Categories : Folk + Roots, Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 3/5 Released: March 6, 2007 Reviewer: Nathan Atnikov |
A collection of acoustic in English, Welsh and Spanish, Candylion proves Gruff Rhys to be just as eclectic a solo artist as a member of his band, Super Furry Animals. Though the album is stunning in melody and mood (think Nick Drake), the lyrics are peppered with typically obscure references and poetic language that is difficult to follow.
In terms of pure thought process, Rhys isn’t all that unlike The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne in that he is a gifted poet, but without pretension – he is totally unafraid to be goofy, and it comes through in a way that makes an enjoyable listen out of an otherwise difficult album.
Even though Candylion is guitar-pop at its core, Rhys’ influences obviously cover a wide range. ‘Cycle of Violence’ features swirling string riffs, and is then followed by the jazzy ‘Painting People Blue.’ Then, after not exceeding 4 minutes with any previous song, the album closes with the 14 minute ‘Skylon!,’ a rollicking, piano-driven tune that doesn’t drag despite its considerable length.
Rhys’ inventive personality is infectious, even if the album is a challenging listen. Ultimately, Candylion is rewarding, but likely won’t get repeated spins from anyone except the most dedicated SFA fans.
Buy Candylion from iTunes >> 
