― Rebecca (reb), Thursday, 31 October 2002 02:15 (twenty-one years ago) link
― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 31 October 2002 02:56 (twenty-one years ago) link
― robin (robin), Thursday, 31 October 2002 04:29 (twenty-one years ago) link
End of fucking story.
Back to the crux of the thread, pick up Radiator and Rings Around the World, and you're in a world of musical joy.
― Tim D, Thursday, 31 October 2002 06:09 (twenty-one years ago) link
And of course they palyed Mountain People and the Man Don't Give A Fuck. I'm not sure there's any of their albums I don't like. Definitly some less fine moments on all of them but basically all good. Possibly they'll release a Greatest hits album that will be really great.
― tigerclawskank, Thursday, 31 October 2002 10:51 (twenty-one years ago) link
Destroy: you don't want me to destroy you, surely?
― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 17:11 (twenty years ago) link
Destroy:I can't bring to mind a single rubbish SFA song. But FUZZY LOGICand RINGS AROUND THE WORLD must have a few.
― Squirrel_Police (Squirrel_Police), Thursday, 8 April 2004 02:45 (twenty years ago) link
Destroy: Actually, by now I don't think much of "The Man Don't Give a Fuck", although I'm sure it's a headbanger at live shows.
― Simon H., Thursday, 8 April 2004 03:04 (twenty years ago) link
Absolutely one of the greatest bands of all time.
― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Thursday, 8 April 2004 04:11 (twenty years ago) link
Destroy: absolutely nothing. Mr Snrub OTM.
― the impossible shortest special path! (the impossible shortest specia), Thursday, 8 April 2004 08:16 (twenty years ago) link
― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 8 April 2004 08:20 (twenty years ago) link
― the impossible shortest special path! (the impossible shortest specia), Thursday, 8 April 2004 08:22 (twenty years ago) link
Turn up early for Zabrinski as well, they're a good band and good guys.
― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Thursday, 8 April 2004 08:25 (twenty years ago) link
― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Thursday, 8 April 2004 08:26 (twenty years ago) link
One of the LPs has a seven inch single hidden in the gatefold front sleeve part. This contains a 'lock groove' the contents of which I don't know.
― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 8 April 2004 08:53 (twenty years ago) link
― Mr Monket (apn99), Thursday, 8 April 2004 10:21 (twenty years ago) link
I first heard "The Man Don't Give a Fuck" live, actually. They had a video synced to it, too, with Lenin and Stalin inciting crowds. It FUCKING SMOKED.
― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Thursday, 8 April 2004 13:27 (twenty years ago) link
What gets in the way of it being utterly perfect for me is that there's a certain jokiness about the songs which feels like it's trying to be both earnest *and* an escape clause, like if it's straight earnest then the post-Britpop crowd would become suspicious (this especially marrs the otherwise great "Wherever I Lay My Phone...". Which is a shame because I can sort of see the band gesturing towards A.R. Kane I territory at times, and the moments I love are those which just sound too emotional, cracking with big big feelings ("Turning Tide", "Northern Lites"). But the sonic largesse and the emotional largesse don't seem to co-incide all that often.
I have a feeling I might like Mwyng. What would people suggest?
― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 11 September 2004 23:55 (twenty years ago) link
― keith m (keithmcl), Sunday, 12 September 2004 00:14 (twenty years ago) link
"Mwng", of course, is their no-frills album. Almost none of the sonic largesse that's in abundance on their previous albums. Relative to their other work, it's always sounded flat to me. So much of the fun of SFA is hearing them effortlessly morph a ballad into a techno track.
― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 12 September 2004 00:26 (twenty years ago) link
I think you have also just described the Orb! (Simon Reynolds I think said something similar about them back in 1993.)
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 12 September 2004 00:49 (twenty years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 12 September 2004 00:51 (twenty years ago) link
Ned would i like Radiator do you think?
― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Sunday, 12 September 2004 03:57 (twenty years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 12 September 2004 04:00 (twenty years ago) link
Wow I'm so indie at the moment!
― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 13 September 2004 12:50 (twenty years ago) link
should write about some of it on skykicking
― Michael B, Monday, 13 September 2004 13:00 (twenty years ago) link
― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 13 September 2004 13:09 (twenty years ago) link
Also check out the newly released Am Byth by Ffa Coffi Pawb. Pre-SFA band with Gruff and Daf. Catchy tunes and well worth purchasing. It reveals that Gruff had an unnatural Jesus & Mary Chain obsession tho...
― Molly Mc Butter, Monday, 13 September 2004 15:14 (twenty years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 13 September 2004 15:16 (twenty years ago) link
― Molly McButter, Monday, 13 September 2004 15:36 (twenty years ago) link
SEARCH: EVERYTHINGDESTROY: TMDGAF Live single
― Louie Strychnine, Thursday, 23 December 2004 16:15 (nineteen years ago) link
― Nick H (Nick H), Thursday, 23 December 2004 22:22 (nineteen years ago) link
Generally, I would say "Radiator" is their best while "Guerilla" is their least good, but everything is certainly worth checking out.
― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 23 December 2004 22:45 (nineteen years ago) link
Fuzzy Logic is their best, one of the greatest albums of the 90s IMHO. The least good is... well, Phantom Power. still good, but not that perfect as the earlier ones.
― zeus, Thursday, 23 December 2004 23:03 (nineteen years ago) link
And I found it used randomly last night, so rah. Like Molly said upthread, MAJOR Jesus and Mary Chain jones, but I like what they did with it, and the various other touches into demi-psych and poppier harmonies are nice too.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 18 March 2006 18:51 (eighteen years ago) link
― enjoy bell woods, Saturday, 18 March 2006 21:12 (eighteen years ago) link
Search: everything other than...Destroy: Love Kraft. Really mediocre album that is the complete opposite of everything the press release states. I don't know what the hell they were doing.
― enjoybellwoods, Saturday, 18 March 2006 21:16 (eighteen years ago) link
Definitely search: Radiator, Guerrilla, Mwng, Phantom Power, Hey Venus! (all of these albums, to me, are pretty much perfect)
Of the rest...
FUZZY LOGIC (1996)Destroy: 'Long Gone' (one of the worst album tracks the Super Furry Animals ever did, in my opinion), and 'Bad Behaviour' (which goes on far longer than it needs to), but definitely keep everything else. This is probably the one SFA album that is most 'tied down' to the time in which it was released. Listening to this album evokes a bygone age when Oasis were the biggest band in the UK, and Blur were still writing songs about houses in the country. However, it does have a certain naive energy to it that other SFA albums don't have.
RINGS AROUND THE WORLD (2001)A very good effort, although I've always found this album to be an album of "two halves". The first half (up until 'A Touch Sensitive') features all of Super Furry Animals' usual pop goodness, whereas the second half is much more ponderous and takes time to grow. Aside from this, I can't fault it - but despite words like "ambition", "scope" and "invention" that get thrown around whenever this album is discussed, I simply can't bring myself to call it one of Super Furry Animals best. I personally wouldn't destroy anything from the record, but don't expect 'Shoot Doris Day' or 'No Sympathy' to rock your world right away.
LOVE KRAFTMuch, much better than people generally give it credit for - some of Super Furry Animals most accomplished music is on this record, and it's absolutely perfect for headphone listening. It's not an album that smacks one in the face with pop gems, rather a sonic experience that you have to let unfold at a leisurely pace. 'Lazer Beam' is the sole one that I would destroy from this album: definitely Super Furry Animals worst ever single, and certainly one of Super Furry Animals worst ever album tracks.
DARK DAYS/LIGHT YEARSA disappointment. While Super Furry Animals have put out tracks developed from rehearsal room jams and grooves on B-sides over the years, here they attempt a whole album of them - and although this gives the album a 'concept', for want of a better term, it leads to a very hit and miss experience. For this album -
Search: Crazy Naked Girls, Inconvenience, The Very Best Of Neil Diamond, Helium Hearts, White Socks/Flip Flops, Pric.
Destroy: Mt. (they've done this kind of glam stomper before, and much better), Moped Eyes (a track developed out of a jokey studio jam, and one which should have remained on the cutting-room floor), Inaugural Trams (which tries to regain the "sense of fun" of Guerrilla but falls flat due to its forced subject matter and embarrassing German rap).
Of the rest: 'Where Do You Wanna Go?/Lliwiau Llachar' is SFA-by-numbers, and although enjoyable, isn't really essential either.
― Turrican, Wednesday, 7 September 2011 05:58 (thirteen years ago) link
okay, so "Gathering Moss" has been stuck in my head for months (actually, just like 5-6 seconds of it), I've been dreaming about this damn song, and until just now I hadn't identified it. I heard the guy's voice so clearly in my head, but thought it was Ray Davies, or the Beatles, or who knows what. Never listened to Fuzzy Logic much so maybe that's why. But it's like, a burden has been lifted. I feel free again!
― Estimate the percent chance that a whale has ever been to the moon? (frogbs), Thursday, 29 March 2012 13:04 (twelve years ago) link
New Cian tune: http://soundcloud.com/strangetown-records/martina-franca
Really damn good.
― afriendlypioneer, Friday, 1 June 2012 13:03 (twelve years ago) link
A little bit of an improvement over the other Cian tracks I've heard, but still not my cup of tea. Sounds like a semi-cover of 'Heroes & Villains' as played by a Blackpool Pleasure Beach house band. Really fucking corny.
― The Jupiter 8 (Turrican), Friday, 1 June 2012 13:10 (twelve years ago) link
What made the sun go out in your heart?
― afriendlypioneer, Friday, 1 June 2012 13:13 (twelve years ago) link
You ever listen to the album, Jupiter 8? What'd you think? Dross, mediocre... a sleeper surprise?
― afriendlypioneer, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 17:02 (eleven years ago) link
Will they ever return?
― Mark G, Thursday, 27 December 2012 15:15 (eleven years ago) link
Yes, but right now we have...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jBMAPx_Pdo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekSQ6ja1ZJc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG6Nj5Orl1w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ0_8083brE
https://soundcloud.com/kdhx/sets/gruff-rhys-live-at-kdhx-8-12 (bunch of new songs for another documentary.
Hopefully none of this stuff keeps them occupied for too long... :\
― afriendlypioneer, Thursday, 27 December 2012 19:34 (eleven years ago) link
New song by The Earth (Daf the drummer and Mark Roberts from Catatonia):
http://theearth.amazingtunes.com/tunes/162403
Sounds nothing like SFA--that's for sure.
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 4 February 2013 15:56 (eleven years ago) link
Apparently we can expect a new Neon Neon record.
― Simon H., Monday, 4 February 2013 16:48 (eleven years ago) link
Oh yes.
Posted about it elsewhere...
http://vimeo.com/58047877
Asia Argento and Sabrina Salerno on vocals...Josh Klinghoffer & a couple of his cohorts backing Gruff & Boom Bip. Arguably more interesting concept than last time. No signs of hip hop this time. Could be a good one.
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 4 February 2013 16:49 (eleven years ago) link
They're not "on vocals." They're doing backing vocals or duets or whatever. I think Cate Le Bon's on there again as well.
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 4 February 2013 16:50 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/cianciaran?utm_campaign=project5086&utm_medium=activity&utm_source=facebook
If the last one was a so called ‘love songs’ album then I guess this is my protest album. It’s about shouting up, exercising your voice, being pissed off and urging people not to take any more shit. The elite continue to exploit, politicians continue to misrepresent whilst the media continue to manipulate and bankers, well we all know what rhymes with bankers! It’s time we face the consequences of our actions, we are all responsible.I’ve teamed up with PledgeMusic to offer you a number of exclusive, rare goodies and VIP experiences. No matter what you’re pledge, you will automatically receive a download of the album plus exclusive content direct from me. I will post videos, MP3s, blogs and possibly even a sneak preview of the album, so you can watch my progress and be part of the story. No money will be debited from your bank account until I reach 100% of my target.A percentage of the proceeds will also go to https://www.coolearth.org a charity that works with local communities to secure rainforests at risk of being destroyed within the next 18 months.I hope you can join me. There’s strength in numbers!In Solidarity.Cian Ciarán.
I’ve teamed up with PledgeMusic to offer you a number of exclusive, rare goodies and VIP experiences. No matter what you’re pledge, you will automatically receive a download of the album plus exclusive content direct from me. I will post videos, MP3s, blogs and possibly even a sneak preview of the album, so you can watch my progress and be part of the story. No money will be debited from your bank account until I reach 100% of my target.
A percentage of the proceeds will also go to https://www.coolearth.org a charity that works with local communities to secure rainforests at risk of being destroyed within the next 18 months.
I hope you can join me. There’s strength in numbers!
In Solidarity.
Cian Ciarán.
Went for the triple vinyl
― afriendlypioneer, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 21:01 (eleven years ago) link
Very much up for this album despite not caring for the single
― PaulTMA, Monday, 17 February 2020 16:40 (four years ago) link
How'd you like the B-side--if you've heard it?
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 17 February 2020 16:45 (four years ago) link
Er, not blown away either but it's early days
― PaulTMA, Monday, 17 February 2020 17:01 (four years ago) link
Super Furry Ifans
https://superfurryanimals.bandcamp.com/track/of-no-fixed-identity
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 4 March 2022 22:16 (two years ago) link
“Apathy only ruined me”!?
― afriendlypioneer, Saturday, 5 March 2022 20:30 (two years ago) link
So, wait, have we never done an ILM artist poll of these guys?
― Naive Teen Idol, Friday, 3 February 2023 17:28 (one year ago) link
Looks like the four lads, minus Gruff, are set to release some more stuff as Das Koolies. Posting some snips and snaps on their social media. I have to say I’m more interested in it than the new Gruff LP. Been a while since the other guys had their time to shine and I liked the first couple tracks well enough.
― afriendlypioneer, Friday, 3 February 2023 20:14 (one year ago) link
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1349013979279758?mibextid=0NULKw&fs=e&s=TIeQ9V
https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/the-condemned-das-koolies/ouo028rq7ieea
Sounds like this is going to be a good antidote to Gruff’s sleepy balladeer persona.
― afriendlypioneer, Friday, 3 February 2023 23:19 (one year ago) link
So, wait, have we never done an ILM artist poll of these guys?― Naive Teen Idol
― Naive Teen Idol
I will do SFA in 2023. Was almost going to do it last year but opted to do the Police instead. I just feel like I'm going to need to prepare to do it properly.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 4 February 2023 01:27 (one year ago) link
i'm looking forward to that eventual poll
― ufo, Saturday, 4 February 2023 02:37 (one year ago) link
Awesome! Yeah, they’re a lot of work, done properly. There aren’t too many bands with as big of a catalogue we haven’t done at this point. Should be super exciting.
― Naive Teen Idol, Saturday, 4 February 2023 15:38 (one year ago) link
Also looking forward to that.
― Luna Schlosser, Sunday, 5 February 2023 10:55 (one year ago) link
Me too. I've heard 80% of their output but been meaning to do a comprehensive listen through everything at some point
― Vinnie, Sunday, 5 February 2023 11:11 (one year ago) link
Fifth'd. They're one of my favourite bands ever
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Sunday, 5 February 2023 11:45 (one year ago) link
Well lads I lost interest many years back but you made me listen to Bad Behaviour this morning so fair play
― bald, mean and full of beans (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 5 February 2023 11:59 (one year ago) link
They hit a wall when they recorded Love Kraft and Hey Venus!, but I’ll be damned if DD/LY isn’t one of their best albums as I view their great back catalog with loving eyes. It’s fun, a little shaggier, less rehearsed and clever. I so wish they’d known some folks really rated that album. I cherish it so much more than any Gruff Rhys solo album.
I’m ready for Das Koolies.
― afriendlypioneer, Sunday, 5 February 2023 15:12 (one year ago) link
And as far as I’m concerned,Love Kraft has some righteously moody and endearing songs. They put a really odd, not very good single on it, a song based on a demo they’d been tossing around since the Guerrilla days- “Lazer Beam.”Knock that and a couple other silly songs off the track list and the album’s got quite an interesting vibe.
― afriendlypioneer, Sunday, 5 February 2023 15:16 (one year ago) link
Love Kraft and a Hey Venus! both have some really good tracks, but are very uneven and have some cringy moments. Agree that DD/LY is amazing and among their best.
― silverfish, Monday, 6 February 2023 14:34 (one year ago) link
DD/LY has Mt. on it, which might be one of the worst songs by an otherwise good band in the history of music, but the rest is good yes
― imago, Monday, 6 February 2023 14:36 (one year ago) link
right, I've actually skipped that one so often that I actually forgot it existed
― silverfish, Monday, 6 February 2023 14:44 (one year ago) link
“Mt.”‘isn’t great but Cian’s two post-SFA albums 12 people have listened to contain some pretty good, if not excellent, songs. I thought the non-Gruff guys were starting to write some pretty good songs in general, like “White Socks/Flip Flop.” Might’ve not carried the whole album, but always a treat when it comes on.
― afriendlypioneer, Monday, 6 February 2023 14:58 (one year ago) link
at the other end of the scale, guess which song invariably comes into my head every time I take a European city break, or go to Croydon
― imago, Monday, 6 February 2023 14:58 (one year ago) link
https://www.qobuz.com/nz-en/album/the-condemned-das-koolies/bzcatc2zmop5a
Looks like Das Koolies are finally a thing. New EP next month. Single tonight.
― afriendlypioneer, Tuesday, 7 February 2023 17:15 (one year ago) link
1.The Condemned 00:05:402. Dim Byd Mawr 00:07:223.You Killed My Robot 00:03:424. Grab a Slice 00:05:11
Might be the only person hyped as fuck for this right now, but I've been dying for some new SFA material since about 2009 so I'm going to take it.
― afriendlypioneer, Tuesday, 7 February 2023 17:16 (one year ago) link
I haven’t listened to it in a while, but I remember liking a lot of Lovekraft, especially the slower more introspective numbers. Didn’t like Lazerbeam or whatever and I always skipped Back On A Roll. Hated that song. l
― Cow_Art, Tuesday, 7 February 2023 17:30 (one year ago) link
Walk you home is a bop
― BringTheAuBonPain, Tuesday, 7 February 2023 21:07 (one year ago) link
"Back on a Roll" is a low light, but I generally really dig Bunf's songs. His voice is weird.
― afriendlypioneer, Tuesday, 7 February 2023 21:27 (one year ago) link
Love Kraft has great bookends and I do actually quite like Lazer Beam but much of the rest feels kind of bloated and anaemic. Hey Venus is anaemic without even being bloated, which is worse
― imago, Tuesday, 7 February 2023 21:40 (one year ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL9Y2_4ztKM
As close to SFA as we’re going to get
― afriendlypioneer, Wednesday, 8 February 2023 05:07 (one year ago) link
SFA produced some great songs not fronted by Gruff. have yet to hear anything that rises above mediocrity from Das Koolies, though
― PaulTMA, Wednesday, 8 February 2023 11:31 (one year ago) link
I find some comfort hearing them pull out some of their tropes on that track, but it’s bubblegum at best. I dig it. Glad they didn’t pull a Boo Radleys and try to continue the facade of being the same band.
― afriendlypioneer, Wednesday, 8 February 2023 14:15 (one year ago) link