Supergrass Album: “In It for the Money”

This is one hell of an album! I am from Britain so I may be biased but this is easily Supergrass's best album (prior or subsequent) and one of the best Brtiish albums of the nineties. I don't know if they really made it in the States but they never really did in the Uk and it's a great shame if they are vastly underated on both sides of the Atlantic. In it for the Money has one of the best openings that I've heard and is a great poppy opener. Giving way to Richard III mid-tune the mood turns darker as Gaz and the gang launch into "Song 2" mode with a fantastic rock number. Other great hits include Sun hits the Sky, Hollow little reign, tonight and (lest I forget) Late in the Day. Its a definite improvement on I Should Coco and better than Supergrass in my view. There is not one bad song on the album each one connects with you on different levels. An album to compare with the best offerings of Oasis, Blur and the Manics, it deserves to get a mention when the Millenium gongs are liberally given out by the Brtish press.

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!

I first got exposed to Supergrass when I caught them appearing on MTV. After seeing their video for Pumping On Your Stereo I was instantly captivated. I ended up buying In It For the Money first, and boy am I happy I did. I won't bore you with some song-by-song critique of each and every song, just let me say this. IIFTM is the most listenable, freshest, catchiest most hook-laden masterpiece I've heard in years. Think of a cross between the very best material Radiohead & Oasis could muster and you're getting close. These guys must NOT be ignored! I DEMAND you toss this album into your shopping cart, then proceed straight to their followup and buy Supergrass. It'll just save you time, because after In It For The Money you WILL buy everything available from these guys.

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.