Supergrass - 'Life On Other Planets' (Parlophone)
4/5
By: Toby L
With so little acts around possessive of a traditional, even Brit-rock edge, it's rewarding that in the same week we receive new album-releases from the likes of circuit-veterans Suede, and these guys - Oxfordians and all-round, wildly-inventive cheeky-chappies, Supergrass.
Following three albums of a creative flair and sense of chaotic order that's defiant of instrumental-skill and pop-credentials which have ensured the threesome such turgid endurance for so many years, 'Life On Other Planets' is the long-awaited successor to their previous self-titled LP, a record that baffled critics, yet launched some of the group's most treasured material. With affairs these days in 2002, the 'Grass are keeping matters typically individual, inviting influences from the 70s (and, yes, when you'll hear this, you'll understand why Bolan is calling his lawyers from the rock 'n' roll heavens above) and employing material that is simply unique to this combo (who else would impersonate Elvis and feature sheep-noises in the same track, after all?).
The opening 'Za' even namechecks our T-Rex hero - 'Get it on', we're asked by sideburns-maestro, Gaz Coombes during the glitzy, piano-hammering number - and the following parade of infectious 60s nostalgia of 'Rush Hour Soul', shining 'Seen The Light' and ska-tinged playfulness of 'Brecon Beacons' proves that the three-piece are as focussed as ever towards ear-pleasing guitar-pop. Even the 'driving into the sunlight' gloriousness of a toned-down 'Can't Get Up' is classic Supergrass, the harmonies, retro-organ and memorable chorus acting as a fitting pre-cursor to the jaunty Kinks-y 'Evening Of The Day'.
But don't anticipate your appreciation to flood in all at once. Such is the vivid richness and flourishing depth of this record that you'd best provide it a few plays before the handbrake-turn, messy brashness of 'Never Done Nothing Like That Before' or the eerie references to a 'shade of morphine' in the otherwise upbeat 'Funniest Thing' fully reveal themselves to be as nearly sensational as recent hit-single, 'Grace'.
Yet, the ultimate question: with so many new acts of notable promise gatecrashing their way into the public's consciousness and giving us all renewed vigour with which to embrace the music-scene, where do Supergrass fit into the grand scheme of things? Actually, the answer is the place that they've always been located within - on their own. And, as long as they see fit to continue, it's a great location to have them remaining.
Artists in this article: Supergrass
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