CD Review

When it comes to Brit-pop, Supergrass remains unique in their execution. The band’s 1995 debut cleverly interlocked influences from Elton John, the Beatles, the Buzzcocks, David Bowie, and Madness into a sound that is completely their own. However, subsequent albums, In It For The Money and Supergrass, seemed to be unfocused without much, if any, continuity. They bounced back in 2002 with the comprehensive Life on Other Planets which was their best work since the debut. Now fully back on track, the trio issued their highly anticipated fifth recording, Road To Rouen.

Road To Rouen is another example of how this band sets themselves apart from Oasis as they break from the expected. While the record only lasts just over 35 minutes, Supergrass make the most of it with long epics in the opening "Tales of Endurance, Pts. 4, 5 &6" and "Roxy," clocking in at 5:31 and 6:17, which makes the entire record seem longer. "Tales of Endurance" begins with an acoustic opus before a tantalizing minor-key composition takes over from pianist Robert Coombes. The title track possesses the glammy rock of Sweet whereas "Kick in the Teeth" has a jangling Beatle-esque guitar. They dabble in folk on "Low C," and resurrect dream-pop on "Fin." When all is said and done, despite the length, Road To Rouen is sharply focused and coherent with a strong momentum.