The problem I have with most so-called 'supergroups' is that they're simply not super. In fact, putting a bunch of major 'names' (or people who think they're major names for that matter) into a room together to cook up something 'special' generally winds up with super talent falling by the wayside as super egos battle for supremacy, and the resulting hotch-potch slop being significantly below par and substantially less than the sum of the parts.
With its origins in the promotion of a line of bags by Burberry,The Bottletop Band's roll-call of big names is almost nauseating, and while there are no doubt many who will derive considerable excitement from seeing the names Eliza Doolittle, Carl Barat, Drew McConnell, Andy Nicholson Gruff Rhys, Matt Helders, The Noisettes and Jagz Kooner side by side, there are many – like me – for whom the list elicits nothing more than a supershrug.
Doolittle's got a lot of making up to do after her single 'Pack Up', which scored high on the irritant table, and as far as I'm concerned, the only thing Carl Barat's got going in his favour is the fact that he's not dropkick Doherty.
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In fairness, 'One In A Million' isn't that bad and by 'supergroup' standards it's really quite good. Plus, I feel inclined to give some credit for the fact they've come up with something that's far from obvious in stylistic terms. But having said that, 'One In A Million' is a pretty underwhelming single cut, and why they chose to pursue a strangely dated 90s dubby indie sound is beyond me. The trip-hoppy Seb Rochfield Mix is even more perplexing and out of place.
It's ok, but it's far from super.
The Bottletop Band Online
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