Release Date: 2009
Label: Rough Trade
Along with Supergrass and Oasis, Welsh psychedelic alternative band Super Furry Animals count as one of the few survivors of the heyday of Britpop. The Furries were never actually apart of the the Britpop movement per say, but were at the forefront of the concurrent Cool Cymru movement of Welsh bands who became popular after the success of Manic Street Preachers, which also included Catatonia, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, mclusky and Stereophonics. With the exception of Stereophonics (who moved into harder territory) and the Manics (who never felt like a uniquely Welsh band), most of these bands split by the early 2000's, leaving the Furries as the only band who openly let their Welsh flag fly.
After two back to back classic albums in 2000's all-Welsh language Mwng and 2001's Rings Around the World, The Furries began a three album slump with 2003's Phantom Power (which wound up being their best selling album anyway), 2005's poorly received electronic-influenced record Love Kraft and 2007's Hey Venus!. Despite the decline in quality of their albums, the band remained one of Britian best live bands. One track from Hey Venus!, the infectious and hooky "Neo Consumer" pointed the way back to the bands late 90's-early 2000's heyday. Dark Days/Light Years, the band's ninth album fulfills on this promise.
The two highlights on the album are "Inaugural Trams" - which is actually about trams (and reduction of emission of said vehicle) and features a goofy German rap by Franz Ferdinand guitarist Nick McCarthy - and "The Very Best of Neil Diamond" - a slinky, loungy pop/rocker with an incredibly hooky chorus. The album also features the obligatory (but fun) Welsh language cut ""Lliwiau Llachar" and the lengthy (but semi-tiresome) "Cardiff in the Sun". There's a few songs don't work, for instance, the opening song "Crazy Naked Girls" is a funk track that feels like it has been superglued to linoleum: just as at seems like it's about to explode into a classic Furries cacophony ala "The Man Don't Give A Fuck", it remains the same. Nothing happens in the song of note at all and is the most forgetful song from an otherwise great album. "Pric" also has a problematic start, but it redeems its over the course of its ten minute running time. Overall, Dark Days/Light Years is a rewarding, hour long listen despite a few filler tracks
- Piper
No comments:
Post a Comment