Radiator
Band: Super furry animals
reviewed by: ex-ion 
This album is a modern musical masterpiece, just what I've come to expect from this band. It starts off quite slowly but surely with the calming instrumenal "furry vision" which sounds really.... I dont know, it just gives a nostalgic feeling bringing back childhood memories of times long past.... there is a sence of mourning through the notes yet an uplifting tone that cannot be explained, this is followed almost seamlessly by "The Placid Casual" which although is a good song, doesnt quite compare to the other content. The lyrics are interesting, but a bit hard to undertand, but as soon as that ends "The International Language Of Screaming" blurts out some upbeat catchyness that makes you want to get up and shake some ass... it never ceases to bring a smile to my face... it sounds brilliant, but the best is yet to come as next up is "demons" which is my personal favorite on the album, it reminds me of their earlier albums "fuzzy logic" and "rings around the world", the lyrics are great with plenty of rhymin and hugely catchy chorus! the next track, "Short painkiller", serves as little more than an introduction to "she's got spies", another great track that starts of slow but with a feeling of anticipation... which is satisfied as soon as the song really kicks off with the chorus... the lyrics are interesting and it's a lively song which youll feel a need to sing along to, after this comes "play it cool" which is.... um, interesting... it sounds a bit too busy and the vocals sound slightly out of place, but it still sounds ok... its chorus is quite cool too... but this pales in comparison to another of my favorites... "Hermann Loves Pauline" is a brilliant song! the lyrics are fun and the beat is perfect... if you dont want to buy the album then at least download this song (as well as demons).... the chorus is really catchy but the acctuall verses are brilliant also. Following this "Chupacabras" comes on with a very cool track with the usual beach-boys style surfer-bum "woo" harmonising in the background... Im not sure if it's english or not, quite frankly I don't care, it sounds great regardless, but the next song "Torra Fy Ngwallt Yn Hir" is an obviously welsh song... translated it means "cut my hair long"... Im not quite sure how this fits any context of the bands cult-popularity but it sounds ok anyway.
"Bass Turned to Dead" serves as track 11, it sounds interesting though Im not sure what to make of it... It soundxs good but doesnt have any emotional effect on me, "down a different river" on the other hand does convey a feeling of time slipping away and deja vu... until you reach the chorus which is uplifting and brings an almost spiritual glow to the song which gives a "furry" feeling throughout me, "download" is the next track and it sounds really good... it kind of reminds me of the film Donnie Darko, listen to it and youll understand. It conveys a sad feeling... perhaps intentinally because of the melodramatic lyrics and lack of an upbeat lyric which is so otherwise apparent in this album... this contrast adds a certain something to the overall product and serves as a great penultimate song to the package. The last song of the album is "mountain people" which sounds good but takes a bit of getting used to... its lyrics tell a generic story/statement of the difference between the mountain folk and the townies of wales which have quite an abundant difference. Unfortunately the song does sound slightly repetative which puts me off slightly but all the same it does add a polish to this fine compelation.
overall this is a fine album, whilst it might not sound as impressive as some of their earlier works it still remains an essential purchace to music lovers.
Rating: 4/5
if you like this then try:
"Fuzzy logic", "mwng", "outspaced" and "rings around the world" by super furry animals.
A Second Opinion:
"this is our truth tell us yours" and "Everything must go" by the manic street preachers.
"the bends" by Radiohead.
