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'Supergrass is 10' is a delightful, fun, heavy power pop record--that is worth your time and money Date published: 2/17/2005
This week, I went to Blue Dog for inspiration. And I found it in the used CD racks--the best of Supergrass. Every time I think of Supergrass, I have to smile. And my head, quite simply, has to bop. Not many groups manage to straddle the line between lush alternative power pop, brilliant rock and absolute lunacy as well as these lads from the UK. If you haven't heard Supergrass yet, the best-of CD--"Supergrass is 10: The Best of '94-'04" is a delightful place to start. Unlike some greatest-hits CDs, the Supergrass effort really does capture the most fun--and yet most sincere--group in music today. Sparkling wit and powerful orchestration--and pure rock smack-across-the-face guitars, bass, keyboards and drums--meet the unique singing talent of Gaz to mix a potent and unique rock cocktail. And this mixed drink won't leave you hung over, either. If anything, the group is so oriented toward pure fun that these songs will leave you wanting more. The great groups are hard to pigeonhole, and Supergrass is one of those. Shades of Oasis, a pinch of mid-period Beatles, a dose of '80s greats XTC--all of that is fair enough. But the Supergrass sound and style is its own. How many groups can say that these days? In an era of bands intent on ripping off Blink-182 or the late, great Stone Temple Pilots, not many. "Supergrass is 10" appropriately features a good mix from all the band's releases. And while every fan has a favorite song that inevitably doesn't make it onto a best-of, this disc manages to get the most important songs from the group's catalogue. That includes: "I Should Coco," "In It For the Money," "Supergrass" and "Life on Other Planets." It's a double CD, as well--the main disc has 21 songs (!), while the second is a bonus live disc. Liner notes--never a strong suit for this band--are minimal here, as well, but still better than on their records. There are a few recollections about the recording experience of each record, and heaps of pics put into a photo montage. But if that's the worst thing you can say about this record--that there's not enough printed words--it's still well worth the price of admission. Get "Supergrass is 10" and enjoy--really, enjoy--the danceable bass lines and delightful weirdness that this group has brought to the world. May they be releasing albums for another decade.
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
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