Even a decade and a half after their debut, Supergrass remain relatively unfamiliar to American listeners, especially when compared to thei notoriety they’ve achieved in their native U.K. Once considered one of the fresh new faces of Brit pop’s new breed, they still soldier on despite increasing competition from bands like the Arctic Monkeys, the Kooks and various other upstart wannabes contending for the title of Next Big Thing. It’s significant then that Diamond Hoo Ha, Supergrass’ sixth studio album, should find them revved up and ready to re-stake a claim in the rock ‘n’ roll firmament. Indeed, the album comes on with a slash and burn intensity that shows little respite. Most of its holdings -- the title track, “Bad Blood,” “345” and “Whiskey & Green Tea” in particular -- surge on the strength of ever-persistent tempos, a driving, pulsating rhythmic template that takes its tunes over the top. There are exceptions - the swirling, cascading “Ghost of a Friend” and the sprightly pop of “Rebel in You” being the most obvious - but overall, the brash Diamond Hoo Ha is as much about attitude as aptitude. Conclusive evidence lies in the album’s final send-off, the rousing, anthemic “Butterfly.” Taking its cue from Bowie’s Diamond Dogs period, it proves, in fact, that cheekiness is timeless.
--Lee Zimmerman [June 16, 2008]
