Super Furry Animals - Hey Venus!

Dragon or Loch Ness Monster?

If you didn't already know--Super Furry Animals formed in WALES (1993). Please take a moment to consider a magical creature out of respect. Anyway, this album is full of melodic, irreverent, and willfully artsy rock & roll. Traditionally, the band has sung in their native Welsh; however, they have traded their souls and sing in English now. This album captures the genre of pop more than their previous album, and they have been likened to super-poppy bands like Flaming Lips. However, Super Furry Animals ousts Flaming Lips (in contrast gave away their souls to aliens). Track 5 sounds like Of Montreal at times. Every song seems to stem from another band's jam actually, but the album is still damn catchy--which is all a striving pop album needs. Strangely, track nine sounds like the final song in Music and Lyrics. Play `em all. July 20, 2008

3-1/2 stars -- Godspeed...

You really don't know what to expect from a band called Super Furry Animals. I realize Hey Venus isn't their first album, but I think only a handful people of people have ever even heard of them. Anyway, I decided to check out this album, and it isn't bad.

Super Furry Animals are classified as "indie pop" (which is really just a fancy way of saying "miscellaneous"), so this album won't necessarily appeal to everyone. There are some decent tracks, though, like "The Gift That Keeps Giving" and "Into the Night". The mini-interlude "The Gateway Song" is pretty good too.

But that's about it. Sometimes songs can get a little dull ("Let the Wolves Howl at the Moon"), and in a couple of places songs just don't make sense ("Suckers!"; "Baby Ate My Eightball"), but Hey Venus is still above-average. It's not the kind of album you'd expect to be nominated for a Grammy, but it still deserved a listen.

Anthony Rupert April 25, 2008

Hey SFA, Thank U!

First off, I was hooked after first hearing Rings Around The World. I've collected everything since. I will say, Hey Venus!, took a little getting use to. But once I did, I realized the brillance that is. Every listening reaps rewards, if you are willing to devote the time. Musically? Sharp, concise, hook-laden, funky, weird, little tunes. I hear Beach Boys. I hear chilled out 70's-type soul music. I hear early glam. But there is no mistaking, this is Super Furry Animals. That's what makes it so enjoyable. If you dig SFA, you'll dig this. If you are "on the Fence", prolly not. You're choice. February 11, 2008

Hey Furries!

A surprising number of reviewers are panning this album. Are we listening to the same thing? I would put this right up there with the groups best work. For the record, my all-time favorite SFA album has to be Rings Around the World, but there is not s dud in the bunch.

Venus is a good follow-up to Love Kraft, another album that many did not like. Both are excellently crafted sonic experiences. Hey Venus! is supposed to be a loosely based concept album and I get it, but it works for me just as well on a song by song basis, especially since it is so short (36 minutes!). But then again keep most tracks at 4 minutes or well under keeps them from getting old. I get a bit of a retro vibe al la, the Beach Boys and the Beatles, but this is still very much SFA, thank you very much. Production quality is off the charts, and the tracks are the whole are upbeat and mellow.

Mine is the USA release with the bonus disc containing 4 extra tracks (Never More, Aluminum Illuminati, These Bones, That's What I'm Talking About). Unlike the main album, I can see why these tracks are relegated to a bonus disc. Nothing really bad about them, but as a whole they are not as catch or interesting as the primary album tracks. Still nice to have though.

There are also two videos on the bonus disc. One shows the Animals having fun in the studio laying down some tracks (Sweet Soundboard Batman!). The other is a video for the song Run-Away. I like the song, but I can't say I really care for the video.

Overall, Hey Venus! is a worthy SFA album, with some minor niggles. The main 11 tracks grabbed me at first listen and keep growing on me with each new listen.Thanks guys. I could pretty much take or leave the bonus disc though, but I will probably burn the 4 tracks into a playlist with the others so I'm glad I have it. Solid 4-star experience.

BTW, I for one dig the funky cover art. Lyrics and other info is one side of a 6 panel fold-out, while the other has two 3 panel mini-posters. I have a feeling that if I look at it long enough, some secrets will be revealed... February 4, 2008

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