Suede had a rather chequered history with Britpop. They probably have a bigger claim than anyone else to have "invented" Britpop, before rejecting it, embracing it again, then moving away from it again in a haze of drug addiction and recrimination before splitting up on something of a downer.
Suede (1993)
Hailed as the best new band in Britain before they'd even released a single, Suede's debut album didn't disappoint. Like a pervy, drug-fuelled Morrissey making dark, sleazy glam rock, "Suede" is bleak, sexy, glamorous and depressing by equal measure. Kicking off Britpop with an almighty bang, this album is a classic of 90s rock, not just of Britpop itself and is exciting and enthralling today as it was when released.
Suede (1993)
Hailed as the best new band in Britain before they'd even released a single, Suede's debut album didn't disappoint. Like a pervy, drug-fuelled Morrissey making dark, sleazy glam rock, "Suede" is bleak, sexy, glamorous and depressing by equal measure. Kicking off Britpop with an almighty bang, this album is a classic of 90s rock, not just of Britpop itself and is exciting and enthralling today as it was when released.
Rating: 5/5
Dog Man Star (1994)
Suede's second album is perhaps even better than their classic debut, despite the tensions in the band during its recording; guitarist Bernard Butler was kicked out of the band during recording and had to record guitar parts later on away from the band. Musically more ambitious than "Suede", "Dog Man Star" replaces the glam guitars with swirling, epic soundscapes and dark ballads. The sound here is much at odds with the then emerging Britpop scene, partly inspired by the band's own debut album, probably the reason why it was less successful than their first album, despite being a musical step forward.
Suede's second album is perhaps even better than their classic debut, despite the tensions in the band during its recording; guitarist Bernard Butler was kicked out of the band during recording and had to record guitar parts later on away from the band. Musically more ambitious than "Suede", "Dog Man Star" replaces the glam guitars with swirling, epic soundscapes and dark ballads. The sound here is much at odds with the then emerging Britpop scene, partly inspired by the band's own debut album, probably the reason why it was less successful than their first album, despite being a musical step forward.
Rating: 5/5
Coming Up (1996)
Following the departure of Bernard Butler, Suede changed their sound once again by bringing in a new guitarist and a keyboard player and embraced a much bigger, poppier sound. The album is excellent for two-thirds of the way and features a string of classic Britpop singles (such as 'Trash' and 'Beautiful Ones') but is let down by some poor filler songs. The album would be Suede's best selling.
Following the departure of Bernard Butler, Suede changed their sound once again by bringing in a new guitarist and a keyboard player and embraced a much bigger, poppier sound. The album is excellent for two-thirds of the way and features a string of classic Britpop singles (such as 'Trash' and 'Beautiful Ones') but is let down by some poor filler songs. The album would be Suede's best selling.
Rating: 3.5/5
Head Music (1999)
Continuing the more electronic sounds from "Coming Up", Suede's fourth album is something of a disappointment. The first half of the album (containing brilliant lead single 'Electricity') is actually pretty good, but the second half of the album slumps badly, save for the songs 'Head Music' and 'Elephant Man'. Brett Anderson was addicted to crack during the making of this album, creating tension with the rest of the band, perhaps the reason behind the inconsistent nature of the songs.
Continuing the more electronic sounds from "Coming Up", Suede's fourth album is something of a disappointment. The first half of the album (containing brilliant lead single 'Electricity') is actually pretty good, but the second half of the album slumps badly, save for the songs 'Head Music' and 'Elephant Man'. Brett Anderson was addicted to crack during the making of this album, creating tension with the rest of the band, perhaps the reason behind the inconsistent nature of the songs.
Rating: 2.5/5
A New Morning (2002)
Clean of drugs, Brett Anderson embraced a more straightforward sound on Suede's (as-yet) final album, with mixed results. I thought this album was truly terrible the first time I heard it, and though I've warmed to it more over the years, it's still a strange listen hearing Suede sound so positive. Perhaps this was the album Brett Anderson needed to make before moving onto something better and more challenging, but I guess we'll never know as the band broke up before making another album.
Clean of drugs, Brett Anderson embraced a more straightforward sound on Suede's (as-yet) final album, with mixed results. I thought this album was truly terrible the first time I heard it, and though I've warmed to it more over the years, it's still a strange listen hearing Suede sound so positive. Perhaps this was the album Brett Anderson needed to make before moving onto something better and more challenging, but I guess we'll never know as the band broke up before making another album.
Rating: 2.5/5
No comments:
Post a Comment