SUPER FURRY ANIMALS "Hey Venus!" Rough Trade THE FIERY FURNACES "Widow City" Thrill Jockey
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SUPER FURRY ANIMALS"Hey Venus!"Rough TradeTHE FIERY FURNACES"Widow City"Thrill Jockey
THOSE FAMILIAR ONLY with the Super Furry Animals' proclivity for singing in their native Welsh may be surprised at the downright accessibility of their latest release, "Hey Venus!" The quintet successfully underscores the pop in Britpop, with the hook-laden one-two punch of "Run-Away" followed by "Show Your Hand." Where the former recalls the beat of the Ronettes' "Be My Baby," the latter has the swaying breeziness of the 1960s' best psych-pop.
For all their catchiness, the Super Furry Animals still show glimmers of irreverence: "Baby Ate My Eightball" tells the story of an infant's foray into drugs, while "Suckers!" is a hazy ballad about fools all around us. Originally released last year, "Hey Venus!" has been reissued with bonus tracks, which enhance the original album: "These Bones" boasts a bold beat, while "Aluminum Illuminati" toys with a booming, dance-inducing swagger.
The Fiery Furnaces have never had a reputation of accessibility. Eleanor Friedberger's verbosity combined with brother Matthew's orchestrated, off-kilter keyboard and organ lines don't make for the easiest listening. "Widow City" is no different. The ending of "Automatic Husband" sounds like an outtake from an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, while the layering of Eleanor Friedberger's spoken word against her cooing melody on "My Egyptian Grammar" feels overcomplicated. Nevertheless, the Furnaces do find intriguing grooves. The growling "Navy Nurse" turns Friedberger's bouncy vocals into a supporting instrument, while the nonsensical narration in "Restorative Beer" manages to give a whimsical look at the soothing qualities of a good drink.
-- Catherine P. Lewis
Appearing Sunday at the 9:30 club (202-393-0930,http:/
