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Review
And the award for most innovative band of our time goes to.... the Super Furry Animals. OK there's no such thing but if there was, the Furries would be a good outside bet to snatch this one away from the likes of Radiohead and The Flaming Lips. You see the wacky Welsh wizards are currently on album number eight and once again they have served up a record that both baffles and inspires.
Produced by David Newfield (Broken Social Scene), Hey Venus! is part one of a two-chapter epic. Like 2003's Phantom Power, the latest instalment in Furrymania - which follows the adventures of a young woman who flees her small town for the big metropolis - fires out pop gems at every turn. Only this time they're both shorter and sweeter.
Kicking off with the band's 'shortest song ever' at just 43 seconds, the stomping "Gateway Song" sounds like Chas And Dave covering Status Quo. Then comes five minutes of pure pop bliss in the form of the heartfelt "Run-Away" and jangling lead-off single 'Show Your Hand'. It's a shrewd trick and one that works brilliantly elsewhere especially on stand-out track "Into The Night", a huge pop belter, served up with calypso beats, fuzzy guitars and an Indian twist.
But a Super Furries album wouldn't be complete without their usual dollop of wackiness. "Baby Ate My Eightball" is as bonkers as its title suggests as is piano driven closer "Let The Wolves Howl At The Moon". But the award for most mental track on the album unashamedly goes to psychedelic brass beast 'Battersey Odyssey'. Here guitarist Huw Bunford sounds like his head's been shoved underwater as he warbles: "Battersey Odyssey/Battersey Odyssey" while the rest of the band pull out every instrument under the sea.
You can always rely on the Furries to deliver a brilliant album and Hey Venus! is right up there with some of their best material (Radiator, Guerrilla, Phantom Power). Let's hope part two is just as bonkers. --Damian Jones
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Product Description
SUPER FURRY ANIMALS Hey Venus! (2007 UK 11-track CD album - This is the 8th studio album from one of the UKs most loved & highly respected bands; since the release of Love Kraft in 2005 SFA have been far from taking a break projects keepingthem busy including a change of record label working on individual projects embarking on some orchestral work with renowned British composer Charles Hazelwood and writing & recording Hey Venus! featuring the single Show Your Hand)
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
At first, I was a bit underwhelmed by this effort. Im a massive SFA fan, and on first rotation, it seemed a bit of a let down. But I really should have known better. I shouldnt have doubted them. Its a cracker. Fairly short by their standards, but still delivers everything you'd expect from the furries.
Its actually a lot more closer in style to their early albums as opposed to the layered lushness of Love Kraft, or the phsycadelic oddessy of Rings Around the World. The songs are main priority. 'Gateway Song', to quote the lyrics, "takes us up nicely to the harder stuff", 'Run Away' has that lovely sweeping melody were all in love with and 'Show Your Hand' is just a classic pop song. Other highlights include the singlong shout of 'Neo Consumer (very Fuzzy Logic) and the impossibly catchy 'Baby Ate My Eightball'.
I disagree with the review by Boris Vita below. Whats the problem with a slow song? Have you never heard 'Fire In My Heart', 'Hello Sunshine' and 'Gwreiddiau Dwfn/Mawrth Oer Ar Y Blaned Neifion'? Theyre all classics and slow as you like. The slower songs on here, like 'The Gift That Keeps Giving', 'Carbon Dating' and 'Let The Wolves Howl At The Moon' are top notch, and offer a pleasant meander through SFA lovliness.
Overall, this album offers everything you'd expect from the furries; top quality songs, catchy hooks and gorgeous melody. If youre an SFA fan, you probably already got the album and know what im talking about. I just cant see a decline in quality in 8 albums. If youre an SFA virgin, this would be a good place to start. Once theyre in your life will be so much better with that Super Furry glow!
SFA OK!
Its actually a lot more closer in style to their early albums as opposed to the layered lushness of Love Kraft, or the phsycadelic oddessy of Rings Around the World. The songs are main priority. 'Gateway Song', to quote the lyrics, "takes us up nicely to the harder stuff", 'Run Away' has that lovely sweeping melody were all in love with and 'Show Your Hand' is just a classic pop song. Other highlights include the singlong shout of 'Neo Consumer (very Fuzzy Logic) and the impossibly catchy 'Baby Ate My Eightball'.
I disagree with the review by Boris Vita below. Whats the problem with a slow song? Have you never heard 'Fire In My Heart', 'Hello Sunshine' and 'Gwreiddiau Dwfn/Mawrth Oer Ar Y Blaned Neifion'? Theyre all classics and slow as you like. The slower songs on here, like 'The Gift That Keeps Giving', 'Carbon Dating' and 'Let The Wolves Howl At The Moon' are top notch, and offer a pleasant meander through SFA lovliness.
Overall, this album offers everything you'd expect from the furries; top quality songs, catchy hooks and gorgeous melody. If youre an SFA fan, you probably already got the album and know what im talking about. I just cant see a decline in quality in 8 albums. If youre an SFA virgin, this would be a good place to start. Once theyre in your life will be so much better with that Super Furry glow!
SFA OK!
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Super Furry Animals return (have they ever been away?) with their eighth studio album, Hey Venus! and - let me cut straight to the case - it's wonderful. This is probably one of their least experimental albums and, although there have been dissenting murmurs amongst serious SFA fans that they're 'playing it too safe', I think this approach has paid dividends on one of their most consistent albums to date.
They are on top of their psychedelic form with this album chock-full of instant catchy melodies and close-knit Beach Boys-style harmonies and genuinely original songs which sound as if you've known them your whole life. It probably has more in common to their earlier efforts than their last couple of albums, but still has a slightly different and distinctly softer edge than anything they've done before.
This album isn't likely to make headlines, win the Mercury Music Prize or feature in many 'album of the year' lists in a couple of months, but it probably deserves all those things, but because of their longevity, this release will probably pass all but the long-time SFA fan and the person dedicated to seeking out new, great music by. Their loss, I say. This is a brilliant album, full of warmth, love, fun, strangeness and eccentricity and one of the best I've heard this year.
Highlights: The magnificent Run Away (one of the best songs they've ever released), the immensely catchy Show Your Hand and the gorgeous The Gift That Keeps Giving.
Although those are my highlights, there isn't a bad song on this album. Highly recommended.
They are on top of their psychedelic form with this album chock-full of instant catchy melodies and close-knit Beach Boys-style harmonies and genuinely original songs which sound as if you've known them your whole life. It probably has more in common to their earlier efforts than their last couple of albums, but still has a slightly different and distinctly softer edge than anything they've done before.
This album isn't likely to make headlines, win the Mercury Music Prize or feature in many 'album of the year' lists in a couple of months, but it probably deserves all those things, but because of their longevity, this release will probably pass all but the long-time SFA fan and the person dedicated to seeking out new, great music by. Their loss, I say. This is a brilliant album, full of warmth, love, fun, strangeness and eccentricity and one of the best I've heard this year.
Highlights: The magnificent Run Away (one of the best songs they've ever released), the immensely catchy Show Your Hand and the gorgeous The Gift That Keeps Giving.
Although those are my highlights, there isn't a bad song on this album. Highly recommended.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Beardy Pete
Format:Audio CD
After the last 2 albums, Phantom Power and Love Kraft, I had pretty much accepted that SFA were moving irretrievably into mellower, less catchy/commercial sounding music. While the aforementioned LP's had some undeniably brilliant tunes on them I tend to prefer the brighter, more colourful material from their earlier days. So I'm made up with Hey Venus! To me it seems to be a real nod towards the experimental sounds of Guerilla and Radiator-era SFA, with a slightly more mature feel.
Obviously everyone has their own tastes and the Super furries seem to divide opinion among their own following (in terms of best albums etc) more than anyone, but I'd say this album only has a couple of weak tracks and these are more than made up for by the sheer fun and bouyancy of the majority. Indeed, from the idiosyncratic intro and (possible future single?) Runaway, I don't think the album stumbles until track 6 - Into the Night (which some people cite as a high-point so each to their own!). Then the brilliant, pulsating Baby Ate my 8 Ball kicks in and everything is great again.
After this Carbon Dating and Suckers are slower, the former being a wistful atmospheric arrangement. Both tunes soar around your speakers and show SFA at their mature musical best. I don't particularly rate the 2 closing tunes (Battersey Odyssey + Let the Wolves Howl at the Moon) but I'd personally disagree with the reviewer that considers the second half of the album to be a snooze-fest. The pace does drop but I think the melodies are strong enough to prevent it becoming tired or repetitive.
Anyway, it's all a matter of opinion but I don't think any fan of SFA will be disappointed with this offering.... Read more ›
Obviously everyone has their own tastes and the Super furries seem to divide opinion among their own following (in terms of best albums etc) more than anyone, but I'd say this album only has a couple of weak tracks and these are more than made up for by the sheer fun and bouyancy of the majority. Indeed, from the idiosyncratic intro and (possible future single?) Runaway, I don't think the album stumbles until track 6 - Into the Night (which some people cite as a high-point so each to their own!). Then the brilliant, pulsating Baby Ate my 8 Ball kicks in and everything is great again.
After this Carbon Dating and Suckers are slower, the former being a wistful atmospheric arrangement. Both tunes soar around your speakers and show SFA at their mature musical best. I don't particularly rate the 2 closing tunes (Battersey Odyssey + Let the Wolves Howl at the Moon) but I'd personally disagree with the reviewer that considers the second half of the album to be a snooze-fest. The pace does drop but I think the melodies are strong enough to prevent it becoming tired or repetitive.
Anyway, it's all a matter of opinion but I don't think any fan of SFA will be disappointed with this offering.... Read more ›
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By slipp
Format:Audio CD
I've listened to a promo of the full album and The Furries have produced yet another class album.
Baby Ate My Eight Ball, Carbon Dating, The Gift That Keeps on Giving, Run Away, Suckers, Into The Night and Neo Consumer are all top tunes. The rest is highly rated as well.
My only fault would be that it's not long enough but apparently they've got more albums on the way.
All other bands should take a good look at what SFA have done during their long illustrious career. Who else could claim to have such a fantastic varied array of albums.
The vision for the future is bright and Furry!!
Baby Ate My Eight Ball, Carbon Dating, The Gift That Keeps on Giving, Run Away, Suckers, Into The Night and Neo Consumer are all top tunes. The rest is highly rated as well.
My only fault would be that it's not long enough but apparently they've got more albums on the way.
All other bands should take a good look at what SFA have done during their long illustrious career. Who else could claim to have such a fantastic varied array of albums.
The vision for the future is bright and Furry!!
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3.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of their best
A lot of people seem to regard this album as subpar because the songs are simple and the band took a back to basics approach with it. Read more
Published on 2 May 2009 by alan
3.0 out of 5 stars
let's forget this one, shall we?
I've had this record quite a while now. It's not been doing anything for me, and I've been waiting, giving it chance, thinking surely one day it's going to hit me. Read more
Published on 2 May 2008 by Neil
3.0 out of 5 stars
Clueless Boris Vita
This review was provoked by another review by Boris Vita.
Dear Boris
May I first apologise for this outburst, as it is not normally something that I would do,... Read more
Dear Boris
May I first apologise for this outburst, as it is not normally something that I would do,... Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2008 by Mr. O. ROBERTS
5.0 out of 5 stars
Their greatest peice of work
The Super Furry Animals have been around a long time and Ive always had a soft spot for them, although I have never been a huge fan but that has now changed. Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2008 by N. Thompson
5.0 out of 5 stars
absolutly brilliant
I will come clean and state that I am a big fan of this band, but I must admit that I was a little disappointed with this album when I first heard it back in the summer. Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2007 by Mr. G. W. Griffiths
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Under rated SFA continue to excite the ears.....
It seems that every super furries fan has a different favourite, but for me Slow life on Phantom Power is the track that captures their brilliance best. Read more
Published on 6 Nov 2007 by G. Hathorn
4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid Album
There's been a certain air of negativity surrounding this album which I find a tad strange. Yes "Hey Venus" doesn't match up to the brilliance of "Radiator", "Mwng", or "Phantom... Read more
Published on 26 Oct 2007 by Mr. Tkm Cooper
3.0 out of 5 stars
mixed bag, mostly good
This is another decent album from SFA, and overall it has a much more robust, 'Fuzzy Logic' type sound to it than the predominantly acoustic nature of their previous few albums. Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2007 by black-syrup
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dont Run Away!
I have to admit that I'd never really taken to SFA before. I had a couple of their albums but they didnt do much for me. Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2007 by The Boy
3.0 out of 5 stars
Better than Guerilla, but not good enough...
SFA may never top Rings around the World or Fuzzy Logic, but a few releases ago with Phantom Power, they came really close to at least matching that quality. Read more
Published on 31 Aug 2007 by Boris Vita, III
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