Rings Around the World

Infobox Album | Name = Rings Around the World
Type = Album
Artist = Super Furry Animals

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Released = July 23 2001
Recorded = April–October 2000
Genre = Pop
Length = 52:54
Label = Epic
5024139 (LP) / (CD)
Producer = Chris Shaw and Super Furry Animals
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:dw5zefek2gf3 link]
*"NME" (6/10) [http://www.nme.com/reviews/5448 link]
*Pitchfork (8.9/10) [http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/22142/Super_Furry_Animals_Rings_Around_the_World link]
*Robert Christgau Rating-Christgau|cut [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Super+Furry+Animals link] | Last album = "Mwng"
(2000)
This album = "Rings Around the World"
(2001)
Next album = "Phantom Power"
(2003)
Misc = Singles
Name = Rings Around the World
Type = album
Single 1 = Juxtapozed with U
Single 1 date = 9 July, 2001
Single 2 = (Drawing) Rings Around the World
Single 2 date = 8 October, 2001
Single 3 = It's Not the End of the World?
Single 3 date = 14 January, 2002

"Rings Around the World" is the fifth studio album and the major label debut by Super Furry Animals. Released in July 2001, it was the first album to be released on both audio CD and DVD. It includes the singles "Juxtapozed with U", "(Drawing) Rings Around the World" and "It's Not the End of the World?".

Origins and recording

Singer Gruff Rhys has stated that the band aimed to make a "laid back and sort of wiped clean" record with "Rings Around the World".cite web|last=Kemler|first=Allan|title=SUPER FURRY ANIMALS/Something for the weekend|work=Crud Magazine|date=2002-07-22|url=http://www.2-4-7-music.com/newsitems/july02/superfurryanimals.asp|accessdate=2008-08-12]

Musical style

In a 2008 interview with "Uncut" Gruff Rhys described the album as "a very ambitious project":

Former Beatle Paul McCartney is credited as providing "celery and carrot"cite album-notes |title=Rings Around the World |albumlink=Rings Around the World |bandname=Super Furry Animals |year=2001 |notestitle= |url= |first= |last= |pages= [p.6] |format=CD booklet |publisher=Epic Records|publisherid=502413 9 |location=New York |mbid=66d3f1f4-f9fa-4488-904e-9b8a88e71a3d] on "Receptacle for the Respectable". McCartney performed a similar role over thirty years earlier, chewing celery to form the percussion track of The Beach Boys song "Vegetables" from the album "Smiley Smile".

Former Velvet Underground member John Cale also makes a cameo appearance on piano on the track 'Presidential Suite', after he turned down the invitation to arrange strings on the album.

The Japanese edition of the album contains the bonus tracks "Tradewinds" and "Happiness Is a Worn Pun", while the US edition contains a bonus disc of 7 extra songs. The UK vinyl release was a gatefold sleeve, with a bonus 7" single hidden inside the front cover. The 7" contains a singled locked groove instrumental piece.

Track listing

All songs by Super Furry Animals.

# "Alternate Route to Vulcan Street" – 4:31
# "Sidewalk Serfer Girl" – 4:01
# "(Drawing) Rings Around the World" – 3:29
# "It's Not the End of the World?" – 3:25
# "Receptacle for the Respectable" – 4:32
# " [A] Touch Sensitive" – 3:07
# "Shoot Doris Day" – 3:38
# "miniature" – 0:40
# "No Sympathy" – 6:57
# "Juxtapozed with U" – 3:08
# "Presidential Suite" – 5:24
# "Run! Christian, Run!" – 7:20
# "Fragile Happiness" – 2:35

US bonus disc

# "Tradewinds" – 5:13
# "The Roman Road" – 5:18
# "Patience" – 4:04
# "Happiness Is a Worn Pun" – 3:16
# "Gypsy Space Muffin" – 3:29
# "Edam Anchorman" – 3:22
# "All the Shit U Do" – 2:31

References