Artist bio

In 1995, filmmaker Steven Spielberg approached young Supergrass -- who had just released debut album I Should Coco -- about creating a Monkees-esque TV series based on the British trio. While the group turned him down, preferring to work on eventual second album In It For The Money, the gesture says a lot about the band's personality -- one which has stuck with the group throughout its career -- which is basically that of a fun-loving rock group whose undeniable musical talent is sometimes overshadowed by the sheer ebullience of its music.

I Should Coco instantly endeared the band to listeners in the U.K., but it was follow-up In It For The Money that really marked a creative leap forward, meshing wild guitar riffs and soulful keyboard melodies with the group's impassioned vocal harmonies. 1999's self-titled third set was not quite as inventive as its predecessor, but saw the band expand its mastery of soul and rock motifs. 2002's Life On Other Planets simply ingrained the fact that Supergrass could continue to ply its effervescent musical outlook over an extended career. "La Song" and "Run" in particular showed the group still finding new ways to express itself.

While Supergrass isn't by any means the most groundbreaking or innovative rock group of its time, it's one of those bands you love to have around, because they keep things fresh and exciting.

Albums by this artist

Road To Rouen (2005)

Life On Other Planets (2002)

Supergrass (1999)

In It For The Money (Recommended) (1997)

I Should Coco (1995)

Interviews

Prawns, Pranks, And Pop Songs
March 14, 2001

Supergrass

Life On Other Planets

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» TROY CARPENTER | CO-DIRECTOR

Supergrass Life On Other Planets Parlophone, 2002 RiYL: The Strokes, Rolling Stones, Super Furry Animals

Thank god Supergrass haven't broken up. I mean, here's a group who started out as teenagers, had all its big hits early, rode to success on a patented brand of youthful vigor, and are now 10 years old as a band. Imagine if we, in late 2002, were sitting at our desks anticipating the first attempt at a Gaz Coombes solo record or looking up to find 'that drummer bloke out of the Grass' joined Primal Scream or something? Terror. But it seems to happen too often these days, when by virtue of the world's pervasive media spotlight, individual talents in a group can easily break rank for that big reach at elusive solo success.

As it plays out in real life, I'm thankfully spinning Supergrass's fourth album, Life On Other Planets instead. And it's damn good. Once again, the enthusiasm of the delivery and the fun of being absorbed into the music belies the fact that the group's four members are amazingly talented at what they do.

The album clocks in at a mere 40 minutes, almost six of which are soaked up by the stratospheric closer "Run." But sandwiched between that and the breezy opener "Za" is a smorgasbord of some of the finest pop/rock/soul nuggets on the market today. There have been few rock songs in recent memory with larger quotients of pure FUN than "Seen The Light" and "Can't Get Up" (whose bassline is more addictive than caffeine), to say nothing of the catchiness of the propulsive "Brecon Beacons" and first single "Grace."

"Evening Of The Day" is Sticky Fingers/Exile-ish acoustic rock with a choral Spinal Tap homage, and a bonus noodling tune in the fade-out that takes you to a calm place for a laugh, at least until "Never Done Nothing Like That Before" shocks your ass off the couch and into the album's second half, a half highlighted by the transcendent closing pair of "Prophet 15" and the aforementioned "Run." "Prophet," named after the '70s-style organ that features heavily throughout the album, name checks pop-culture figures from Marvin Gaye to Joan Of Arc as if appearing in a dreamland soundtracked by the pulsating psychedelic groove, highlighted by a deliciously Doorsy Prophet 15 solo.

The last time they were in the States, S'grass spent a few weeks opening for Pearl Jam, and the pairing seemed apt. In fact, one could draw a few parallels between the bands. Rock groups who have really stayed the course after promising early brushes with commercial success. Both can pretty much be counted on to churn out an album worthy of their respective catalogs every couple years or so. Is Life On Other Planets Supergrass' best album? Probably not, but it's not because it's not worthy of the title. It's another example of what Supergrass does best, not a ground-breaking stylistic departure. And that's why we like this band anyway -- they're here to make great, fun rock music, and do it with consistency and originality.

And once again, they've done it. Fire up the promo machine and for goodness' sake, get these dudes a U.S. record deal. It's the least you could do.

TROY CARPENTER | Troy Carpenter founded NATN from a Chicago apartment during the ambitious winter of 1998 with co-conspirators Ben French and Jonathan Cohen. After a five-year stint in New York, he and wife Lourdes have recently relocated to Indianapolis, where he spends days listening to music and nights in the kitchen at Elements restaurant. Musical heroes: Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Super Furry Animals. What else makes life worth living: Sushi, Phucty, runs in the park, and the Atlanta Braves.