I Should Coco - Supergrass
Like quite a few others, with the exception of the ubiquitous “Alright”, I’ve never listened to their music.
Listening to the first three songs, you get the impression that the band have been held against their will and then force-fed steroids for a week before having the doors of their prison flung wide open. Songs with lots of energy and frenetic playing. Somebody mentioned that Gaz Coombes was 19 when this was released and that explains a lot.
I wouldn’t have liked this album when I was 19 as by that time, I’d already gravitated to music played by middle-aged men with everyday concerns, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it doesn’t really hit home with me now that I’m in my mid-50s.
However, there are some good songs that show a bit more craft as the album progresses. “Lose It” starts with a really nice garage rock sound, but the band are in danger of losing me when Gaz Coombes appears to get his knackers caught in the door whilst performing the vocals. Better still is “Lenny”, regardless of whether there’s a cheeky lift from “Whole Lotta Love” in terms of the riff.
“Strange Ones”, despite its forced-punk-vocal in parts has a refreshing change of pace in between the choruses and “Sitting Up Straight” has a similar vibe resulting in a passable two-minute guitar workout.
“Sofa (Of My Lethargy)” provides room for the band to stretch out and is much more up my street that the greyhound-out-of-the-traps approach earlier in the album.
I’m summary, there’s a lot of energy, some oddball moments and a few good songs. As others have noted, I suspect that Gaz Coombes has gone on to do much better because I have enjoyed some of his solo efforts that have appeared on the playlist thread. It’s alright and worth 6.5/10.