Songbook (The Singles Vol.1/Parental Advisory) [PA] - Super Furry Animals

...recently released greatest hits collection, Songbook Vol. 1. I was amazed that during my first listen I actually knew quite a few of the tracks. In fact I knew most of them and even found myself singing along to a few. It was really a case of not realising just how many albums and tracks The Furries had released.

It’s been just over 10 years since they formed and released a couple of albums on an independent Welsh Indie label. From ...
...records and released their debut album, Fuzzy Logic, in 1996. Since that day they have continued to release new material, some of it from their original Indie roots and other tracks having a more experimental edge. There have now been 6 albums and it seemed that SFA have decided this would be the best time to release a singles/greatest hits collection.

As a band they have had varying success. In the earlier days they were much more ... more

Following my visit to Reading Festival this year I decided to reacquaint my self with The Super Furry Animals. There seemed to be no better place to start than with the recently released greatest hits collection, Songbook Vol. 1. I was amazed that during my first listen I actually knew quite a few of the tracks. In fact I knew most of them and even found myself singing along to a few. It was really a case of not realising just how many albums and tracks The Furries had released.

It’s been just over 10 years since they formed and released a couple of albums on an independent Welsh Indie label. From there they were picked up by Alan McGee at Creation records and released their debut album, Fuzzy Logic, in 1996. Since that day they have continued to release new material, some of it from their original Indie roots and other tracks having a more experimental edge. There have now been 6 albums and it seemed that SFA have decided this would be the best time to release a singles/greatest hits collection.

As a band they have had varying success. In the earlier days they were much more a main stream band with tracks like “Demons” & “Ice Hockey Hair” enjoying chart success. The longer they have gone on the more cult like they have become and the commercial success doesn’t seem to bother them. That’s one of the reasons why I’ve really got back into them as they are making music that they like and enjoy rather than trying to fit in with whatever is popular.

For the most part the album is full of the Furries Guitar based tracks. There are a couple of techno/dance tracks thrown into the mix but I feel they are probably the weaker efforts on there. The guitars play a large part in the bands progression and merged with the drums provide a solid back bone for the majority of the 21 tracks. The keyboards aren’t overly used on the more Indie influenced tracks but on the dance and techno numbers the keyboards and electronic sounds really take over.

As well as this being the best indication of what the band are about musically it is also the best showcase of Gruff’s vocals. The album really shows the varied subjects that the Furries tackle lyrically and prove they aren’t your everyday run of the mill band. The songs are pretty much nonsense but that’s what makes them so easy to enjoy. It’s just the lack of lyrics on several songs that makes them a little less enjoyable. The album is an easy listen and certainly a must for anyone whose a casual Furries fan.

The album is crammed full of enjoyable tracks from the Furries since their debut back in 1996. My favourites would probably have to include “Do or Die”, which is simply an easy going fast paced enjoyable track. I’d also class “Ysseidiau Heulog”, it’s obviously a Welsh language track and is quite enjoyable. It has quite an easy structure, with a good fast pace and excellent vocals that even though I have no idea what its about I love it.

On the flip side there are a couple of tracks I skip past as soon as they come on. These do tend to be the dance/techno tracks as they really aren’t my kind of thing. I skip past “Slow Life” pretty much every time I come to it as the dance backing to it doesn’t really fit in alongside the rest of the singles. The other tracks that didn’t really strike me at first but in all honesty have grown on me since are “Blerwytirhwing” although I think that’s just because I couldn’t say it and “God Show Me Magic”.

This is certainly the best collection of Furries songs in one place. It makes the ideal album to buy if you have liked a few of the singles but want to know more about what the band are all about. It’s from this I’ve really discovered just how many of the bands tracks I do like. It’s an excellent album to own as an SFA fan as although it doesn’t offer anything new it has a lot of great tracks in one place. This is certainly an album I would recommend to anyone, especially if you want to get into The Super Furry Animals.

Available from www.cd-wow.com for £8.99
www.superfurry.com 

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