Finally Able to Stop Listening A Year Later
L. OBrien | Marshfield MA United States | 08/10/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was firmly addicted to this album for about a year. These guys are incredible. I don't think the comparison to Pet Sounds is fair. Every new indie "masterpiece" that comes out is compared to Pet Sounds, and I'd hate to lump this in with the wave of indie sludge that is coming out right now. SFA have their own unique sound that combines brilliant, offbeat songwriting with great musicianship, and they just have a great ear for what sounds good. Why they haven't caught on more in the states, I don't know."
With apologies to Reznor, this marked the beginning of a tru
Matthew T. Medlock | Cincinnati, OH | 07/06/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"The Furries scale back the orchestral overhaul of their last effort for a more simplistic and natural sound on Phantom Power. But the effort occasionally suffers from snippets of glumness and slurring noise in the vocals. Maybe it's the Vedder disease, but considering how beautifully melodic a lot of these songs are, Gruff Rhys' energy seems exhausted, like he's going through the motions.
"Hello Sunshine" is sprightly, but sounds too pleading from the singing. "Golden Retriever" is a fine single and very catchy, but Rhys is simply marble-mouthed. Those sorts of vocals served them in the past (witness "Shoot Doris Day"), but not when they seem to be leaning more to New Pornographers than Beck/Blur. Luckily, they manage more than enough good moments to almost make up for it. "Slow Life" is a striking epic closer, "Out of Control" pulses with the energy lacking elsewhere, and "Piccolo Snare," while a bit lyrically obvious, contains joyous highs that are otherwise in short supply. But after the high of Rings (and knowing they'd stumble even deeper on Love Kraft) this is a band on the fast decline struggling to remain afloat.
Best cuts: "Slow Life," "Out of Control," "Golden Retriever," "The Piccolo Snare," "Valet Parking," "Liberty Belle," "Venus and Serena""
If you'd like a psych-up/contempo beatles/beachboys thing
hillary | oxford | 04/29/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"this isn't a band: it's an addiction. after i bought "rings around the world" and was swept up in the super melodic trippiness of this fine band, i had to see what they'd do elsewhere. so i bought everything i could get my hands on. this is one of the better records (they're ALL very worthwhile).
do you like SPARKLEHORSE, THE BLACK WATCH, BLUR, NADA SURF, ELO (yes, them--or the move) and of course the beatles and beach boys (yes, the best bits of the beach boys--ie brian songs, harmonies)...this is at once adventurous and undeniably pleasant...what a FIND!!! they should be huge.
buy this and trip out!!!"
