It could be argued that Super Furry Animals were the great British band of the late '90s, boasting bright, zippy tunes that put Blur to shame while incorporating electronica more seamlessly than Radiohead, but since the Welsh quintet cheerfully traveled outside the mainstream -- a byproduct of which was having very few of their albums appearing on both sides of the Atlantic simultaneously -- they were always a cult band. Yet it wasn't for a lack of terrific songs, as Songbook, Vol. 1: The Singles amply illustrates. At their peak, SFA had a sense of fearlessness, playing lush psychedelia with the reckless abandon of punk. Their songs were classically structured, but the production and performances were wholly modern, embracing the cut-n-paste collages of electronica and the knowing, nervy eclecticism of indie rock. As the calendar turned to the new millennium the group streamlined their sound, favoring sensuality to careening, free-form pop. They still made good records -- always highlighted by excellent singles -- but that sense of boundless possibility that made their first four LPs so thrilling was tamed. That shift in tone is apparent on Songbook, Vol. 1, but the album is regrettably not sequenced chronologically, so it's not possible to hear the band evolve over the years -- and with music that's this restless, that's a necessity. That's the only flaw on this otherwise superb collection that contains all 21 of the group's singles, including such non-LP masterpieces as the gorgeous "Ice Hockey Hair" and the still-invigorating ethereal protest anthem "The Man Don't Give a F*ck." Even if the album would have made more sense told chronologically, the individual songs are still wondrous, and it's nice to have them all collected together -- particularly for listeners who have never had a chance to be part of the cult, and are looking for a way to become acquainted with this terrific, unique band. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Though Super Furry Animals have always had a dedicated cult following, their wonderfully idiosyncratic, consistently inventive, and endlessly catchy neo-psychedelic rock has unjustly passed beneath the radar of mainstream US recognition. SONGBOOK provides occasion to reevaluate the Super Furries as one of the best bands to emerge from the UK in the 1990s. The collection presents highlights from the Welsh quintet's first six studio albums, offering a kaleidoscopic 21-song sampler of their gear-shifting aesthetic.

Though the Beatles' heady, late-'60s pop is a frequent touchstone, the Super Furries purvey a multidirectional style that is defiantly unique, sounding alternately like laptop experimentalists ("Slow Life"), Marvin Gayes of the robot age ("Juxtaposed With U"), and caballeros who suddenly found themselves playing a lounge in Havana ("Northern Lites"). Unabashed Britpop is a key ingredient, as heard on the nervy and expansive melodies of "Something 4 the Weekend" and the sleepy, chiming "Hello Sunshine." Super Furry Animals rock ("God! Show Me Magic"), go New Wave in Welsh ("Ysbeidiau Heulog"), and simply write memorable tunes ("[Drawing] Rings Around the World"), but what remains consistent is their refreshingly eclectic sensibility, their strong sense of melody, and their busy, always ear-pleasing sonic bluster.