... In 2001, "Rings Around The World" was released simultaneously on CD and DVD - a world's first, and what an album it was...
The higher quality of production hits you from the start with the sweeping soundscapes of "Alternate Route To Vulcan Street" and the bizarre techno/punk amalgam "Sidewalk ... Read review
Alternate Route To Vulcan St Sidewalk Serfer Girl (Drawing) Rings Around The World ... more
It's Not The end Of The World? Receptacle For The Respectable (A) Touch Sensitive Shoot Doris Day Miniature No Sympathy Juxtaposed With U Presidentia...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
The fifth album from Welsh pop prodigies Super Furry Animals,Rings Around the Worldis ... more
their most staggeringly ambitious work to date. Featuring everything from Status Quo-style boogie-rockers to technofied drill&bass meltdowns--and even, on the DVD version, twelve specially commissioned film shorts rendered in dizzying surround sound--this is an immaculately conceived pop masterpiece with far more in common with the excitable genre-crushing of 1999's "Guerrilla" than their previous album, the very respectable but defiantly firework-less Welsh-language folk outingMwng. One of the greatest joys is that while the lyrics are imbued throughout with a sense of dippy fun, closer inspection reveals a satisfyingly off-kilter --and frequently inspirational--intelligence. The gorgeous "Presidential Suite"--which, incidentally, features John Cale tickling the ivories--marries the classic SFA psychedelic shimmer to a weary lyric concerning the Monica Lewinsky scandal that rocked the Clinton presidency, frontman Gruff Rhys questioning it sadly like it's the most passé thing he can comprehend. Perhaps that's so: when you're playing with the sort of magic that's scattered liberally overRings Around the World, even the salacious exploits of world leaders pale into tedium. --Louis Pattison
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: A winding epic masterpiece Disadvantages: Some may find it a little obscure and inaccessible
After the break-up of Creation records in 1999, it was generally assumed that the Super Furry Animals would disappear into obscurity. Their previous three ablums, although selling well, never really held any mainstream appeal. From the outside, things seemed bleak for their hardcore base of loyal fans.
However, in 2000, it was announced that Sony (who had held a large stake in Creation) would be taking the band on via their subsidiary, ... ...the band could focus on their music and the budget for their next album would be significantly larger than anything they had done before. Big production beckoned...
We were not disappointed. In 2001, "Rings Around The World" was released simultaneously on CD and DVD - a world's first, and what an album it was...
The higher quality of production hits you from the start with the sweeping soundscapes of "Alternate ... more
After the break-up of Creation records in 1999, it was generally assumed that the Super Furry Animals would disappear into obscurity. Their previous three ablums, although selling well, never really held any mainstream appeal. From the outside, things seemed bleak for their hardcore base of loyal fans.
However, in 2000, it was announced that Sony (who had held a large stake in Creation) would be taking the band on via their subsidiary, Epic. This was tremendous news, as it meant that the band could focus on their music and the budget for their next album would be significantly larger than anything they had done before. Big production beckoned...
We were not disappointed. In 2001, "Rings Around The World" was released simultaneously on CD and DVD - a world's first, and what an album it was...
The higher quality of production hits you from the start with the sweeping soundscapes of "Alternate Route To Vulcan Street" and the bizarre techno/punk amalgam "Sidewalk Serfer Girl". It is immediately clear that the band have taken their experimental ambition of the past and moved to new, almost subversive places.
The lyrical feel of the album is that of a brave new world, dominated by the paradox of instant worldwide communication removing the warmth and humanity of interpersonal connection. This is expressed through musings on such topics as organised religion ("Run, Chrisitian, Run!") and the Clinton affair ("Presidential Suite"). This was a new direction for the SFA, whose previous lyrical efforts were more amusing, light-hearted and surreal.
This is most clear on the beautiful "Receptacle for the Respectable", a song about both the break up of a personal relationship and disenchantment with the US government ("It took a long time for me to get over...your incredible ways"). This track, for me, is the highlight of the album and is an example of the Super Furry Animals at their creative best. Interestingly, this song features a cameo by Paul McCartney, reprising his role as percussive celery-mucher (really!) that he originally performed on the Beach Boys track "Vegetables".
Nearly every musical style you can think of is represented somewhere within this album. From the luscious soul grooves of "Juxtaposed With U" (originally written as a duet with Brian Harvey, which he foolishly turned down), to country/hardcore techno ("No Sympathy") - this is an album of the highest inventiveness and quality. It really is a must buy for fans of British music. It gets better with every listen, as new themes and concepts are revealed to the listener. Nearly every word in this masterpiece has a double meaning. For a band whose first language is Welsh, this is quite an achievement.
Commercially, it has been the most successful SFA release to date, reaching #2 in the album charts.
They really raised the bar with this one, and it was already pretty damned high...
lord_beklanaze 19.03.2007 (19.03.2007)
Ciao members have rated this review on average:
very helpful
Review of Rings Around The World - Super Furry Animals
Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency...
How does it compare to ...
How does it rate alongs...
Cover / Inlay Design an...
Value for Money
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Rings Around The World - Super Furry Animals"
Advantages: An absolute Masterpiece Disadvantages: Not very accessible
Have a listen to RingsAround the World and you will probably wonder what an earth this mish-mash of sounds is about.
Have 2 or 3 more listens and you will wonder why the SuperFurryAnimals are not the crowned kings of British Pop.
The 2 main singles "Juxtaposed With U" and "Ringsaround the World" are well received as the album was from the music press but what makes this album so great is that it touches on so many styles and whatever you`re into, you cannot help but love it.
From the Rockier "Ringsaround the World" to the more civilized "Presidential Suite". The country? "Run! Christian Run!" and the "Resceptacle for the respectable" - just about everything, this album has it all.
Who compares - the Supernaturals, Supergrass or Oasis and Blur? Aim higher! Beach Boys, Beatles, Queen. Doly Parton and Ronan Keating??? There ...
Advantages: Hardcore fans may love this Disadvantages: It is just poor, and certainly not for me
I would never really describe myself as a fan of The SuperFurryAnimals, but I have enjoyed a few of their single releases. The proudly patriotic Welsh band have just never managed to tempt me enough to buy a full album, but when I came across this on an MP3 disc, I thought it would be worth a listen. I will say now, that my opinion is a total contrast on the other opinions I have read about this album, but each to their own I say.
The fifth album'Alternate Route To Vulcan St' is a strange choice as the opening track, and is very reminiscent of early Pulp material with a sprinkling of ELO for good measure, with it's electro pop revisit and depressing vocals, although we never actually find out what the alternative is or was! It could have been quite a dreamy song, but there was too much effort to make it laid back enough. Try as I ...
Advantages: Wonderfully disorientating, gloriously poppy, the Furries best album Disadvantages: A few tracks which should've been considered before being included
The SuperFurryAnimals have finally hit the big time in 2001 with their album 'RingsAround The World'. However, if they have ever pulled off one moment of true genius that outshines that, it is with this album.
The album starts off with an instrumental track called 'Furryvision'. The idea to open with the album like this is fantastic but they fail to really pull it off. This album is best listened to starting at the second track, 'The Placid Casual' that is the start of a succession of catchy uplifting pop songs. ‘The Placid Casual’ is particularly memorable for the chorus line 'Fuzz clogs up my video'.
'Radiator' continues its upbeat atmosphere with the next song titled 'The International Language Of Screaming'. This song was a single at the time the album was released and was a worthy choice. This is followed by ...
Product Information for "Rings Around The World - Super Furry Animals" »
Product details
Title
Rings Around The World
Performer
Super Furry Animals
Genre
Rock & Pop
Release Date
23/07/2001
Recomended Retail Price
8.99 GBP
Original Release Year
2001
Label / Distributor
Epic / Sony Music/Arvato Services
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Format
Performer
EAN
5099750241325
Catalogue Number
5024132
Additional notes
Album Notes
'Rings Around The World' is the fifth studio album from Welsh eclectics the Super Furry Animals. It features guest musicians including Sir Paul McCartney, John Cale, and Sean O'Hagan. The single 'Juxtaposed with U' is also featured.
Titles on disc 1
1.
Alternate Route To Vulcan Street
2.
Sidewalk Serfer Girl
3.
Drawing Rings Around The World
4.
It's Not The End Of The World
5.
Receptacle For The Respectable
6.
Touch Sensitive
7.
Shoot Doris Day
8.
Miniature
9.
No Sympathy
10.
Juxtaposed With U
11.
Presidential Suite
12.
Run Christian Run
13.
Fragile Happiness
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
06/04/2005
Compare Rings Around The World - Super Furry Animals to other similar Rock & Pop »
Similar products and search queries by other users »
Rings Furry, Rings Around Furry, Rings The Furry, Rings World Furry, Rings Super Furry, Rings Around The Furry, Rings Around World Furry, Rings Around Super Furry, Rings The World Furry, Rings The Super Furry, Rings World Super Furry, Rings Around The World Furry, Rings Around The Super Furry, Rings Around World Super Furry, Rings The World Super Furry
Are you the manufacturer / provider of Rings Around The World - Super Furry Animals? Click here
![River Is Wide, The [Remastered] - Forum (The)](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/251/prod_small-6006251.jpg)
