Supergrass - Road ToRouen

Tue 20th Sep, 2005 in Music Reviews

Supergrass’ fifth long player, Road To Rouen is a lot of things. For starters, a lot less energetic and quirky than anything else the quartet (quartet since 2002, that is) of Gaz Coombes (vocals), Mick Quinn (drums), Danny Goffey (bass) and Rob Coombes (keyboards) have released before. However, it is also indicative of a band that has proved that they don’t have to be reliant on either of those features to make a good album. I say a good album, not a great album, because I am a sucker for the Supergrass that makes you jump around the living room and holler along at the top of your lungs and also because a few of the tracks do not rise beyond the realms of subdued downtempo meanderings. A solid album, yes, but not one that matches the innovation and exuberance of previous releases.

Opener Tales of Endurance [Parts 4, 5 and 6] is full of soft, country-flavoured guitars that are slowly joined in a build-up by shakers, effects, piano and horns. When Gaz Coombes’ vocals kick in, they mimic the smooth quality of the song. After a stripped-back musical break of strings and horns, the song returns in the form of groovy rock track, with raw vocals and retro synth.

Penultimate track St Petersburg is the first of the languid tunes, with piano and strings backing the gloomy vocals. Sad Girl is another slower track with soft drums and piano, but it develops into something darker and more urgent, thanks to lyrics such as

“Man on the tracks
Cat out the bag
Sit on the fence
You got blood on your hands”.

The longest track on this 37-minute, nine track effort is Roxy, a seven-minute foray with keyboards, strings, electric guitars and one huge outro.

Things get shaken up a bit with the instrumental Coffee in the Pot, which is akin to elevator music crossed with a warped intermission (hey, it makes sense to me). It is a fun little track.

Two of the best songs on this release, and certainly two of the most lively, are Road to Rouen and Kick in the Teeth. The title track begins with thumping drums and is a lot rockier and boisterous than preceding songs. Coombes’ vocals are unrestrained, and buzzing guitar also makes a welcome appearance. Kick in the Teeth’s fantastic sixities sounding pop strains can be attributed to the jangly guitar and unsteady space keyboard sounds.

That’s where the vivaciousness concludes. Low C takes things back to a quieter forum. It is a slow, sad song that is matched perfectly by Coombes’ voice, while final track Fin is all about muted synth and distorted, spacey vocals.

Where Supergrass will go from here is anyone’s guess. This album is strong enough to make you want to stick around and see, but not emphatic enough to make you hope they release another one like it.