Rings Around the World

i didnt love this but it was super engaging thanks to the variety

Ok…

Another band that I didn’t get into at the time (and now I think I see why).

I liked this in bursts, but unfortunately the vocals made me think of maybe ELO or something, which for me = ick. I did appreciate some of the impenetrable lyrics, and all the nice garbled fuzz in some of the songs. And while he wasn’t singing I kept imagining it could be a 4; I liked “(A) Touch Sensitive” a lot, for example, but guess what, it was an instrumental. I guess if I could do decimals I’d give it a 3.5. I managed to resist turning it off before it ended, at least.

This was an odd one. First time listening to this Welsh band and I really liked the 60s tinged tracks but but then the techno parts felt even more jarring because of them. Wiki describes this album as being eclectic. That an understatement 4 STARS for those lovely proggy songs + 2 for the techno averages at 3.

The consistent “failing” with this list/book is that it’s blatantly obvious that the authors are British, evidenced by the sheer volume of “just okay” British albums that are included on here. This album is an addition to that long long list.

I am immediately reminded of Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. If you haven't seen the movie, it's a parody of other music movies in which a musician indulges in a life of excess, takes a lot of drugs, finds his world and relationships falling apart, and has a manic epiphany for an album. In the studio, there's his regular band who are very confused, an entire orchestra, tribal African musicians, and goats. The studio is completely full and everyone thinks Dewey's plan is insane. After many takes, Dewey says he's still not satisfied with how the song is sounding and calls for "10,000 didgeridoos!"

This album should be called 10,000 Didgeridoos. I'm not sure how you can fit so many instruments, so much production, and so many theatrical changes in an album and still have it turn out this mediocre.

There are a moments of "oh, this isn't bad," but "this isn't bad" isn't what I'm listening to 1,000+ albums to hear. I'm definitely not here for an INSANE series of non-sequiturs. It sounds like schizophrenia. "Hi, I'm Crazy Pat, and these guys are The Asylum, and we're here to play what the illuminati tells us to play"

⭐⭐.49

An authentically multi-genre album, Rings Around The World matches the joy of The Beach Boys & the absurdism of The Flaming Lips, making for a surprisingly gorgeous work of art. 'Sidewalk serfer girl's searching for a dream / Paraglide from space die your bungee best'; 'Turn all the hate in the world / Into a mocking bird.' I had my reservations going in since I was not too impressed w/ Fuzzy Logic, but this succeeds on several levels, the main ingredient being that it's ne'er, e'er boring, e'en if there are tracks & sounds I'm not too keen on. Released in 2001, Rings Around The World is the final vestige of the optimism that ruled so much of the 90s aesthetic. It is almost too long - almost - but it keeps changing, & so I remain invested.

1) No Sympathy
2) Sidewalk Serfer Girl
3) Alternate Route To Vulcan Street

Least Favourite: Justaposed With You

Boring Oasis/Radiohead imitation with some synthesizers that give some depth but result in a tedious experience.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Waw, cerddoriaeth wych o Gymru!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 I had to look up where Super Furry Animals were from, and Cardiff somehow feels exactly right. 𝘙𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘈𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 is the kind of late-90s/early-2000s British indie pop that really works for me: melodic, playful, ambitious, and just strange enough.

The album keeps throwing new ideas into the mix without ever sounding unfocused. There are big hooks, psychedelic touches, electronic details, and plenty of unexpected turns, yet it all still feels unmistakably like the same band.

Inventive without becoming exhausting and catchy without playing it safe. This is how adventurous UK indie pop should sound.

Mal angenehmer UK Rock

Rings Around the World was a pleasant surprise. I went in not knowing exactly what to expect, but I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would. What stood out most was how naturally Super Furry Animals blend different genres. The album moves between psychedelic rock, electronic music, pop, and experimental sounds without feeling disjointed. Instead, the variety keeps it fresh and unpredictable.
The production is ambitious, with layered arrangements and plenty of creative ideas packed into each track. Even when the songs take unexpected turns, they usually feel purposeful rather than random. There's a playful quality throughout the album, but it's balanced with strong melodies and thoughtful songwriting.
Not every experiment landed for me, and a few moments felt more interesting than memorable, but the album's willingness to take risks is one of its greatest strengths. It's the kind of record that rewards repeat listens because there are always new details to notice.
Overall, I liked Rings Around the World. Its genre-blending approach, inventive production, and adventurous spirit make it a unique listening experience that's well worth checking out, especially for anyone who enjoys albums that refuse to stay in one musical lane.

bacana demais!
eh bem variado, né. vários gêneros e pa. e muito bem feito, na real. não eh cansativo e acho foi um álbum bem sólido, até

This album maxes out at good, but falls short of great. It is pretty musically interesting, but the songs could be just a touch stronger to really elevate the whole thing. So, a good album it is.

Super Furry Animals are doing a couple of things here. The bulk of this album is amiable rock music with plush, dramatic production and a sunny disposition; then there’s moments which shoot off into something a bit more explorative, weirder and unanticipated. It’s the modifications on the form that fascinate me - screaming into the microphone, passages of ambiance, glitchy keys. Its a shame they don't stick with and dig into any of these other modes as while the songs themselves are solidly enjoyable, it’s these flourishes that provide all of the intrigue for me.

Another old friend. Love the first two songs with their spliffy, melodic vibes. Juxtaposed With U's lyric " I'm not in love with you but I won't hold that against you." is beautifully wise.

midd, no sympathy is cool

They always sound like such a music critic band to me. All their reference points are so carefully curated and present. Despite their drug addled wild bunch reputation it all sounds a bit too self consciously cool. I prefer this to the other one on the list for its longer in the studio lushness, but maybe if they'd recorded it through a tin can it would be better.

It sounds like hold music. Good hold music, but hold music never the less.

Couldn't get into it.