Supergrass

There's an easy way to describe the music of Supergrass - fun. These young Oxford, UK, lads have consistently released albums that stand out from their peers, yet try not to take things too seriously. Although the new album, their third, doesn't have the raw energy of their debut, I Should Coco, they have matured their sound and finally found their niche. Their previous release, In It For The Money, started the ball rolling, but this new self-titled release works much better. Singer Gaz Coombes' brother Rob joins the gang on this release, bringing with him piano and keyboard accompaniment that lends itself wonderfully to the sound of the band. Unlike many of their British contemporaries, Supergrass are able to make music that shows its roots, yet still sounds timeless. "Beautiful People," for example, wouldn't sound out of place had it been released in 1974. There's a real nod to classic rock and roll on this album: rousing choruses, handclaps and the fast piano work of Rob Coombes. Their diverse pool of influences and good sense of humour has proven to be a winning combination for the band. According to Danny Goffey, "You just have to learn not to get too serious about this [business]. We have a lot of fun as a band and we always try to keep that feeling." A glimpse of the hilarious video for "Pumping On Your Stereo" proves his point perfectly. "We try to stick together as a band - it's a real group effort. Everything is split pretty evenly between us," adds Goffey. "We try not to follow trends or anything. We have a good idea of what we want to do." This attitude has served them well, and the catchy melodies on Supergrass have proven again that this is band worthy of more recognition. Goffey concludes, "In the end, we just love what we do. The rest will come and go, but you have to keep your spirits up, right? Otherwise what's the point?"