Search - Supergrass :: Diamond Hoo Ha

Supergrass - Reinvented and Still Amazing

Thomas Dopko | USA | 03/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For those who found Road to Rouen too short and melancholy, Diamond Hoo Ha provides a new angle for Supergrass. They have to a great extent returned to a much more rock and roll approach to music writing, but have picked a path that borrows a little from familiar styles while infusing them with the unmistakable genius inherent in Supergrass' songs. From the funk-laden "Diamond Hoo Ha Man" to the Bowie-influenced "Rebel in You" to the sublimely crafted "Butterfly", there are very few disappointing moments in the 41 minutes of Diamond Hoo Ha. The rating system I'll use has a 10 being the very best and lower numbers successively less than the very best. Also, keep in mind that the ratings are relative to Supergrass' overall efforts and a 7 out of 10 for a song from Supergrass would still blow the best offerings of most bands to smithereens. Let's begin:



01. Diamond Hoo Ha Man (9/10) - Has a great buzzing bass line, some slide guitar work and a great beat with Danny utilizing a shaker. The chorus kicks it up a notch, which is a trend on this release. Many of the songs crank into high gear when the chorus descends from the bridge. Loads of fun, this one.



02. Bad Blood (8/10) - This one has a solid but more sedate pumping beat that launches into a chorus rife with loud guitar, crashing cymbals and drums. This would not have been my choice for a single, but it still rocks.



03. Rebel in You (10/10) - A splendid somewhat Bowie inspired song with great backing "wooohooo"s and a driving chorus with a very memorable set of lyrics. Just a fantastic song that sets such a great tone with so many classic Supergrass hooks it grabbed me immediately.



04. When I Needed You (6/10) - One of my least favorite songs off of Diamond Hoo Ha (though it is still very good). It has a "Destination Anywhere" beat and a Beatles "Rubber Soul" era vibe. No real hooks and it never really goes anywhere but rather just plods along.



05. 345 (10/10) - I LOVE this song. THIS would have been my choice for a first single and while the verses thump along quickly (again Danny uses the shaker to great effect), the chorus explodes and the guitars come in heavy and rocking. A superb song in my opinion. Where "Kick in the Teeth" was my favorite rocking song from Road to Rouen, 345 is that song for me off of Hoo Ha.



06. Return of Inspiration (6/10) - Another OK song. The verses sound way too much like the Strokes for my taste and the chorus slows things down a bit. Overall it is a light song that has some nice moments. As stated previously, "Return..." is very listenable, but it kills the momentum created by 345.



07. Rough Knuckles (10/10) - A super-funky bass line with great accompanying keyboards carries the listener through the verses. Then you get to the chorus... It gives me chills when the chorus kicks in. For some reason the chorus sounds so familiar and rings all sorts of bells in a major deja vu way. Great song.



08. Ghost of a Friend (8/10) - A fairly fun upbeat song with influences drawing from Dylan and Queen and a million others including a David Gilmour effect on Gaz's guitar. It is a fairly fast-paced tune with more acoustic than electric throughout. Fun.



09. Whiskey & Green Tea (9/10) - A crazy song with such a variety of instruments and styles it can't be easily described. The song rocks beyond a doubt, but is so bizarre in some parts with a snare drum beating out a march followed by 70's glam saxophone and synths. You really have to hear it to be able to understand how cool and skewed this song is.



10. Outside (8/10) - Another minor-keyed song that picks up the pace from the verses to the bridges to the choruses. I liked the song very much, but again it seemed to go in circles without a destination. Rob's keyboard work pulls from some great 70's and 80's techniques and bends his notes masterfully. After "Whiskey...", this song lacks punch.



11. Butterfly (10/10) - An epic song in the vein of "Roxy" from Road to Rouen. Over-produced in the most wonderful way, this song gives me goose bumps when I hear it. It uses a driving beat and anthemic vocals with superb supporting lead guitar to create a lifting of the spirits while at the same time evoking a sublime sense of heartache. A wonderful song.



Summary: Diamond Hoo Ha will not fail to please Supergrass fans as they have reinvented their sound (again) without sacrificing an ounce of their musical integrity. Supergrass cannot be compared to any other band around and Diamond Hoo Ha, while it borrows occasionally, is incredibly original sounding. The greatest crime here is that in the US this spectacular piece of musical output will be neglected, and a universally revered band will once again have their genius ignored. Diamond Hoo Ha has a couple of mild low points, but the many high points will take your breath away."

Great Rock Music.

Bugg E. Fresh | Dancefloor, USA | 08/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are actually taking time to read this you probably like Supergrass anyway. But for what it's worth here's my two cents. I don't understand why these guys aren't bigger. I mean damn whats a band got to do? This album got lukewarm reviews but don't believe them. This album starts out great and gets better with each listen. This album is like a burst of seratonin. Check out the crazy sax break in 'Whiskey and Green Tea and you'll know what I mean. Plus these guys have soul. Not many white rock bands have soul anymore but if you like soul music like Curtis Mayfield or Major Lance then listen to 'Rebel in You' and tell me these guys don't have soul."

Supergrass is still fantastic!

Muggle 68 | Oak Forest, IL United States | 09/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a fan of Supergrass since "I Should Coco" came out. Since then, they have put out some so-so releases (the self titled "Supergrass" and "Road to Rouen" come to mind) but they have never put out a bad album in my opinion. "Diamond Hoo Ha" is going back to their fun Brit-Pop beginnings, I love this album!"