with anger bubbling underneath as the lyrics repeat “I have no sympathy for you”. In the last two minutes, the sound slowly transforms into what I could only describe as an electronic freak out, or possibly a laser gunfight. The next track “Juxtapoze with u” hilariously slides into a sunny 70s R&B groove, and the lyrics remind us we have to “tolerate the people we hate,” juxtaposing this with the previous track’s lyrics AND music. There is really no part of this to pick apart. The songs are good, bolstered by the production. Dynamics, instrumentation, song structures, it’s all interesting. Not one time during this album did I think, “I’ve heard this before.” Had it at a 4/5 but the back half of the album really sealed it as a 5/5. Loved this album!

What a fantastic album. I knew of the Super Furries but had never listened to an album before. Error.

I love this album and have loved it since it came out. I never got much into other Super Furry Animals albums, but this album is a brilliant mix of so many different sounds and styles of songs, and I think every single one is great. Many songs are just beautiful, many are funny, and many groove or rock with great riffs and hooks.

Really original and interesting album, wish I'd discovered this at the time.

Great album, amazing band

Never heard of them but enjoyed this album

The most underrated band from the British 90s music scene. Some great songs, taking the best of The Beach Boys, Psychedelic rock and soul. A peach of a record.

Rings Around The World feels like the missing link between Blur and Gorillaz. It’s the transformation from britpop to whatever you would like to call the schizophrenic mashup of genres that the British scene of the early 00’s experimented with. There’s very little cohesion as Gruff Rhys and the band throws every musical idea towards you - and somehow succeeds to hit the target time and time again. It shouldn’t actually work, but it does. It’s too much, it could almost be misinterpreted as a joke of a band with no musical direction. Somehow Super Furry Animals gets away with it - and it’s sublime.

Really great album. Very ahead of it's time for 2001. The lead singer sounds like Damon Albarn, so it felt like listening to a contemporary Blur album. Great production. Sounds like it was influential in the rock space.

Has long been one of my favorites

had absolutely 0 expectations going into this album. had never heard of Super Furry Animals but it was a great listen. no bad songs and a lot of really good ones. the vibes were all over the place but in a good and purposeful way

I loved this so much!! If other albums were 5, this was a 10

Huge fan of SFA and this is yet another one added to the list. I don't really get the complaints about the style but if it's good, then it's good right? And I like this, a lot.

This was intended to be an expansive epic and that comes across in the final album. It has cinematic production values and plenty of variety in the musical content. The melodies are catchy, the vocals are bouncy (loads of great harmonies) and the arrangements are dense. They don't take themselves too seriously either. Thoroughly enjoyable pop.

I really got into this. I loved this album, then I listened to a bit of Griff Rhys's latest one, then I went back and enjoyed a bit of Neon Neon. The tongue in cheek lyrics, experimental sounds and laid back guitar were spot on.

Weird space rock with a DJ. Surprisingly good.

What a refreshing surprise. I'm tempted to temper my review a bit because I don't think they are going to be a band I continue to come back to and the sound is a bit dated, but I just really enjoy it. I had never heard of this band before and the blending of styles and variation between there music was excellent. Juxtapozed with U was a great little song, but I loved their instrumental [A] Touch Sensitive and the longer tracks like No Sympathy and Presidential Suite. Great album!

A life-defining moment was going on a high school writer's retreat and one of the seniors I looked up to playing the entire dvd that accompanied this album. It was my intro to SFA and the album which would soundtrack my own final high school years. They were a band my freshman roommate and I bonded over. It's an album I can always come back to and be transported to 2003. This is all to say, I can't speak objectively about this album. It's fucking perfect.

Welsh band from around of era, but somehow I have never heard about them. I approached this album being very sceptical, as I always do, and truthfully I didn't find it original, creative or even fun at the beginning. I think the song "Receptacle for the Respectable" completely changed my perception of this album. They tried to fit every possible genre into a song, and somehow they created an absolute banger, which goes to the top of my favourite songs . Only then I noticed how original this album is, with songs all over the place musically, but with a cheeky lyrics on top of it. I had so much fun listening to the whole record, and I still have b-sides and remastered versions to listen to. Amazing stuff, looking forward to deeper dig into the discography in the near future!

There is something enticing about this ecletic mix. Faves: (Drawing) Rings Around the World, Receptable for the Respectable, Juxtapozed with U, and Run! Christian, Run!

I’ve known about Super Furry Animals for a long time due to their involvement in McCartney’s Liverpool Sound Collage, and was aware that Paul subsequently contributed an all-time celery and carrot performance on this record. Still, despite knowing and liking the title track of this record, I’d never dove into them before this. And boy, do I feel silly for that now. What a wonderful journey this record is. More than anything, I appreciate how balanced it is. There are just the right amount of fast, slow, and mid-tempo songs; the electronic elements work perfectly alongside the largely organic frameworks; they’re often throwing the kitchen sink at these arrangements, but they do it in a way that never feels overly dense. This is especially apparent in “Receptable for the Respectable”, which borrows heavily from The Beatles and Beach Boys without venturing into parody or plagiarism. They throw in a little harmonica here, some horns there, some tasty synth for good measure, all while working their way through an ever-changing form…it’s so awesome. And for good measure, the outro is absolutely hilarious. There are just so many damn highlights here. “(Drawing) Rings Around the World” is a killer pop song dressed up with alternative psychedelia. “No Sympathy” is such a wild ride; again, going back to the theme of balance, the feedback permeating throughout the intro never fully overtakes or distracts from the gorgeous acoustic guitar/electric piano work, and the electronic shift in the outro is batshit insane in the best way. I also love the juxtaposition of the dark lyrics with the beautiful vocal melody. Speaking of juxtaposition, the unexpected Philly soul-inspired “Juxtaposed with U” features some of my favorite lyrics on the record (“I’m not in love with you, but I won’t hold that against you”). “Presidential Suite” is another lyrical gem, underscoring the sweeping music with hysterical commentary. I feel like I could talk all day about the soundscape of “Alternate Route to Vulcan Street” and dynamic masterclass of “Run! Christian! Run!”. It feels wrong to not mention the expertly crafted mood piece that is “[A] Touch Sensitive”, too. I’ve only listened to this album twice, but I’m quite enamored with it already. Very strong 4.5 stars for me. 4.5/5

Good album 8 out of 10

7.5

Really enjoyed this album. It’s now in my music library and one shall revist

Experimental stuff. I didn't expect to like it too much but it was strangely catchy. No real standout songs for me but it was pretty nice overall.

I really didn't like Fuzzy Logic when I got it, so wasn't very excited about this one. A pleasant surprise, actually quite liked it. I don't think it will ultimately become a favorite, but I will definitely listen again. Might have to go back and listen to Fuzzy Logic again too, maybe I was in a bad mood that day. Music is funny like that...