Super Furry Animals - Rings Around the World

How to describe the sound of the Super Furry Animals... that's a tough on. The best description I could dare to give of these Welsh rockers would be "like Beck, but instead of his latin-funk stylings, think space-prog or psychedelic jams... or both... or neither". Are we clear now?

This album is all over the place, but in a really good way. It's certainly a trip, but one worth taking. Rings is only one of two SFA albums that I own and am familar with; the other one being Phantom Power which followed this release. It's also one of the reasons that I started this project. Too often this is the sort of album that I'd put on (or dig up in iTunes) just to listen to one or two tracks that really stand out in my mind, but it's certainly worth hearing from start to finish again.

When, is perhaps the question... I haven't a clue when I should be putting this album on; maybe in the car, with the roof down, in the summer, on the way to a party somewhere? It's certainly a 'feel good' album that can really get you going, but there is also so much going on at times that it screams "listen to me with headphones, dammit!". Multiple vocal melodies, distorted vocals, simple guitar lines which become over-powered by layers of techno wizardy... this album seems to have it all, but in a way that doesn't feel thrown together or forced.

Juxtapozed With U was the single that introduced me to the band (and this album). It's playful, bouncy and almost jazz-like in tone. The distorted verse vocal fits perfectly over the light-techno beat, contrasted with the strong chorus vocal, gives off that great 'call and response' feel.  This is going to be a love-hate kinda polarizing album for people I'd imagine, but I'm quite happy that I've just re-discovered it through this project.

Recommended track(s):	It's Not the End of the World?; (A) Touch Sensitive; Juxtapozed With U
Worth another listen?	Yes!
Overall rating:	Three-and-a-Half Stars

Primus - Pork Soda

This is a review that I'm sure someone will disagree with. I couldn't be bothered to listen to all of this album when I had it on. "Sludge" is how I would catagorize this album from Primus. I know Les Claypool is supposed to be a genius with a bass guitar, and maybe he is, but I certainly couldn't hear it here.

I don't know why I remember this, but I'm pretty sure I picked this album up at some used CD sale at my College one day; I probably/hopefully paid, like, $5 for it. I have no idea if I spent any time with it or if it sounded better in the mid-90s, but it certainly hasn't stood the test of time. At least, not for me. AllMusic gives this album four (out of five) stars, but reading their review, I don't think that they even believe it's that good.

There is a reason that this album isn't actually in my iTunes library and is stored away in my 'extras' box of CDs instead. Having listened (or at least tried to listen) to it again, it won't be going anywhere but perhaps the local used CD store.

Recommended track(s):	My Name is Mud
Worth another listen?	No.
Overall rating:	One Star

Bloc Party - Silent Alarm

I don't really know how to label this sort of music. It's electronic, it's rock... it's awesome. This is an album that I have been known to pull out from time-to-time because it's just great. I don't remember the rest of the Bloc Party catalogue being as strong, but future reviews will sort that out. This album is solid.

I have no idea how popular or well known these guys are in Canada; I thought they toured with Broken Social Scene or were part of the Virgin/Toronto Island festival a few years back (Google says "Yes" to both), but that doesn't really mean much regarding the bands exposure over here. This album was a short list nominee for a Mercury Prize when it came out, but again, outside music snob circles, that doesn't mean much either.

This was a great album to end the week on: it's super up-beat, it's driving, has great drum parts, great hooks and vocals. Lyrically, I don't know if there is any sort of 'deeper message' to be had, but it's not one of those albums that is meant to be about the lyrics I don't think. Even the album's packaging is great: I love the cover art for this disc.

Recommended track(s):	Positive Tension; Banquet
Worth another listen?	Yes!
Overall rating:	Four Stars