Supergrass
Diamond Hoo Ha
(Astralwerks)
After an album, Road to Rouen, that had the band traveling down a winding path of dimly lit pop, Supergrass returns with a record designed to prove that the one-time teenage upstarts still have plenty of vigor left. It's their sixth in 14 years and while Diamond Hoo Ha may not exactly have the same gleeful exuberance of debut I Should Coco, it's festooned with the same bevy of hooks and racing melodies that the band has long made its stock-and-trade.

But leadoff cut, "Diamond Hoo Ha Man," surely catches one off-guard. With big, bluesy riffs, the song may be derived from the same T. Rex records to which the band has long listened, but it comes by way of the White Stripes, singer Gaz Coombes channeling more Jack White howl than Marc Bolan coo. While a decent display of balls-out brash, it lacks the finesse we've come to expect from Supergrass. Fortunately, the band quickly finds its footing, the "Rebel in You" a well stirred cocktail of harmonic refrains, soaring guitar and keyboard tapping. Similarly, "When I Needed You" is a plunky mix of minor chords and piano-led melody, while, with its sugary licks and fat synths, the quirky funk of "Rough Knuckles" is reminiscent of Speaking in Tongues-era Talking Heads.

Supergrass may not be the youngsters they once were, but they remain spry and quick of hand, shining as bright on Diamond Hoo Ha as they ever have.
Stephen Slaybaugh