Supergrass’ fantastic debut ‘I Should Coco’ turns 30

Supergrass‘ fantastic debut album, I Should Coco, was released in the UK on May 15, 1995. We put it at #2 on our list of the Best Britpop albums of 1995:

Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes was only 19 when the band’s debut album was released in May of 1995 (his bandmates weren’t much older) and the record gets much of its charm from the trio’s unbridled youthful energy that they managed to capture on tape. Its staying power, though, comes from the songs which are smart, insanely catchy and much more sophisticated than they first seem. I Should Coco incorporates a wide range of influences, including punk (“Caught by the Fuzz,” “I’d Like to Know), glam (“Lose it,” “Time”), ’60s psych (“We’re Not Supposed To”), and Britpop forebears the Kinks and Madness (“Alright,” “Mansize Rooster”), but they jumble them together to make an infectious, distinctive sound. Supergrass were also ferociously talented musicians, with drummer Danny Goffey’s playing keeping those energy levels high as the band tear though the album’s 13 tracks in just 40 minutes, and that’s including the six-minute spaced out, proggy “Sofa of My Lethargy”. I Should Coco was a huge hit in the UK — it was label Parlophone’s biggest selling debut since The Beatles’ Please Please Me — and earns extra Britpop points for its title which incorporates Cockney Rhyming Slang.

To celebrate I Should Coco‘s 30th anniversary, the band have released the single “Alright” with its original b-sides to streaming services. You can listen to that, the original album, and watch videos for their singles “Alright,” “Caught by the Fuzz,” “Mansize Rooster,” and “Lenny” below.

Supergrass are also celebrating I Should Coco by playing it live on tour this year, including a North American run this fall. The NYC show is at The Rooftop at Pier 17 on September 11. Unfortunately for Britpop fans, that is also the same night as Pulp at Forest Hills Stadium. Does no one look at calendars? It’s a tough choice.

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