“Going Out” was the one of the first songs recorded for Supergrass’ second album In It for the Money. It was released as the album’s first single, more than a year before, in 1996.
The track, sung in unison by Gaz Coombes and Mick Quinn who also switch between lower and higher harmonies at various points, is about the press and how, when we want to go out or find out the latest gossip, the newspapers are the first things we go to. The song also makes it clear that the papers aren’t so great, and that staying home is much better. Starting off with guitars at full volume during the verses, the song takes a pleasant turn for the instrumental break when those disappear and Rob Coombes’ piano and the casual horns begin to dominate the mix before returning to the guitars for the sweet last verse. With the concluding line of “Not me” (which is a clever tie in with the next song on the album) Coombes confirms that the news isn’t his thing, and the track fades out with rising horns and jubilant guitar playing.
The track showed a sense of growth from the material that displayed on their amazing debut; whilst the songs on that had a sense of urgency, grit and roughness to them in some parts, “Going Out” was the first sign of Supergrass’ growth as a group. The harsh guitars of “Lose It” and “Caught by the Fuzz” were now replaced by strolling pianos, inviting organs and triumphant horns, teasing a new expansive sound-scape that was to be used to its full capacity on the forthcoming album.
Hope you all enjoyed your festivities over the holiday season. Feels quite strange starting this up again, seeing as I haven’t done one thing on this site since late November. I apologise. I need breaks too. But here I am again, and here I should be (almost) every day to give you the songs on my iPod beginning with the letter ‘G’.
So what better way to start it, than with a track entitled “G-Song” – the fifth track on “In It for the Money“, the second album by Supergrass. I always wondered why it was named as so. The title has nothing to do with the song’s subject matter; the phrase doesn’t appear in the lyrics. But it came to me not so long ago. The song’s written in the key of G Major. Duh.
The only reason I can think of enjoying “G-Song” is having listened to it repetitively alongside the other eleven tracks that accompany it on “In It for the Money”. After “Late in the Day” ends I always expect “G-Song”‘s sudden introduction to kick in, with its chugging guitars and solid bass. The instrumentation is something that really gets to me when listening to this track. It’s got a real *oomph* to it. Can’t find a better way to describe it. Especially the phrase that plays during the “There may be troubles…” refrain. Groovy as anything.
Like many of the other tracks on the album, it also contains a bridge which sounds like it could have been used to a completely different song altogether. Yet somehow, the guys manage to bring it back right into the song’s already established riff. That is good stuff, right there.
In terms of lyrics, I have a feeling that this track is one of those where the band worked on the music beforehand before coming up with the words to suit it. Gaz Coombes sings about feeling strange whilst walking on his way home or something….. I really don’t know. But that’s not a bad thing. What matters is, this track is pretty good. Recommended listen.
On an unrelated note, “I Should Coco” turns twenty this year. Anyone on getting a Supergrass campaign started to get all their nineties albums re-released and remastered? Very politely ask Gaz Coombes and Mick Quinn.
Annnnnnnddddd……
The White Stripes – Fell in Love with a Girl
Hello again. If you read the final post from the F’s, you’ll remember me writing that I had actually skipped one track out by mistake. This was the track. How I skipped it, I’ll never know.
“Fell in Love with a Girl”. Classic. Not much to say. Bass-less, simple five chord track with an amazing video which makes you wonder what you’ve been doing with Lego your whole life.
I remember seeing the start of this video when I was younger, and being disappointed when it turned out that it wasn’t “Walkie Talkie Man” by Steriogram. That video was directed by Michel Gondry too. As a result, I would always change it without really listening to the song. Big mistake. The White Stripes’ video and song are much better.
Was never a huge White Stripes fan. But this track is great. Have to say. RIP.
This is one of my favourite songs by Supergrass. It is one of my favourites from “In It for the Money”. The only problem I have with it is that compared to other songs on the album, it is too short. It is probably for the best though.
I am very sure that “Cheapskate” was in a holiday advert from years and years ago that was on the television. I know it has been used in a film or two, but I am certain I remember it being played for about 30 seconds somewhere else…
The music video was never shown in the United Kingdom. It was a US only single though and got into one of the many music charts that the country has. The band also chose not to release the video on their ‘best of’ DVD for reasons unknown.
The opportunity for me to see the ‘lost’ Cheapskate video was back when I was twelve or so. I randomly searched ‘Supergrass – Cheapskate’ into YouTube, and to my surprise it was there. The version here is what I watched, and is quite different to the one above. The speakers for the family computer were busted, so I had to make do with opening iTunes and playing the song along with the video. A minor inconvenience, yes, but it all worked out well in the end.
But why do I like “Cheapskate” so much? Well the song starts off with this funky groove, apparently influenced by Kool & the Gang according to the band themselves, which carries on through the verses before launching into an atmospheric chorus where the guitar blares out its chords and the overall volume of the song just rises. That along with its lyrics, “I need someone to be around ‘cos I’m breaking into life/Somebody stop me, ‘cos I’m looking for my high.”, just makes me feel warm and very happy inside.
What is the song about? Haven’t got a clue. Why is it called “Cheapskate”? The word isn’t mentioned once in the lyrics, so your guess is as good as mine. What matters is, I like it, you should probably listen to it, and try and find that advert that I talked about because it is really bugging me just thinking about it.
The Music in My Ears 