Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Speechless, 9 Aug 2005
Proof that the SFA find it imposible to write a bad song. Every track on this masterpiece could be a single....but such is their quirkiness and genius, so different are they to the manufactured chart tripe, that there's no way anyone could accuse them of playing safe.My favourite track's "Cityscape Skybaby", which is music that could comfortably accompany the titles of a fantasy sci-fi epic, such is its scale, and the guitar/synth solo is just perfect. Urban music by definition....in that it has a very "Urban" sound to it (Cityscape!) On a more parochial level is "The Piccolo Snare", which sounds absolutely perfect when driving through the countryside on a grey, overcast day. The electronics at the end are just.....that word again, perfect. "Liberty Belle" could be placed alongside "Mr. Bluesky" and "Soldier Girl" in the list of the "Happiest songs of all time". The lyrics might not be too positive, but such sunny melodies, the (ahem) perfect pop song.... They save the best 'til last though. "Slow Life" is perfect (I promise, that's the last time I'll use that word) opening music...EVERY album made by anyone should have Slow Life as the opening track....EVERY band should perform a cover as their opening song when live....of course, the SFA use it as their set opener nowadays and it rocks. Presumably it was placed at the end to leave a lasting impression, and because "Hello Sunshine" is very pretty. Perfect (sorry).
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
does anyone else appreciate genius?, 5 Aug 2003
By A Customer
A tip to begin with, anyone else thinking about reviewing any Furries LP, don't do it after one listen, you'll change your mind...guaranteed.
I now feel able to review this masterpiece after two weeks and a dozen plays right through. How do you market an LP of this nature, when it must be the hardest thing in the world to think of single to promote it. National radio can't handle anything as way out as tracks that have different endings to the their beginnings (And no, not even you Jo Whiley!!)]
Hence Golden Retreiver was obvious as is maybe Venus and Serena, as they are both instantly catchy and likeable. Go deeper and play more though and feel your mouth open in splendour at The Piccolo Snare and Hello Sunshine (but why that sample at the start??) And i'm not even gonna start about Slow Life...yet!
Let's face it, these boys are wonderful, imaginative and creative like we haven't had for a while, i'm biting my lip trying not to mention the White Album or Abbey Road, but you can't help the comparison. Sure, The Thrills, Kings Of Leon et al are solid enough, but please, I implore you, sit down and listen closely to Phantom Power and in particular, Slow Life. This is Techno, music hall, guitar stomp and back again at least twice in 7 minutes of great music. A little word for The Undeafeted too, we can't ignore this Ska tribute, but unlike most tributes, this would would settle well in any Specials lp.
I have been collecting popular music all my life (which is a mighty long time now!!) and a good few bands are in my heart. None take up as much room as The Super Furry Animals. And for that I salute them. Buy or hang your head in shame.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Phantom Power Rangers, 28 Dec 2003
Album of 2003 full stop. For a band who had been consistently brilliant over 5 studio albums to better them all (in my opinion) is some feat and yet they are still largely overlooked.
Phantom power has it all from Summery acoustic ballads(Hello Sunshine, Bleed Forever)to Modern pop/rock (Liberty Belle, Venus & Serena)and Beach Boys type songs (Cityscape Skybaby) theven attempt Welsh reggae on The Undefeated and show they are not afraid to rock on Out of Control. Those songs alone would make it a great album but there are two that take it to another level, final song Slow Life with its techno beats and harmonica is astonishing and guitarist Bunf's Sex, War and Robots is my favourite song of all purely because when the whole band sing "If tears could kill, i'd be a long time gone" its so beautiful it could melt even the hardest of hearts. If you are wondering what to buy with your Christmas HMV vouchers buy this. Nuff Said!!
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