Don’t forget the songs (Part four)

So I am already breaking my own promises, as I think that Best of compilations are a bit of a cop-out…but I can’t possibly choose a best album from this band. Super Furry Animals left me cold when I first heard them. I loved (And continue to) the Manic Street Preachers, and just felt that the wave of Welsh bands that all seemed to hit the headlines were but mere pale imitations. I was catastrophically wrong about this. I cannot remember which song changed my mind, but suspect it was “Still Life”. Such a peculiar song, that seems to have been written in several movements. I genuinely think that this is one of the greatest bands the UK has ever produced, and having seen them live has only enhanced my opinion. I won’t give a song by song breakdown…they are all here for your listening pleasure, but I might mention a few. Their albums have provided me with more inspration for my writing than anyone else. Gruff Rhy (The frontman) just seems to have a similar off-kilter imagination, and it just continues to plough my writers furrow (Where the hell did that come from?). Rings Around the World is a great Album, and some of it is presented here for your pleasure…My Play of the sam ename is still my favourite, and SFA’s music (And Gruff’s solo stuff) privided the musical backdrop for the performances we have done of it. Ther eis pretty much every single musical influence hidden in their back catalogue, and they are a band who are never afraid to experiment musically, and artistically in general. Side projects are always interesting, and I always think the best artists open up your mind and your pallette for other influences and artists. They use the Welsh language still, and their album Mwng (All in the Welsh language) is still one of their finest hours. Their Guinness World record for the most uses of the f-word (The Man don’t give a f**k) would still be a dancefloor favourite in the Badham household if we had such a thing, and Fire in my heart still makes me go gooey at knee-level. I have always had a slight aversion to brass sections, but when the Super Furry’s use them…it just works, and I’m always a sucker for people who don’t disguise their accents. Every album is a voyage of discovery, and even now, I still discover little gems that I hadn’t heard, or noticed when I play them again. The Smiths were the band of my adolescence, and much as people still hanker for new music from them (Never going to hapen, and don’t want it to because Morrissey has become such an arse hat), I would much prefer a new Super Furry’s album, and a tour,, and a hug from Gruff.

So this album is a taster…A great introduction, and I have to add, a brilliant long journey album, but please…take the time and effort to listen to the whole back catalogue and all the solo project and off-shoots. They also hung out with Howard Marx…What’s not to love?