Tag Archives: supergrass

#622: Supergrass – In It for the Money

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So after Supergrass gained a ton of praise from their debut album I Should Coco in 1995, helped tremendously by their most recognisable hit and youth anthem ‘Alright‘, Steven Spielberg approached the band in an effort to make a television series with them based on that of The Monkees. The group declined, instead choosing to record their second album. This was most definitely the better route to take. Coco was a burst of sharp wit and energy. Its production made all the instruments sound very tight, like they were playing together in a tiny, tiny room. In It for the Money took a totally different direction.

Instead of carrying on with the usual breakneck velocity, Money is made of songs that are allowed to breathe. Take a breeze and chill with some slower tempos. The tracks also sound expansive. There’s also a wider variety of instruments. But the group never lost their playfulness and knack for great tunes. The title track shows it all in the three minutes it lasts for and is a fantastic taster for what’s to come It opens the album with an creepy organ drone that transitions into a heavy Beatles-like arpeggiated riff and Gaz Coombes’ vocal.

“Here I see a time to go and leave it all behind/And you know it’s wrong to fall/We’re in it for the money” are three lyrics that when put read together like that don’t seem to make much sense, though Coombes and bassist Mick Quinn on higher harmony deliver them with a power and confidence that make them sound like a formal declaration. There’s a musical build as the last phrase is repeated before the song explodes into its main refrain. The track takes another turn as it leads into another verse of repeated lines, accompanied with a beautiful guitar line and descending bass groove. A glorious fanfare of horns appear. It’s beautiful stuff.

It comes to a very abrupt halt but you have to listen to the album from front to back to understand the effect of that production decision. Summing it up, this was the introduction to a new Supergrass back in ’97 – definitely not a case of the sophomore slump.

My iPod #467: Supergrass – Grace

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“Grace” was the second single released from Supergrass’ fourth album “Life on Other Planets”. “Never Done Nothing Like That Before” was the first though was only available on 7″ vinyl, whereas “Grace” was the first to be utilised on all major formats two weeks before the album’s official release.

The track came about due to some drunken playing on a piano by drummer Danny Goffey and the preachy “Save your money for the chiiiiildreeeen” lyric was taken from a message on a small money box that was carried around by kids that would usually visit the studio the band were recording in. Initially thought as nothing more than a B-Side, the four members worked over and over on the song resulting in one of their most playful and enjoyable tunes to date, just missing out in the top ten in the UK charts.

The song itself is about a girl named Grace who seemed like quite a fun person to be around if you listen to the lyrics in the verses. Musically, the positive vibes are reinforced by the light piano, upbeat tempo and swirling synthesizers that appear here and there giving the song a perky and spirited atmosphere. I also believe that the band sampled some vocals from “Caught by the Fuzz” in the instrumental break before the final chorus. That might just be me, but you may be able to understand when you hear it carefully. Just saying.

This song is fun. Liked it ever since I saw the video in 2008 or so. Was the first time that I’d heard a song of those after their prime in the 90s. Wasn’t disappointed. Still feel that way today.

My iPod #448: Supergrass – Going Out

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“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.

My iPod #421: Supergrass – Ghost of a Friend

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Sadly Diamond Hoo Ha, Supergrass’ sixth album released in 2008, turned out to be their last as the group’s four members from Oxford went their separate ways two years later. Although to me it doesn’t rank up there as one of Supergrass’ best albums, Diamond Hoo Ha still provides many moments of melodic joy and rocking tunes.

From what I can recall, the album was available to listen to on NME’s website before it was physically released and one of the songs I remember listening to around the time was “Ghost of a Friend”. I liked it then, and it remains a favourable track of mine from Diamond. Apart from being a straight up memorable song, what also made it stick in my head was the observation that it was sung, not by Gaz Coombes or Mick Quinn, but by the band’s drummer Danny Goffey making it the only track (I am sure of this) in the band’s discography where this occurs.

Although the song has a brisk and peppy quality to its sound – Gaz provides some backing vocals as does vocalist Jodie Rose – it is quite a sad one thinking about it now. It concerns a narrator who is visited by the…. ghost of a friend who takes him away from the ‘fools’ and ‘clowns’ that are dragging him down. Eventually it comes to the point where the ghost has to leave again, but the narrator upon seeing the ghost feels much happier than he did before. A bit emotional.

But this all shouldn’t come to mind when actually listening to the song. I also feel much happier after hearing it. In fact, to me it had the potential of being a single. It was not meant to be. But it is an underrated gem amongst the many others Supergrass already have.

My iPod #404: Supergrass – G-Song

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*yawn* It’s been a while. How’s everyone doing?

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.

I bet no one remembers who Steriogram is.