Album Review: Diamond Hoo Ha by Supergrass

After spending a dark, contemplative night on the Road to Rouen, Supergrass come crashing back to life with Diamond Hoo Ha, an album every bit as cheerfully gaudy and vulgar as its title. It all begins, as it should, with "Diamond Hoo Hah Man," a wicked send-up of the White Stripes' gonzo thump that rivals "Blue Orchid" and "Icky Thump" in its outsized swagger, while providing the touchstone for the rest of the record, not so much in its sound but in its attitude. Not that Supergrass doesn't crank the guitars here, as they offer up the stomping Stooges shuffle of "Bad Blood" and spangly "Rebel in You" in quick succession, but after this furious opening triptych, the band widens their net and lightens their touch, reconnecting with their signature impish humor that was quite deliberately missing on much of Road to Rouen despite its punning title.

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The members of Supergrass are used to swallowing a little humble pie. Their emergence from the Britpop scene never led to the huge fame that many predicted. Radiohead has trumped them to the “Oxford’s favorite sons” tag. Last summer they found themselves supporting a newer, younger, more vibrant version of themselves when they opened for the Arctic Monkeys.

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