Music review: Supergrass - Diamond Hoo Ha

Supergrass were on the scene back when Britpop was an exciting new era of UK music, rather than a derogatory term muttered in the same breath as Girl Power. In fact, much like that of the Spice Girls, this return to the spotlight smacks of trying to reclaim past glories.

Supergrass were on the scene back when Britpop was an exciting new era of UK music, rather than a derogatory term muttered in the same breath as Girl Power. In fact, much like that of the Spice Girls, this return to the spotlight smacks of trying to reclaim past glories.

Not that Supergrass have been off the radar for as long as that questionable quintet; they released Road to Rouen back in 2005, a beautiful album of folky pop tunes. But where that record sounded like a band that had moved on and grown up, Diamond Hoo Ha sounds like one stomping its feet and refusing to come out of its room.

The effort to sound like something they’re not any more conversely makes them sound like other bands entirely: at various points you might think you were listening to The Darkness, The Killers or even – God forbid – McFly. The only track where things feel alright is “Whiskey & Green Tea”, a song about a night spent in a Chinese karaoke bar. Apart from that? Stop right now, thank you very much.

• Diamond Hoo Ha is out NOW