Supergrass - Road To Rouen

As the fifth installment from the Brit-pop all-stars, Road to Rouen is as easily listenable, eclectic, funky, and refreshing as anything else in the Supergrass catalog, and though the record consists of a mere nine tracks, new and old fans alike should be giddy about the record. “Tales of Endurance (Parts 4, 5 &6)” introduces the record with hints of near-orchestral composition, followed by “St. Petersburg,” the first single, which stands as one of the disc’s best—rhythmic, somber, mellow, and suited for rainy city nights. “Roxy” overstays its welcome at over six minutes, but “Coffee in the Pot” makes up for it, as a humorous instrumental that neither moves the album along nor serves any obvious purpose but keeps any pretension at bay. The title track is worth mentioning, rocking like a quirk-less XTC, and “Fin” is the disc’s farewell and by far the most elegant and ethereal of the set. There aren’t any hints of “Pumping on Your Stereo” or “Moving,” as the record is more linear and consistent than previous albums. They’re not popping about all over the place; the mood of the album is more settled and darker, and the songs fit together seamlessly. Without the hyper-pop, Supergrass pulls out another superb record, as infectious and unique as anything they’ve done. [www.supergrass.com]