super furry animals

[lukeyd]

i know matt (groovypanada) loves them, and i think this is a band i'd like to get into. I am aware that they are a band who are constantly challenging themselves with new directions, so where should i start?

no suggestion is too obvious, i know next to nothing. other than them being welsh (i think).

[groovypanda]

i think there's another thread about them around somewhere here - as i said on that one your best starting point is probably songbook, imo, one of the best 'best of' albums i've ever heard.

their latest album love kraft is probably my favourite album of the year right now - fucking genius. they are a band that strive to innovate and whilst their ideas don't always come off, when they do the results can be breathtaking

check out their website and also check out this review of the latest album, which, despite being from the nme, kind of conveys what the SFA are all about...

hope that helps

matt

[Stephen]

Oh God, I love the Furries. They're also one of the best live acts I've ever seen. They were ropey when they started out, but now their live show is 2nd to none. Particularly when Cian finishes the show with a 20 minute techno jam. I have so much love for this band it's untrue. I also have a ticket to see them next Tuesday in Birmingham. Get the fuck in.

Their 2nd album, Radiator, is generally regarded as their best, but don't forget that that's the best of a great bunch. You can't really go too wrong with anything (unless you have an aversion to the welsh language - Mwng - although that is the biggest selling welsh language album of all time). I love Rings Around The World mainly for the spectacle of their tour for that album (stage littered with about 100 TV sets of various sizes and some of the most moving imagery/dialogue I've ever been subjected to at a live show). The last album, Phantom Power, had some lovely summery sounding tracks on it as well as the devastatingly good techno-psychedlia masterpiece that is Slow Life. In fact, go and download this track now. I'm fairly sure it'll send shivers down your spine.

Got my copy of the new one yesterday and my first thought is that they've been smoking too much weed. I imagine it'll reward repeated listening though.

[sanblaster]

Fuzzy Logic is the album I like the most. They are really really awesome. Can't wait until I see them live again.

[dirtytomato]

Love the Furries as well. Guerilla is my favorite - it's great from start to finish. Saw them play the first Coachella touring that album, then again for Rings Around the World. Their sound is amazing and shows are outrageous, very loud and fun.

[brokenhanger]

As far as I can tell, there are two major lines of thinking among long time SFA fans.

First - and this one seems to be the most popular - is that "Radiator" was their finest moment and they've only been trying to catch up since then. Oddly enough, fans in this camp also seem to be huge fans of "Phantom Power", which I don't get because the two sound nothing alike, but were generally let down by "Rings Around the World". Both "Radiator" and "Phantom Power" are great, but I don't believe this.

The second theory, which is the one I subscribe to, is that "Guerrilla" is their true masterpiece. Because it is - completely mindwarping, ridiculously all over the place, but incredibly cohesive and a very solid set of pop songs. The key record of the late 90's as far as I'm concerned. They won't ever top it, but that's OK because I don't know if anyone could. People in this group also generally find "Rings Around the World" to be a near masterpiece. And it is. You read about how people's perception of music - and life, really - was changed when they first heart "Sgt Pepper's" in 1967. That's what this record did to me in 2001. It's not perfect, but it's pretty fucking impressive. Make sure to check out the DVD too - the remixes alone are worth it. Avoid the "Phantom Power" one though - the only thing worth your while is the 5.1 mix, or so that's what I'm told as I don't have a way to hear it, so I'm stuck with a lot of b-o-r-i-n-g visuals and some crap remixes.

That said, all seven proper studio albums are well worth your time - none of them are anything less than spectacular. The weak ones bookend em - they hadn't quite found their footing yet with "Fuzzy Logic" (though it does contain 'God! Show Me Magic', which is certainly one of their finest 90-seconds) and "Love Kraft" is a little too flat and one dimensional as far as SFA records go - but again, they're only weak by comparison. Most bands would kill to have a record half as good as either of those in their catalogue.

You'll need "Songbook" at some point unless you feel like trying to track down an 'Ice Hockey Hair' or 'Man Don't Give A Fuck' EP at some point - well worth it, but getting kinda difficult and/or pricey in this day and age - so you could always start there. You'll get a nice taste of it all, keeping in mind that the later albums are a bit underrepresented due to a lessening in the emphasis on pulling a zillion singles from an album. Plus, 'It's Not The End of the World?' and 'Hello Sunshine' were very poor single choices, especially considering what wasn't selected.

Personally, I'd flip the first two and start with "Radiator", following it with "Fuzzy Logic", then "Outspaced", and going in order from there. [That's "Guerrilla", "Mwng", "Rings Around the World", "Phantom Power", then "Love Kraft" in case you need it. Just ignore "Phantom Phorce" - their only misstep up to this point.] Make sure to pick up the recent US editions of the first four with bonus discs if possible - some of their best tunes are hidden away on the b-sides ['Calimero' anyone? There's a reason it's still a live staple 8 years after appearing as a b-side] and the singles are getting kinda hard to come across. Also, the US edition of "Rings" comes with all seven b-sides [well, six b-sides and the lone bonus track from the DVD that wasn't used as a b-side] that's definately worth picking up - much better than the stupid limited edition slip case the UK got. [Mine ripped anyways. ] Gruff's solo album from earlier this year is mighty fine too - I think I prefer it to "Love Kraft", and probably even "Phantom Power".

You're gonna need em all at some point, though. One of the most consistantly rewarding bands in recent times to say the least.

[Stephen]

Well I must be in the 3rd camp who love Radiator and Rings Around The World most. Must get Guerrilla onto my mp3 player as I haven't listened to it in ages. I think I thought some of that album was a bit gimicky but now I think about it, it certainly contains some of the band's most poppy tunes. Particularly The Teacher and Keep The Cosmic Trigger Happy. Actually, perhaps the real reason I don't listen to this album is because it reminds me of when I worked at Vodafone and that was a really shit time.

Can't believe I forgot to mention Ice Hockey Hair. I swear I was on the brink of tears hearing this at Reading 98. What a fucking song. And The Man Don't Give A Fuck. Brilliant. I've now got an urge to listen to all my SFA records back to back.

Really don't know what I think of the new album yet. Disappointed at the lack of a single immediate poppy track. Think it's going to need a few listens to fully appreciate this one. Definitely sounds like an album though rather than a just collection of songs/singles.

Seeing them again tomorrow night. Think I've got my excited pants on already.

[groovypanda]

Originally Posted by Stephen

Really don't know what I think of the new album yet. Disappointed at the lack of a single immediate poppy track. Think it's going to need a few listens to fully appreciate this one. Definitely sounds like an album though rather than a just collection of songs/singles.

the new album definitely rewards repeated listenings - don't know what the next single will be but i don't think they'd go far wrong with psyclone...