Pitchfork: Super Furry Animals Ready New Compilation

Super Furry Animals Ready New Compilation

With Super Furry Animals somewhat on hold while frontman Gruff Rhys readies his first solo album (Yr Atal Genhedlaeth, due out in January 2005), the Welsh group has decided to let fans in on some of their biggest influences-- and the luck of it all is that they won't be enumerating said influences in some self-absorbed interview with Rolling Stone or Spin. Nay, they'll instead be putting together a nice little mixtape that will convey a more enjoyable impression of their roots than, "Yeah, I was really into MC5 when I was a lad..."

If this concept sounds familiar, that means you've run across one of the previous releases in DMC's Under the Influence series, the last being from Bob Geldof. Morrisey, The Stone Roses' Ian Brown, Paul Weller, and The Beautiful South's Paul Heaton have also compiled such projects for DMC in the past.

NME is reporting that the record will be released on January 31st, 2005 and that each band member has picked three songs apiece. And seriously, even if they sat down together and plotted out what their "influences" are, they couldn't have gotten a weirder mix than this one. Of course, there are three Welsh talents-- one of which (Meic Stevens) is a national treasure for his talent and steadfast adherence to the Welsh language. But there's also the Beach Boys, Humanoid (Future Sound of London frontman Brian Dougans' previous project), Sly & the Family Stone, a little Electric Light Orchestra, and even some classical shit thrown in there, too (that would be Bizet).

When all's said and done, it should be equally clear which band member contributes what (as indicated by the band members' individual picks in parentheses) and that DMC's series is no knee-jerk reaction/cash-in on Grandaddy's recent mixtape-- just a good party thrown by your favorite Welsh band, spinnin' their favorite tunes. May you be similarly influenced:

01 The Beach Boys: "Feel Flows" (Bunf)
02 Datblygu: "Casserole Effeillaid" (Gruff)
03 The Undertones: "My Perfect Cousin" (Bunf)
04 The MC5: "Kick Out the Jams" (Guto)
05 Gorky's Zygotic Mynci: "Christina" (Gruff)
06 Sly & The Family Stone: "Family Affair" (Daf)
07 Humanoid: "Stakker Humanoid" (Cian)
08 Underworld: "Rez" (Daf)
09 Bizet: "Pearl Fishers" (Cian)
10 ELO: "Telephone Line" (Daf)
11 Dennis Wilson and Rumbo: "Lady" (Guto)
12 Meic Stevens: "Ghost Town" (Gruff)
13 Dawn Penn: "You Don't Love Me (No No No)" (Guto)
14 Joey Beltram: "Energy Flash" (Cian)
15 Hardfloor: "Acperience" (Bunf)