Supergrass Album: “In It For the Money”

The kind of high-energy, infectious, mondo-melodic music Supergrass makes just doesn't seem to be in vogue anymore (I complain all the time to anyone who will listen)--but groups are still pounding it out, mostly in obscurity. This album is classic stuff. It earns its five stars--not a bad track on the album. These guys really have a nice sense of drama and humor; "In It For the Money" is a addictive singalong number; no doubt aware of this, they snap the song off in mid-refrain and launch into "Richard III". "Late in the Day", with its jangling, ramshackle rhythm is quite simply one of the loveliest ballads I've heard in a long time, and matches "It's Not Me" in wistfulness. Young pissants they may be, they still sing both the rockers and the laid-back ones with a lot of sincerity that comes through in their voices. Let's see, what else...I first heard "Cheapskate" on a new music CD, and was really struck by the groove of it. Same with "G-Song"--great grungy bass. "Sometimes I Make You Sad"--wonderfully weird instrumentation--almost sounds like a backwards mask--you expect to hear "I Buried Paul" buried in the mix. I wish I had better words to describe how good this band is--perhaps if more people were listening, Capitol wouldn't be sitting on their newest release domestically. Love ya, guys.

These three youngsters who surprised a lot of people with their precocious 1995 release "I Should Coco" returned two years later with this more "grown-up" effort. First of all, it contains one of 1997's best singles - "Richard III". Recall Blur's "Song 2", the mini-anthem of sorts that finally put them on the map here in the States? Well, "Richard III" is its mischievous cousin that shoves you up against the wall and steals your lunch money. It's that good. Meant to be played REAL loud. It even has a theremin break in the middle as Gaz snarls "Tryin' to get at you, tryin' to get at you!" This album seems to love keyboards, acoustic guitars, horns, etc. Supergrass oozes '70s influences. The opening of "Hollow Little Reign" reminded me of vintage Steely Dan. "Cheapskate" creeps up on you with an up-tempo funky beat that may have you bopping around your room. "Tonight" uses horns to great effect. "Sun Hits The Sky" is yet another great track. Extra credit goes to the band for including a bonus disc (at least with the release I have) with b-sides from their previous album. This was one of the best releases of 1997. Don't miss it!

Supergrass are quite easily one of the UK's most talented bands and stand above the clouds among other bands such as Pulp and Radiohead, looking down upon the not so great ones (Catatonia...?). Richard III is a rock/pop masterpiece and Going Out along with Sun Hits the Sky are just as good. The rest of the tracks are of great quality and they are flawless. One of finest bands currently going with plenty more to come!

this has got to be one of the 10 best albums of the 90s -- as good as nevermind, ok computer, grace. it's absolutely perfect. it's a bit difficult to classify. imagine rubber soul-era beatles a bit more british, a bit more "adult", a bit more swinging, a bit more grand, a bit more grounded. i can't imagine why this wasn't about 1,000 times huger than it was. it transcends britpop. i'd mention highlights but that would be from the first note to the last. AND here it is 2010 and i'm STILL listening to this album nearly 15 years after it came out, and i can't imagine ever NOT listening to it.

The most consistent band of the last ten years is Supergrass hands down. All five albums are instant classics but the best is still the second release, In It For The Money. From top to bottom listenable all the way through which is rare these days, In It For The Money demands your attention from the get go in the opening moments of the title track. Once listened to the album becomes apart of your soul. Each song is different from the last: some hard, some soft, some fast, some slow. The songs tread on familiar themes of love and loss, and greed, and sunshine. With whatever happens in your life with In It For The Money it will all be okay.