09022015 - Gaz Coombes "Matador"

How many frontmen of really good rock bands make equally good solo albums? Not a lot, I would say. Paul Stanley, Jack White, Ozzy Osbourne, Paul Westerberg and, for a while, David Lee Roth are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. It's easier to list the bad and - even worse - the forgettable ones. Andrew Stockdale, Gene Simmons, Julian Casablancas, Chris Cornell and even Bruce Dickinson have made solo albums that you really wouldn't listen to. And now Gaz Coombes from Supergrass can be added to the list of yawn inducers. Now I haven't heard his first solo effort, but on his second it is clear that he has traded in the ballsy chorus-and-hook heavy fun rock of "Pumping On Your Stereo" and "Richard III" for faceless tunes that are probably meant to be more artistic, soulful and whatnot, but fail utterly to ignite even the tiniest spark of joy in my heart. Matador? More like Mata-bore!