• Record Label: Epic
  • Release Date: Mar 19, 2002
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 45 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 45
  3. Negative: 4 out of 45

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  1. Nov 24, 2021
    10
    Sidewalk serfer girl is one of my favorite songs of all time and this album in general is just really good. Listen to it if you can
  2. Nov 10, 2019
    7
    This is definitely a good album but based on what I had heard from friends and reviews I had read, I expected a little more. There are tunes aplenty but much of it sounds overly familiar. A lot of it reminds of the more intelligent albums released during the Britpop era of the 90's, this coming on the tail end of that. "Rings Around The World" is a good set of psychedelic pop songs butThis is definitely a good album but based on what I had heard from friends and reviews I had read, I expected a little more. There are tunes aplenty but much of it sounds overly familiar. A lot of it reminds of the more intelligent albums released during the Britpop era of the 90's, this coming on the tail end of that. "Rings Around The World" is a good set of psychedelic pop songs but very much leaning on what has gone before. Nothing wrong with this. It's an influential album in its own way, I can hear a lot of where Elbow get their ideas from on this album. Glad I bought this album, worthy of a place in the collection without a doubt. Expand
  3. May 15, 2011
    9
    genius i liked it a lot. it was one of the best albums of the decade. i liked maybe more than 2 songs on the album. good achievement. 9 out of 10 good alternative music.
  4. May 3, 2011
    10
    I'll make one thing clear, this album isn't musically perfect. However, I rated this album so highly based on the ridiclousness of it. It's fun to listen to and that is something that's not heard often in music. Listening to this album is an adventure, you don't know what comes next. Take No Sympathy for exmple, it's a soft folky song until half way when all of a sudden it's taken over byI'll make one thing clear, this album isn't musically perfect. However, I rated this album so highly based on the ridiclousness of it. It's fun to listen to and that is something that's not heard often in music. Listening to this album is an adventure, you don't know what comes next. Take No Sympathy for exmple, it's a soft folky song until half way when all of a sudden it's taken over by a wave of techno. I get so much satisfaction from listening to this album and I'm sure SFA had the greatest fun making an album like this. Sadly SFA lost much of this playfulness in their later albums Expand
  5. BenW.
    Oct 5, 2008
    10
    Another fabulous album, made even better by the DVD release.
  6. Will
    Sep 25, 2007
    10
    A flawless effort from SFA and probably their finest hour amongst many. Juxtaposed With U is perhaps the perfect indie pop single and it is backed up by some other magnificent tunes such as Shoot Doris Day and the title track. The opener is superb as well.
  7. [Anonymous]
    Jul 24, 2007
    10
    Wonderful album, the best of 2002.
  8. AndrewP
    Sep 2, 2005
    10
    Absolutley awesome album from an awesome band!!!
  9. matta
    Jul 19, 2005
    10
    This really is the best album of 2002, with The Flaming Lips, Ron Sexsmith, Wilco, and Idlewild's albums close behind. Totally perfect, not a bad track and honestly I'm a little confused by critics saying this album isn't as good as previous efforts. Original, witty lyrics and smart arrangements. A must-own.
  10. JonH
    Jun 12, 2004
    10
    Amazing, they never do any wrong IMO
  11. JoonasL
    May 14, 2004
    10
    This is one of the best records on my shelf that contains all albums of the Furries. This is my favourite furrie album, this doesn't open with one time listening, but about three times and you're in love with it! I've also bought the dvd, I recommend that to all that loved this album. Brilliant.
  12. JonP
    Jan 13, 2003
    10
    The only song that doesn't have an impact on people is Run Christian Run, which drags on. The songs (Drawing) Rings Around The World, It's Not The End Of The World?, Sidewalk Serfer Girl, No Sympathy, Alternate Route To Vulcan Street and Fragile Happiness are easily the best SFA songs ever made. Superb album
  13. MichaelE.
    Aug 3, 2002
    10
    My favorite album this year. Life-affirming.
  14. HenryH.
    May 25, 2002
    9
    The Best album that they ever made. More than creative and unique.
  15. ss
    Apr 27, 2002
    0
    crap.
  16. CrocO'Dile
    Apr 8, 2002
    9
    Though it didn't hit me at first, it grew on me at lightspeed. If the Furries' other albums are anywhere as good, they've got a new fan.
  17. SteveC.
    Feb 2, 2002
    10
    wonderful, even after a little overplay, most amazing band i've ever seen live.
  18. novasevern
    Nov 6, 2001
    9
    --well, there've only ever been 3 albums that deserve a 10, but this is close. There is a phenomenal beauty that only comes clear after a half-dozen listens, and the musical & lyrical detail is staggering. Each time an SFA album comes out (except maybe "Mwng"), I think it's their best. How good can they get??!!?
  19. RyanC.
    Aug 23, 2001
    10
    Another perfect record.
  20. mrka
    Aug 16, 2001
    10
    quite exceptional, unlike anything out there. an album both cheerful AND clever, which is a somewhat forgotten quality.
  21. satanzlittlehelper
    Aug 16, 2001
    10
    of course its a 10! go buy it now and do something good for yourself... ...awesome....syd barret strated new career as a bungee jumper when he heard this....brian wilson invents new medication ZOZAC in order to understand how in the world these guys did what he was striving for all his life....noel gallagher turns ortodox....american president shaves his head.....er...awesome.
Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 21
  2. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Rings Around the World might be stylistically all over the place, and some people may think it sounds like Super Furry Animals are desperately trying to show the world how clever they are, but it's so much fun to listen to, that it hardly matters. It's a near-perfect album, and we all should be thankful there are bands out there willing to throw everything they've got into a record just to see what happens.
  2. Alternative Press
    70
    There's no doubt their musical literacy is impressive, but for every cliche it erases, Rings Around The World embraces two more. [May 2002, p.98]
  3. This is the first SFA album not to progress from its predecessor, or offer the shock of the new, and that's hard not to miss -- but, if this is the first SFA record you hear, it'll likely intrigue, even dazzle, with its kaleidoscopic blend of pop, prog, punk, psych and electronica.