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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Rings Around The World

Super Furry Animals

2001

Buy At Rough Trade
Rings Around The World
Album Summary

Rings Around the World is the fifth studio album and the major label debut by Super Furry Animals. Released on 23 July 2001 by Epic Records in the United Kingdom, it was the first album by any artist to be simultaneously released on both audio CD and DVD. The record reached number 3 in the UK Albums Chart and includes the singles "Juxtapozed with U", "(Drawing) Rings Around the World" and "It's Not the End of the World?". The album, which singer Gruff Rhys describes as "a very ambitious project", was recorded between April and September 2000 at Monnow Valley Studios in Rockfield, Monmouthshire, Wales and Bearsville Studios, New York with the band acting as co-producers alongside Chris Shaw. The majority of the songs on Rings Around the World were written by Rhys on guitar and piano with keyboardist Cian Ciaran contributing "[A] Touch Sensitive" and "Miniature" as well as collaborating with other members of the band on "Run! Christian, Run!", "Alternate Route to Vulcan Street" and "No Sympathy". Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and former Velvet Underground member John Cale make cameo appearances on the album. Musically Rings Around the World is an eclectic record incorporating pop, prog, punk, jungle, electronica, techno and death metal. Rhys has offered several explanations of the album's lyrical content, claiming the record is "about Earth, and the pollution of space" and also that it addresses the human condition. Critics meanwhile have referred to the record as "thematically eccentric" and lacking an "overarching theme". Critical reception was generally positive, with the album being nominated for 2001's Mercury Music Prize and placing at #1 in Mojo's "best albums of 2001" feature. Some reviews claimed it to be the best record of the band's career although the NME described it as the band's worst album.

Wikipedia

Rating

2.99

Votes

12356

Genres

  • Rock
  • Indie
  • Britpop

Reviews

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Oct 13 2020
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5

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

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Apr 05 2021
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2

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.

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Feb 07 2021
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5

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

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Jan 27 2021
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5

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.

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Oct 27 2021
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1

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.

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Feb 07 2024
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2

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.

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Sep 10 2020
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5

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.

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Jun 17 2021
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5

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.

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Feb 24 2022
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2

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.

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May 29 2021
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5

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.

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Feb 10 2021
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5

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

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May 13 2021
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5

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.

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Jul 09 2021
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5

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

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Jun 16 2022
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5

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!

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Oct 07 2021
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1

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

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Jul 31 2021
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5

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

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Mar 04 2022
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5

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....

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Aug 18 2022
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5

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

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Jan 04 2023
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5

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

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Jan 13 2023
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5

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.

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Mar 03 2023
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5

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.

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Mar 06 2023
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5

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

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Aug 22 2024
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5

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

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Jan 25 2024
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4

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.

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Feb 19 2021
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3

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

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Feb 22 2021
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3

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

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Dec 09 2023
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3

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.

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Dec 10 2023
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3

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.

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Dec 12 2023
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3

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.

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Dec 20 2023
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3

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.

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Feb 22 2024
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3

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)!

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Mar 10 2024
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3

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.

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Mar 29 2024
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3

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

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Apr 24 2021
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2

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.

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Nov 26 2021
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2

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.

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Mar 17 2022
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2

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.

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Oct 21 2022
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1

So little for me to enjoy with this one.

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Aug 05 2024
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1

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.

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Aug 19 2023
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5

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!

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Sep 08 2023
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5

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.

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Oct 04 2023
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5

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!

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Nov 08 2023
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5

Weird space rock with a DJ. Surprisingly good.

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Nov 21 2023
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5

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.

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Nov 21 2023
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5

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.

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Nov 29 2023
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5

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.

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Dec 14 2023
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5

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

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Dec 25 2023
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5

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

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Dec 28 2023
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5

Has long been one of my favorites

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Jan 21 2024
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5

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.

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Jan 25 2024
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5

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.

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Feb 04 2024
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5

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.

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Mar 01 2024
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5

Never heard of them but enjoyed this album

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Apr 18 2024
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5

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

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Apr 18 2024
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5

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.

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Apr 18 2024
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5

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

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Apr 21 2024
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5

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!

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May 07 2024
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5

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.

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May 19 2024
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5

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.

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May 24 2024
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5

### "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.

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Jun 27 2024
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5

A great baroque Brit pop album with wonderful arrangements.

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Jul 22 2024
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5

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

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Sep 05 2024
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5

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

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Sep 11 2024
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5

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.

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Sep 26 2024
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5

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.

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Oct 03 2024
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5

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

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Nov 09 2020
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4

Pleasantly enjoyable. Like a fusion between ELO and post-AM Arctic Monkeys.

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Apr 08 2021
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4

Pretty cool with some tracks I didn't like

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Feb 22 2021
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4

Great songs, production could make more of the lovely voices.

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Apr 09 2021
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4

Fedt album. Mange gode harmonier og gode numre. Har en specielt blandingslyd. Desværre lider nogle af numrene lidt for meger af eksperimentering til at give top karakter. Men absolut et godt album. 4 stjerner måske 4.5 efter flere genemlyt

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Mar 11 2021
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4

At the height of their powers. Such an enjoyable album! Freaky and wavy and odd, but also just lovely pop rock songs. I have overlooked the lyrics before, but there is some great stuff in there.

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Jul 05 2021
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4

This was new to me, and I really enjoyed it. I like when bands can navigate little experiments and moments of genre bending as seamlessly as they do. They really caught my attention at "[A] Touch Sensitive" and perhaps my favorite was "Juxtapozed with U."

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Feb 09 2021
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4

This is why I’m doing this project. I’ve never even heard of this group let alone listened. This is wild.

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Mar 17 2021
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4

Chill and I liked all the places it went.

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Jan 27 2021
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4

I wasn't aware of this one and it turned out to be a very pleasant listen. The mix of songs is very eclectic with each one sounding significantly different than the previous- keeping the listener on their toes. I'll revisit this one for sure.

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Jan 27 2021
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4

A wide range of sounds and genre mix-ins, pretty interesting. I had never heard of these guys before. Smooth listening, catchy melodies.

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Jan 27 2021
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4

Probably my favorite album so far on this journey. I liked how many different influences you could hear. I had never heard any of these songs before, and that makes me sad. Will be listening to this again. Top 3: Alternate route to Vulcan Street, Receptacle for the Respectable, [A] Touch Sensitive

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May 16 2021
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4

Just a whole lot of fun. Beautiful melodies giving way to strange, psychedelic riffing. The vocal timbre of the singer is also pleasant. Really enjoyable!

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Feb 26 2021
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4

Surprisingly down to earth, and VERY funny!

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May 29 2021
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4

Just my kind of vibe. Gives me very big Moody Blues energy with a modern twist. I wanna dive deeper into these guys.

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Mar 23 2021
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4

Brilliantly Beatlesque in places, electronically wacky in others. Eclectic!

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Mar 29 2021
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4

really enjoyable! first time listening to supper furry animals.

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May 19 2021
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4

RATW introduced SFA to a wider audience with more of a polished sound that didn’t take away from their previous eccentricities. Great singles including Juxtaposed & End Of The World while the country tinged Run Christian Run was a mellow direction for them. Their run of albums including RATW is sublime, sensational band. SFA OK!

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Apr 19 2021
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4

I really liked this album. I had heard Juxtaposed With U, but not really too familiar with the Super Furries apart from that. It was definitely up my street. Gorgeous and mellow, with lots of interesting instruments.

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Jun 17 2021
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4

This is a new artist and new music for me. Some of the tracks remind me of things that I listen to. "No Sympathy" starts off sounding like a something from Phish in the mid-nineties, finishing with a twist ending (not so much like Phish). "Juxtapozed with U" reminded me of some of the music from Damon Albarn and the Gorillaz. "Alternate Route to Vulcan Street" was a good way to start the album. We'll call that track my "favorite" for the album. The album was interesting enough that I'd probably listen again. (3.5 stars)

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Apr 21 2021
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4

Pleasantly surprised by this one! Very 2001 in its deployment of techno-city. Got a lot of late stage Elvis Costello in this. And more than anything, really loved Shoot Doris Day. I may start listening to this band!

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