It took awhile for Supergrass's self-titled third album to finally see stateside release, but the first 40,000 American fans to scoop up the British trio's new disc will be rewarded for their patience. A limited pressing of the album will feature an insert with an access code to five unreleased tracks on the Web: "Sick," "Believer," "Faraway (Acoustic Version)," "What a Shame" and "Lucky."

The catch is, you can only download two songs per access code and the tracks are presented as secure Liquid Audio/Windows Media files, so Supergrass' super fans will either have to choose very, very carefully or purchase three copies of the album itself. But what better way to support a group of guys who titled their last album In It for the Money?

In related Supergrass news, Gaz Coombes and Co. will embark on a brief U.S. tour in support of Supergrass beginning at the end of April with a two-night stand in New York.

The complete dates are as follows:

4/28-29: New York, N.Y., Bowery Ballroom
5/1: Philadelphia, Pa., Theater of Living Arts
5/2: Washington, D.C., 9:30 Club
5/4: Providence, R.I., Met CafT
5/5: Boston, Mass., Axis
5/7: Montreal, Que., Spectrum
5/9: Toronto, Ont., Opera House
5/20: W. Hollywood, Calif., Viper Room
5/22: Los Angeles, Calif., Roxy Theater
5/23: Los Angeles, Calif., Troubadour
5/24: San Francisco, Calif., Bimbo's
5/26: Portland, Oreg., Paradigm
5/27: Seattle, Wash., Showbox
5/29: Vancouver, B.C., Commodore Ballroom

RICHARD SKANSE
(April 6, 2000)