Supergrass - a solid collection of takeoffs

Friday editions of The Standard, the London’s (afternoon) paper, carry a lot of gig adverts, often making one wonder - what year it is? Read the list of forthcoming attractions: Yes, The Beach Boys, The Who, Peter Gabriel [alas, still without Genesis], Simon & Garfunkel, Ozzy, Stray Cats, Marianne Faithfull, The Doors (of The ?? Century)…

Well, the reformation of Pixies was greeted as the second Indie coming and the band, as any honest elder who used to see them originally [as our chief Ed] would tell you - they were lousy live. They did make some seminal albums but were so static and awkward live people would often walk out. Now, they sell out three nights in London just like a finger-click on account of not being together and individually making rather mediocre albums.

Sonic Youth, another band from that era that can claim a huge influence, have just released their nineteenth studio album; ‘Sonic Nurse’ is possibly their heaviest record since 1988’s ‘Daydream Nation’. Standout tracks include Kim Gordon coming into her own with ‘Pattern Recognition’ and Thurston singing of a lost love on ‘Unmade Bed’ and the beautiful ‘Stones’. It is an album Courtney Love would like to make but in the Sonic Youth songbook, it sounds like - something already recorded?

The two bands above are taken ultra-seriously and people swear by them. For the difference from Supergrass: the Oxford band‘s ‘Supergrass is 10’ (CD/DVD) are such huge collections that may be overlooked due to the band’s reputation. The saddest thing is that the repute they are burdened with is - being a feelgood band. Yep, pathetic is the world where playfulness is viewed as a downfall.

This is heavy on hits, from Mungo Jerry-ish debut single ‘Alright’, via acoustic complexity of ‘Late In The Day’ to Marc Bolan’s ghost on ‘Pumping On Your Stereo’ to The Band-ish ‘Mary’… That is Supertramp - sorry, got carried away due to the same song: Supergrass is ‘Merry-Mary-marry‘. Vivaciou, upbeat, massively joyous music that is also clever, relevant and arty, with a sprinkle of mischief on top.

New [now - obligatory] songs, such as ‘Kiss of Life’, show they have moved a bit… within their appreciation of the 1970s and are now acknowledging Talking Heads with a dash of U2 chorus. The other one, ‘Bullet’, is a Gothy rocker, thus leaving the route ahead open…

The fact is Supergrass boys are true fans of music who recapture the spirit of the bygone expression without loosening grip on reality. They are quite ironic and smartly slip few things by, which is often ignored. They may provide feel good but they also have fun which sidetracks a lot of listeners.

Supergrass is a quartet [since 2002, after singer/guitarist Gaz Coombes brother Robert joined] that is in a very good company: they are like Thin Lizzy, never the fame’s top echelon but a sure-fire live draw and well appreciated on a cut-above-cult level. Still, a little bit more serious respect is far overdue.

8/10