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.

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.

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

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.

Listenable but not likeable.

meh

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

So little for me to enjoy with this one.

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!

Delightful weirdness from when the century was still shiny and new. I'd never listened to Super Furry Animals before, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to discover them.

I enjoyed this. It's got a lot of eclectic sounds on it but all from my era. I've not really listened to the Super Furry Animals before but would give it another go!

If I listened to any individual song, I wouldn't be very impressed. But as an album it is fantastic how so many genres are woven throughout. You never know where they're taking you next and that gives it a lot of charm. Fun!

This is our second album by Super Furry Animals, a band I had not heard of prior. "Receptacle for the Respectable" did not go the way I thought it would. I felt like I was descending into some sort of hellish prison camp for the last 45s. The album is nice and all of the songs are pretty pleasant. None of it really grips me, but it was all fun to listen to. 7/10

Необычная музыка, хотелось бы послушать еще раз

Never heard of em, but genre wise I think I'll like it. The cover is quite weird and it's either hardly worked on or randomly made, dunno if it has history basically. Tho based on the name is it gonna be a little bit of everything of what world offers in music(?), I doubt that but that would be a cool project. Anyway no high expectations, still I'll prolly not dislike it as much. Now that I'm thinking, I guess I've heard of them, but I never gave them a listen so I don't know them in any way. First song, the start is slow already, it's giving Doves. Piano is quite good and now violins joined in. I like the vibes for now, we'll see how good of a voice the MS has. Really weird delivery and the way voice sounds. I like the delivery now, makes me want to learn the lyrics if they weren't so low in quantity. Not gonna add this song, it gave me nothing, but is a good start for an album I can say that. The sound didn't stop till the end and I thought there would be a transition but nope. Second song, he has an automatically sad voice, wooow the guitar guitaring randomly is really good. I feel this experimental beat and I love it. Delivery is good, but overall the song isn't catchy or smth it's just good with different standards. Obsessed with that random guitar coming in part. Third song, liked the start, but the continuation is less good. His lyrical delivery and sonicality overall is mid. There are diff people talking through the phone, touché I guess. The ending sonically is reaaally good, should have used that as a melody. I'd add this song just because of the last part, though not sure. 4th song, quiet start and a literal Vampire Weekend kinda song turned on after that. This probably had the best melodic delivery. Is this a woman's voice at the end? Liked the overall vibe, even though there was no catchy part, it's basically a grower and I'll one day like it moooore than now. 5th song, upbeat start and electric orchestra vibe with them background voices. Dunno the lyrics but it's a quirky song. It became less upbeat and a little slow though the flow is still fast, he's singing the chorus over and over too I think. Futuristic jazz vibes. Not one of em boring instrumental breaks basically. I'm sorry WHAAAT? METAL?! They're trying hard to make it metal, and it kinda is but also the fact that song was goofy af sonically and then became this, easily one of the best decisions idc. Favourite song for now, plus that ending gawd damnn. 6th song, futuristic sounds again. It's sonically eerie. It's fully instrumental I think, that made it worse. I hear moaning? That's less bad. Only piano stayed and everything else was quiet, then the whole orchestra came in, but the violin is the most dominant of the sounds. Not smth I'd relisten to, there are some parts for that but also no. 7th song, it's giving music(I'm rereading before I submit and I have no idea what music vibes is, probably my keyboard corrected it Goddd) vibes, and now it's sad. Each part is too different, the outro and intro specifically. It can be fun at some points, but then again there are too many sounds like this everywhere right, the delivery is the same, but I'd argue that I definitely sense smth more. 8th Interlude, quite a short of a song, I expect others being long AF from now on, but nothing I can do about that. It's ambient sad, kinda liking it. Still nothing wowy. 9th song, guitar on the left. Long AF song as I expected. Since they have time the intro is long as well, good choice I suppose. I hear a plane taking off kinda sound. His voice is really scratching my brain in the right places. The delivery is good basically. Electric orchestra vibes with these poly voice lyrical delivery. Love me some dark lyrics. I've had a pause before continuing listening so I don't fully remember other songs, but this is really good. Chorus is quite catchy. Lot's of instrumental breaks. Barapabas came in, and it's getting faster. Makes the song feel a little unserious. SHIT BECAME EXPERIMENTAL IN A SECOND. My right ear is getting a lot of attention. God damn this is good. It's rave club vibes I cannot believe this. It's giving Sophie and I simply don't believe it. They had the ability to do this and decided not to wtfff. 10th song, what a switch up goddamn, this is a little romantic rocky song and compared to what just happened 1 minute ago I meannn. The voice seems autotuned, not anymore, but still different from how he sounded in the last song. The violin is really good here. The lyrical delivery is fabulous, I just wanna sing alone with him atp. Suited ending. 11th song, a mellow guitar vibes. "Do we need to know if he really came inside her house"???!! What are these Prince lyrics girlll, love them tho. Song has a political message apparently. The trumpet is quiet, but does its job perfectly. It does become the main character at this point, but it's not as loud as it usually is so, not that it should be. The chorus is yet catchy af. Another perfect ending, plus we got some jazz vibes. 12th song, futuristic start tbh. A little new waveness came in. Looong af songs, they be entertaining tho. Voice has been quite the same after that Sophie song. Less interesting production and lyricalness. The chorus is too good now I can't decide if it's overall song is bad. Christian and not Christine apparently, the pronunciation caught my ear so I just noticed that in the title. There was only good part for now. Also I feel like this one is focused on the lyrics rather how good it actually sounds like. It ain't going anywhere, tho a little country vibes came in. Oohs are sang in a disappointing manner. Really should have experimentalised this song too, it is getting louder at the end(best part ig) but still. 13th song, finally that kind of sound came back. It's just satisfying to hear. Short song and it's the last one and honestly, it fits. Even though I don't fully remember the songs before 8th song, I think; I still loved most of the songs after 8, so I WAS thinking 5 stars, but that is a hard one to get, album has to have bop after bop for me to do that(or special occasions such as liking an artist unconditionally). Anyway, it's really good, I'm gonna do 4 stars because they had the chance to make some better and much more future-like sounds and they basically refused to delve into that subject, that's their only fault, alsoo the songs are too slow, one got close to rave but it should have lasted longer. Really didn't expect to like this as much as I did, I hope I'll get another album from these guys.

A pleasant surprise! Another blindspot from the early 2000s. An eclectic bunch of songs - hearing traces Flaming Lips, Spiritualized, Blur (vocals?), but all combined makes for one hell of an album.

Interesting. Very odd but surprisingly good. Some of the too-techno-y stuff was a bit overwhelming, but pretty good overall.

Favorite Track: Receptacle for the Respectable

I love so much about these tracks individually, as songs. However they don't successfully come together as a full album. I enjoyed their debut a bit more

Very enjoyable album. I only have vague memories of them when I was a kid and never listened to them too much. Turns out that they're rather interesting and there's more to them than a lot of their contemporaries. Although, the lead singer's voice reminded me so much of Damon Albarn at times which made it feel like I was listening to an experimental Blur album. Not a bad thing.

We got two Super Furry Animals albums in this book. I thought they were the Barenaked Ladies of Wales and that's not entirely accurate. Still, TWO ALBUMS? Is that necessary? I realize they are from Wales, so naturally that makes their albums more important than an album from a group in any other part of the world, but I wish the editors of this book had shown a bit more restraint. I got strong ELO vibes from a few of the songs, especially on "Rings Around the World" and I am not sure Jeff Lynne didn't really write that song. Same thing for "It's not the End of the World." This is the second straight day of some surprising brit-pop influences in the album I am listening to. No Sympathy is an interesting song and gets more interesting at the end of it. Not sure why the band chose to add all those sounds, but it did make the song more interesting. Juxtaposed with U has some strong Barry White vibes at the beginning of the song. It's probably the best song on the album and I really liked it. Overall, a pretty good album and I enjoyed it. I'm interested to see if the other album by Super Fuzzy Animals is better than this one, just so I can complain with opinionated fact that only one of their albums should have been in this book.

pretty good, great job brits

Second SFA album in the list. I gave Fuzzy Logic a 4 some time ago, and from memory, FL is better than Rings Around the World, an album I never managed to get into ..but on this occasion I tried a bit harder and much admit: RAtW is equally strong, in particular Run! Christian, Run! is a truly great song.

A collection of mostly beautiful songs with an occasional outburst. I like it like that.

Interesting. Seems quite chilled out so far.

This album was right up my alley, I loooove all of the psychedelic weirdness. Notable tracks: all of it

4 stars

Super cool album, very mellow (mostly) and very hummable. I found myself humming the melodies with the chord progressions in my head in between songs. Not really my genre -- a little too sleepy for me -- but I still really enjoyed the listen. Four stars.

Not really sure how to categorize this music, but it was both chill and rockin’ and I dug it!

3.8 - Never heard them before, but I think I've heard of them. Was actually really cool in parts and some great experimental parts with brit pop vibe? But not sure how much I'll sit and listen to them