A 'road' worth traveling down

What do you get when you mix elements of '90s British pop, influence from Madness and The Doors and a lead singer named Gaz?\nRoad to Rouen, the latest CD from the British group Supergrass, proves to be an album that would satisfy fans of any of the above, if not at least pique the interest of fans of genres across the board. The songs are diverse, ranging from the almost ethereal acoustic strumming in the first track, "Tales of Endurance," to the catchy and upbeat (yet still wonderfully mellow) "Low C," to the final track that begins with sounds remarkably similar to American R&B. Listeners can expect something different with each track.\nBut what makes the album consistent throughout are the familiar tones of British rock and pop, which Doors fans will immediately recognize. Bear in mind that "British pop" does not necessarily equivocate to the States' marginal talents of Britney, Hilary or, dare I say, Ashlee, or even the U.K.'s own Spice Girls. Supergrass is more comparable to older British pop icons, such as The Jam or even The Who, or Weezer on the other side of the pond.\nAnd Supergrass knows how to succeed with their British listeners. The group, consisting of lead guitarist Gaz Coombes, bassist Mickey Quinn and drummer Danny Goffey, released their first album, I Should Coco, in 1995, which debuted in the top ten in the U.K. Road to Rouen is their fifth album.\nMany of their past albums received criticism for problems with consistency. While many of their singles were successful, critics argued that many of the band's tracks were all over the place, to the point where it didn't even feel like you were listening to the same band anymore. Even if you're just getting into Supergrass, you can still appreciate the improvements found in Road to Rouen. This band does a commendable job at making songs that are distinct, yet still manage to make the album feel like a good book; dynamic, distinct parts make up a unified story that is a joy for the audience.\nIn short, Road to Rouen is an album fans of any genre shouldn't pass up. The band's appeal is universal. The best way to describe this album is that all of the songs are unique from one another, but also have that ever present moody and mellow tone that sets Supergrass apart as a band who will not disappoint.