The Album Review Club - Week #144 - (page 1893) - XO - Elliot Smith

[OB1]

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.

I love that you take such care over every review. I just don't have the time or the writing skills. Anyway, you often save me a lot of time by having a very similar view of a fair number of albums.

Single aside, I'd never heard this album before, although I do own the follow-up (probably due to a Q review) but I don't think it's been played since the 90's. I discovered it wasn't even loaded on my iTunes so will remedy that and have a listen.

As to Coco, I going to yet again go with 6/10. I wouldn't buy it but if I had, like its successor, I would have kept it.

Some of it was too punky for my taste.

 

[RobMCFC]

I love that you take such care over every review. I just don't have the time or the writing skills. Anyway, you often save me a lot of time by having a very similar view of a fair number of albums.

Single aside, I'd never heard this album before, although I do own the follow-up (probably due to a Q review) but I don't think it's been played since the 90's. I discovered it wasn't even loaded on my iTunes so will remedy that and have a listen.

As to Coco, I going to yet again go with 6/10. I wouldn't buy it but if I had, like its successor, I would have kept it.

Some of it was too punky for my taste.

Thanks. Part of it is made easier by working on a computer all day. It's easy to spend a few minutes here and there writing stuff down as you listen and then assemble it into something coherent later on.

We do seem to like the same type of music on both the Americana and rock fronts. Speaking of which .....

When I've completed the book I'm currently reading, I'm thinking of buying a book on Led Zeppelin. Your championing of them on the music threads had led me to listening to a good chunk of their albums and I think I'd enjoy reading about their story. I was thinking of Mick Wall's When Giants Walked The Earth. Have you read it or any of the other books?

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

It’s an album, or maybe a group that grow on me, the more I listen.
I’m off today and supposed to be doing my accounts but find this isn’t the background music to keep your concentration on something as boring.
Even with ‘Alright’ on, I feel like getting up and bopping, rather than printing down boring statements.

What this album has, not withstanding the fact it’s of its time, is youthful exuberance and it shines through in spades.
It’s hard not to like, faults and all.

I still can’t get past a 6, knowing what they came out with after this. But it’s one of the most enjoyable sixes I’ve listened to on here.

It’s not a struggle to put it in each time.

 

[Coatigan]

I didn't listen to this album when it came out. It was a time of so many excellent albums. I heard Alright, and while I liked its fun quirky carefree feel at the time, it was overplayed and I just assumed it was a one hit wonder riding on the back of the wider popularity of a musical high.

First impression when I put this on was, I would probably have liked it back in the day, but the current me might think that boat has sailed.

So, I didn't listen to it as current me. I used it as a vehicle to time travel back to an alternate reality and imagine young me listening to it had I given it a go then. And I loved it. And the experience of the whole attempt itself as well, tbf.

Which then got me thinking, do the albums from that era that I think have 'aged well' only do that Because I liked them at the time, and were this me hearing them for the first time, would they have the same issue? So I listened to the album as today's me. And I still really liked it.

Some great stuff on here. Brilliant opener, worthy of the playlist we had elsewhere. Good unrestrained energy to it, doesn't fele like it is written to please, but to express. Feels honest, done for fun and themselves, and just being a good music album for the sake of being a good debut music album. Yeah a bit of repetition but so what. Really enjoyed this.

Only ever gave one 10 before as far as I can remember, and checking back, it was the same nominator. But for a completely different album, of a different era, style and genre. There you go. A 10 from me for this week.

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

I didn't listen to this album when it came out. It was a time of so many excellent albums. I heard Alright, and while I liked its fun quirky carefree feel at the time, it was overplayed and I just assumed it was a one hit wonder riding on the back of the wider popularity of a musical high.

First impression when I put this on was, I would probably have liked it back in the day, but the current me might think that boat has sailed.

So, I didn't listen to it as current me. I used it as a vehicle to time travel back to an alternate reality and imagine young me listening to it had I given it a go then. And I loved it. And the experience of the whole attempt itself as well, tbf.

Which then got me thinking, do the albums from that era that I think have 'aged well' only do that Because I liked them at the time, and were this me hearing them for the first time, would they have the same issue? So I listened to the album as today's me. And I still really liked it.

Some great stuff on here. Brilliant opener, worthy of the playlist we had elsewhere. Good unrestrained energy to it, doesn't fele like it is written to please, but to express. Feels honest, done for fun and themselves, and just being a good music album for the sake of being a good debut music album. Yeah a bit of repetition but so what. Really enjoyed this.

Only ever gave one 10 before as far as I can remember, and checking back, it was the same nominator. But for a completely different album, of a different era, style and genre. There you go. A 10 from me for this week.

I think a 10 is great for any album, from anyone, but even more so for something being heard fresh, so to speak.

It really shows an impact on the individual.
Good for you Coats.

Now give In It for The Money a go.

 

[OB1]

Thanks. Part of it is made easier by working on a computer all day. It's easy to spend a few minutes here and there writing stuff down as you listen and then assemble it into something coherent later on.

We do seem to like the same type of music on both the Americana and rock fronts. Speaking of which .....

When I've completed the book I'm currently reading, I'm thinking of buying a book on Led Zeppelin. Your championing of them on the music threads had led me to listening to a good chunk of their albums and I think I'd enjoy reading about their story. I was thinking of Mick Wall's When Giants Walked The Earth. Have you read it or any of the other books?

I've not read Mick Wall's book.

I have read "Hammer of the Gods", which is entertaining but some of the "facts" are disputed.

 

[bennyboy]

Sorry not for me.
4 songs which i thought were alright.(See what i did there.)
Caught by the fuzz.Lose it.Strange Ones and the well known Alright which i gave one listen to.
Thought it was very samey until the last couple of awful slower songs.
4/10

 

[journolud]

I'll update my previous references to the Beatles and 10cc to include the Buzzcocks and early Jam with some of the punkier tracks. They were the ones that initially put me off this album and they do feel like they've just been thrown in there and are still my least favourite. To be fair though Caught by the Fuzz has great lyrics and generally the lyrics throughout are relatable. Well, not to me as a 60 year old man and I was too old even at the time but generally the lyrics are fun and the band don't take themselves too seriolsy.

The "goofy" bits probabaly seemed like a good idea at the time and I can't really object to them too much but they don't really add anything and distract from what is otherwise some fairly assured songwriting (I think I'm supposed to put a reference to his age here while damning wth faint praise or something).

Take out a couple of tracks and I think you get a fairly consistent album. Nothing ground breaking or particularly memorable but neither does it sound dated or of it's time. Like others I gave a listen to some of Gaz Coombes solo stuff and was half way through a first listen of In It For the Money so too early to make comparisons. The solo stuff hit and miss for me.

And that is probably were this album is, I enjoyed it and certainly think I will listen to it again. For the second week running after the Chameleons I've been pleasantly surprised. I could have deducted points for the songs I dn't like but then I would have to add one for Alright which I'm a firm fan of so it balances out at a decent 7.

Incidentally my wife thinks we saw Supergrass, I'm not so sure. She thinks they were on the bill when we saw Pulp at some open air event in Warrington, probably in 95/96. I can't remember and thought it might have been Cast that were one of the supports, doesn't really matter I suppose. Used to love Pulp back in the day but they haven't worn as well for me.

 

[BlueHammer85]

Supergrass - I should Coco

Fun, energetic, some average stuff, some really poor stuff. Felt a bit misdirected at times.

‘Caught By The Fuzz’ is fast and good humour, ‘I’d like to Know’ is a good rockier number.

‘Time’ is a funky jam and loved the harmonica outro.

There was some Small Faces /Beatles vibe in the mix at times - ‘Sofa of my lethargy’ ‘We’re not supposed to’ ‘Time to go’.

‘Alright’ is such a stand out, deserves its pop glory status.

I couldn’t warm to this like I do other Britpop stuff, perhaps as it’s less serious than most - but still, enjoyable.

6/10

 

[Saddleworth2]

Listened to it at the time and thought it was ok. Still think its ok. Some tracks worked and i liked the youthful exuberance however I still find it overall frenetic and some of the songwriting lets it down. A 5 upgraded to a 6 for the initial review which I really did enjoy.