Supergrass

The fourth album from Britain's Supergrass is a raging good time. Songs redeemed worthy to keep the party rolling when the funk or disco becomes older than a dude in an afro wig. As if David Bowie went Sublime, this album reaches to the inner glam of coolness that would sound fine at a beach party. 70's rock and punk join at the hips in creating a sleaze recording filled with the personality of goofiness and eccentricity.

Although American fans might not be familiar with Supergrass- this album is their Titanic- sink or swim it has a lasting effect. With the foot stomping honky tonk piano intro – and it's raw rock chords, "Za" lights up the beginning. Gaz Coombes hollers, "I'm a rock and roll singer in a rock and roll band" on "Seen the light," obviously not the most original lyrics, but sandwiched in with a Strokes coolness, early glam back up vocals… the song is a winner. The reggae flavors unite in "Brecon Beacons" a song built for cruising "Grand Theft Auto" style with simple beasts and simple vocals- somehow it's just too damn cool. The songs proliferate with spacey pedal effect sounds that elevate each harmony beyond a club feel of simplicity. "Cant' Get Up" sounds like 80's Bon Jovi gone strutting on South Beach.

But the 70's influence is where this recording shines. The T Rex, bang a gong get in on, and all other misbehaving acts from that period of indulgence gets rattled together into a cohesive vibration throughout. Although Supergrass in not necessarily preaching anything selfish, the music itself has that effect to stare your mind to the gutter. "Grace" built around a solemn piano riff begs to be broken into a first clencing chorus, revolting at timely peaks. The swank "LA Song" flaunts Coombes back in Jagger territory as a peacock without wings proclaiming us to "save our money for the children." The album ends with the experimental "Run" a riveting number of luscious keyboard effects, amongst dream pop chills that would give Billy Corgan a run for his song writing book.

Life on Other Planets is a short recording that is not technically innovating, lyrically deep or musically inventive, but instead represents a unique sound in 2003, within a world clustered of "The" bands. As a whole it reverbs in 70's coolness, before disco broke and funk became fashion. Supergrass molds together pop rock with hipster glam into a listen that screams to be noticed and not forgotten.

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