reviews on suede

COMING UP
by Claudia from Indonesia
Star rating: ***** out of ***** (5/5)

The first time I was aware of Suede's presence was when I heard Trash. I was stunned, for hearing something so beautiful like no other one has ever make before. Later on I learned the lyrics, and I realised that this was it - my personal anthem. My biography. For so many years I felt alone and alienated, until Coming Up appeared to my remedy. There were actually people who understood me and felt the same about this world. Besides Trash, I also fell in love to Filmstar from its first drum beat.

We must keep in mind that this album sees the most profound period of Suede history: new era of Suede after Bernard leaving, with 2 new members entering the band and cynics cocksure that it was the doom of Suede. Automatically this album bears a sacred mission: adjusting with new elements and, surely, making a comeback into music industry. It was Suede's resurrection, and never can we deny that the mission has been carried out successfully. Richard had passed the initiation test, proven by Together, Bentswood Boys, and countless live performances, but Neil was definitely making his mark in Coming Up. He plays the keyboard, he sings, and he writes songs. And they both succeeded to prove, through this album, that they're worth it.

Coming Up, arguably, is Suede's most popish effort so far. Soothing light melodies with beautiful lyrics that are not too far beyond our real lives, flowing dramatically in excellent instrumentation. All instruments go along perfectly together with their respective fabulous arrangement. Feels like hearing about ourselves (witness the lyrics of Trash, Lazy, By The Sea, Picnic By The Motorway, The Chemistry Between Us or Saturday Night) and seeing distant figures through our eyes (listen to Filmstar, She, Beautiful Ones or Starcrazy). It's almost introspective for us Suede fans. The album makes clear that Suede People are disparate from other ordinary human beings. This is our world.

Having pop elements doesn't necessarily mean being shoddy, and this is another mission carried out successfully, and involuntarily, by Coming Up. Buy it, play it for thousands times, and each time you would still be drowned and amazed by the 10 songs in it. This has been proven by myself and, most likely, millions of others.