Growing old in a band can’t be easy to do. Most don’t get that, or they disappear for some time and only reunite to play the old classics. Few try to grow older and grow at the same time. Oasis and Ocean Colour Scene are around, but you know what to expect – dull indie-rock. The Bluetones still tour, quite remarkably, yet it’s hard to imagine who actually cares for them, apart from those nostalgia junkies who don’t know when to let go. There will never be anything new to see there. Manic Street Preachers were in danger of becoming a parody of themselves until last year’s ‘Send Away The Tigers’ saw them grow into the band they have become. Radiohead are a different story completely – they have never stopped evolving. A different class.
But aside from that, there is little to report from the bands of the Britpop years. Having seen Supergrass supporting Arctic Monkeys last year, I was predicting that they had run out of stream. Their previous album ‘Road to Rouen’ was a difficult, dreary release and I was planning on breaking the cycle and stopping showing any interest in them. They just weren’t the youthful, exuberant band that I wanted them to be.
In many ways, they remind me of my own mortality; seeing Supergrass growing old – unable to sing ‘Alright’ because it’s not true any more – it ages anyone who was revelling in 1995. But the first single ‘Diamond Hoo Haa Man’ was fun enough to make me take notice and investigate this album. The main hook is reminiscent of ‘Icky Thump’ by The White Stripes, and that implies some good rock music.
It would seem Supergrass have grown up, but discovered how to have fun with it, without being contrived at the same time. This is a mature album, but it feels naturally funky, and not like a Supergrass trying to recapture what made them great in the first place. Throughout the album they sound very much like Supergrass playing at being other artists. ‘Bad Blood’ has verses not dissimilar to Iggy Pop & The Stooges, but with classic Supergrass choruses. ‘Rebel in You’ is of the Franz Ferdinand school of indie-rock, but with a less rigid arrangement. ‘Return of Inspiration’ is an ethereal Strokes song, which perhaps sums up this album. They do sound like they’re back on top and for the first time in a while, you want them to have a future as a band.
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This is something else that strikes you about the Supergrass of 2008 – they jam, and allow a little bit of disorganisation into the instrumentals, which gives it a live feel, and certainly adds to the funky rock ‘n’ roll image they have come back with. It’s not that I’ve ever doubted Supergrass can play, it’s just that I can remember a time that they played this well. It’s not experimental, but it is good rock and roll music. They keep the pace throughout, and although it’s entertaining and light-hearted, these are songs to be taken seriously. There are sentiments you can really empathise with; ‘Ghost of a Friend’ is a tender song with a Bobby Gillespie style chorus – it’s not throwaway jauntiness, and that again is the beauty of their maturity.
There are some standout moments where the keyboards lead the tracks, most noticeably on ‘Outside,’ but overall it’s a strong performance all round. They veer away from having an token ballads on there, keeping the pace fast all the way through, which definitely keeps you interested. Nothing goes on for too long, and all of the indulgent instrumental parts are actually entertaining. It seems that they really care about what they do again, and in turn that makes you care.
It’s not too late for Supergrass to wind up in the Hall of Fame somewhere. If they keep this up, they may find themselves worthy grandfathers of rock in hopefully many years time. Having listened to this, I’m certainly less concerned about my mortality.
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