In It For The Money
Supergrass

Even if Supergrass is in it for the money, Britpop fans are in for a bargain. The trio from Oxford, England, delivers a sophomore album that doesn't contain a single throwaway track.
The band first wowed the U.K. with the unembellished pop of its singles-packed 1995 debut, I SHOULD COCO. In the interim, singer/guitarist Gaz Coombes, bassist Mick Quinn, and drummer Danny Goffey have matured without sacrificing their reckless nature and prankster humor. Those qualities, coupled with merry melodies and sophisticated arrangements, make IN IT FOR THE MONEY instantly addictive.
The music evokes a host of ghosts - the Who, Cheap Trick, and, on "Richard III," the Stooges - yet retains the distinct stamp of '90s adventurers. Unexpected contrasts flavor friendly tunes that skip from gorgeous ballads ("It's Not Me" and "Late In The Day") to rollicking pop-rock ("Cheapskate").
The threesome fattens its sound with added horns, theremin, and Rob Coombes' keyboards. "Tonight" cranks with a ballsy brass arrangement, while the ambitious and whimsical "Sometimes I Make You Sad" layers a swirling organ, tabla, distorted vocals, and a human beatbox routine.
Supergrass exudes an effervescence that would border on geekiness if not for deliberately rough patches like the dark wit in the title track or the raggedly passionate guitar coda on the Beatlesque "G-Song." It's a joyride with a few dangerous curves and no rest stops.
4/5

Edna Gundersen, Microsoft Music Central 97