There are two things I'm a sucker for. One is albums that are 10 songs or less. I dunno, they just always seem to end up being really great records that focus on a specific emotion and expertly stretch it out over the course of 10 or fewer tracks. Any more than that and my attention span begins to wain. Good examples are Violator & Rio. And of course Kid A. The other is when bands go slightly rootsy, or just strip down to the bare essentials or core of their beginnings. Quit mucking about with studio trickery and fucking play. Like Supergrass has done on their excellent new album Road To Rouen. Recorded in the countryside of France, the four members hunkered down, drank loads of red wine and cheese and banged out 10 or so melancholy tunes about failed relationships and the perils of success. Thing is though, these songs kick. Hard. They have just the right amount of sadness before the guitars and organs come snarling in an effort to stop you from wallowing too much. And that is always a good thing. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

Supergrass: Sad Girl

Supergrass: Road To Rouen

Supergrass: Kick In The Teeth

Supergrass: Low C