The DVD and 'best of' album from Super Furry Animals Songbook Vol. 1 have finally been released in the US, and I for one am quite happy I didn't plunk my money down on the more expensive import disc. Saw that the disc is encoded in 5.1 Dolby Digital sound, this is tantilizing news since the discrete surround mixes for the 'Phantom Power' and 'Rings Around the World' DVD's are fantastic and reference quality (I can't wait to hear the pre-Power/Rings songs in 5.1).



NME also reports that the upcoming 2005 album is slated for a UK release sometime in May - woohoo!

Singer Gruff Rhys also recently put out a solo album called Yr Atal Genhedlaeth (which I have yet to hear). Its all in Welsh, so I wouldn't be surprised if it never comes out in the US (Despite the fact that MWNG was available domestically, I think it was the last album Flydaddy Records ever released. I'm not sure if Epic is quite as adventurous.) Hopefully it won't be a very long wait between the import and domestic releases of the new one coming out. I guess its a good sign that the singles collection came out here so soon after the UK.

Thanks for the heads up on this domestic release, Giles! I totally forgot about the DVD part of this comp.

I shelled out the import bucks to get the limited edition UK version of the CD (the digipak "pop up" packaging was totally not worth it!), so the DVD is a very welcome companion. I also just ordered Gruff's solo album from the UK.

If only the dollar wasn't so damn weak...or, if only the Furries weren't so damn good!

I could have sworn that I saw a listing in Time Out New York for Gruff's solo show. Yeah I hope his solo album makes it to this side of the Atlantic too.

I'm kind of kicking myself for missing this show at the lovely Tonic venue...from this, I have learned to read my Time Out New York when I get it on Wednesdays, not while I'm sitting around looking for things to do on Saturdays!

Anyway, while Gruff was in town, he played a set at WFMU in Jersey City (represent!), and they mention that the album is getting a stateside release, via Rough Trade, on March 15.

You can stream (or download) Gruff's set on WFMU's site here.

I have just received my import copy (another reason to be kicking myself), and will give it a listen tonight. Though, from what I've heard on WFMU, it seems to be very much along the lines of MWNG, though perhaps even more stripped down.

EDIT: Hmm...maybe if I visited Rough Trade America's Web site more often, I wouldn't be left out of such things...they posted their details on Gruff's record and NYC show on January 25, and they mention a Feb 22 US release for the record.

Great news, thanks! Thanks for the link to the wfmu show as well. I love Tom Scharpling's show, I guess I should listen to the station more.

Is the cd and DVD the same track-wise?


I was watching the Rings Around The World disc yesterday. Great band!

Saw them live last year (or was it the year before?).

soooo... would this "best of" dvd/cd stuff be a good place to start with the SFA?

Although I haven't seen the dvd, based on the tracklisting alone, I would say this is an excellent place to start. If you're based in the US, I think some of their earlier albums (which are my personal favorites) like "Radiator" or "Guerrilla" are sadly out of print (their old US distributor, Flydaddy, went out of business). Don't get me wrong though, newer stuff like "Rings Around The World" and "Phantom Power" (which you can still easily find) are still well worth owning. Search around for the US version of "Radiator" if you can since it has a bonus cd (that was released seperately in the UK) of b-sides called "Out Spaced" which is loaded with great songs as well.

It is definitely a good place to start with SFA. But, as good this "best of" is, SFA is more of an "album band" than a "singles band," so this set--while representing all aspects of their career--does not do full justice their full potential.

The timing of this release is perfect, as Beggars US will rerelease the four out-of-print albums (Radiator, Outspaced, Guerilla, and MWNG) as double-disc sets on March 22 (source: superfurrylogic.com). Do I own all of the above? Yes. Will I double dip for the bonus discs? Probably...

Yes, all 21 tracks on the CD and DVD editions of Songbook: The Singles 1 are identical.

I received my copy of the DVD in the mail yesterday and I was a tad annoyed that there is some misinformation about the audio specs of the disc. The (Dolby/DTS) 5.1 surround sound mixes are for the “Rings Around the World” and “Phantom Power” songs/videos only. All videos pre Rings/Phantom are two-channel stereo, which sucks since the soundmixer for the last two albums did a phenomenal job and should have remixed them for 5.1. If the trend is to release a DVD version of the upcoming album , you can betcha that this will also feature a fantastic surround mix as well.

There is also this release which is not technically a SFA album, but rather a collection of artists/songs which influenced their sound and musical style (March 8th streetdate):

Under the Influence

How many of the songs are NOT from Rings and Phantom?



I also have all of their import cds. Double dip? Time (and price) will tell.

Here's the tracklisting for the DVD/CD, those titles that in bold are from "Rings"/"Phantom"

1. Something 4 The Weekend
2. It's Not The End Of The World?
3. Northern Lites
4. Juxtapozed With U
5. Slow Life
6. Fire In My Heart
7. The Man Don't Give A F**k
8. Hermann Loves Pauline
9. Play It Cool
10. Ice Hockey Hair
11. Do Or Die
12. (Drawing) Rings Around The World
13. God! Show Me Magic
14. Ysbeidiau Heulog
15. Demons
16. Golden Retriever
17. The International Language Of Screaming
18. Hello Sunshine
19. Hometown Unicorn
20. If You Don't Want Me To Destroy You
21. Blerwytirhwng?

hope this helps.

Thank you very much. That's a big help. 12 I don't have vids of. Must buy.