In It For The Money

It's hard for any sophomore album to escape the microscope, especially when the first was as explosive and distinct as 1995's I SHOULD COCO. With IN IT FOR THE MONEY, the Oxford, England punk-pop trio dashes expectations without disappointing a soul. Sophisticated structures, rich arrangements and an interesting variety of instrumentation propel this album into the realm of That-Which-Is-To-Be-Taken-Seriously. Immense-sounding brass passages give the album seriousness and swagger. Rob Coombes' keyboards pop up everywhere, providing both a solid musical foundation and wild-sounding embellishment. Then there's the Theremin on "Richard III". Lyrically, it's more serious and introspective, and less of a teen-age hassle with the cops. Honest and unpredictable, IN IT FOR THE MONEY manages to bring on the big time, horn sections and all, without losing an ounce of the commitment, intensity and sense of adventure that make Supergrass such an exhilarating joyride.

Q (12/99, p.92)
- Included in Q Magazine's "90 Best Albums Of The 1990s."

Village Voice (2/24/98)
- Ranked #37 in the Village Voice's 1997 Pazz & Jop Critics' Poll.

Q (1/98, p.115)
- Included in Q Magazine's "50 Best Albums of 1997."

Melody Maker (12/20-27/97, pp.66-67)
- Ranked #9 on Melody Maker's list of 1997's "Albums Of The Year."

NME (12/20-27/97, pp.78-79)
- Ranked #10 in NME's 1997 Critics' Poll.

Q (6/00, p.69)
- Ranked #57 in Q's "100 Greatest British Albums" - "...Embraces a kind of wistful rock classicism that might suit a superior radio station in 1975....this remains an invigorating record..."

Rolling Stone (5/1/97, p.52)
- 3.5 Stars (out of 5)
- "...this rich and spirited album uses horns, emphatic percussion and even theremin to expand the band's burgeoning stylistic range....this album's great leap forward proves that the group is in it for the long haul."

Spin (6/97, pp.120-121)
- 7 (out of 10)
- "...Like Urge Overkill's underrated 1995 EXIT THE DRAGON, it feels like a resume aiming to prove that these kids aren't frivolous glamsters anymore but career dogs who can stodge-out as expansively as any trucker rolling down the classic-rock highway..."

NME (4/19/97, p.43)
- "...Fundamentally, IN IT FOR THE MONEY is more fun than watching a wombat in a washing machine....Far from dispensing with the vigorous formula of I SHOULD COCO...Supergrass have retained said debut's sense of buoyancy and chirpy belligerence..."

Entertainment Weekly (5/9/97, p.81)
- "...Without wholly abandoning the old sound, the lads have added inspired touches of SGT. PEPPER-ish psychedelia and Kinks-like acoustic plangency, creating a richly nuanced CD. Wealth may or may not be their motivation, but on MONEY, you can hear Supergrass grow."

- Rating: B+

Option (5-6/97, p.132)
- "...the 1997 edition of Supergrass is a darker, deeper affair....IN IT FOR THE MONEY sounds like the natural next step for a young band just beginning to realize its own strengths..."