reviews on suede

COMING UP
by Sonja Rajin from Yugoslavia
Star rating: ***** out of ***** (5/5)

"We are young and not tired of it"

This is the 2nd of September, 1996. Great year. Great band. "Comeback of the century" as the papers stated. What, you still don't know what I'm on about? What century are you coming from?! Wake up, silly!!! This is the sound of today.

I still remember that moment: it was an ordinary schoolday, somebody turned on the radio during the English lesson. I grabbed the Walkman, turned it up, and next thing I remember is being thrown out of the class because of ignoring teacher's orders. The first time it happened to me. But the tune was so unique, interesting, the voice sounding so honest and emotional it almost hurts. As if I'd been told not to be afraid of showing my feelings. Totally different from everything else I used to hear on the radio. Later on, I find out it's 'Trash' by Suede.

So what can really be said of this oh-so-much-important album? Name - too interesting and controversial itself. Their songs and appearance just make you pay attention, like an unexplainable chemistry. No wonder the most beautiful song on the album is called 'Chemistry Between Us' (eat your hurt out, you creepy Bush!). Instead of explaining any huge, glamurous subjects, international problems or animal lust for love, the album tells about the lives of ordinary people. The songs are for everyone to connect to. 'Trash' and 'Saturday Night' sing about the life in the city; these are pure love songs without any inner, ironic meaning. 'Lazy' and 'Picnic By The Motorway' describe the well-known situation and characters and sing about 'such a lovely day'. Characters seem much more realistic and much warmer (remember Uncle Ted?). There's also an obvious radio smash 'Beautiful Ones', with its catchy riff, makes the biggest Suede hit to date. It clearly reflects the lives of most people in London, which include "drag acts, drug acts", "get[ting] into bands and gangs," but they're still very beautiful, because they're real people, with all their good and bad habits. Then there is 'By The Sea,' a solo Anderson track, perfect proof of his genuine quality both as a songwriter and a singer. It is a daydream of an urban escape from the city traps to some seaside, quiet and peaceful shack. You could see it won't happen, but at least he can dream.

'Coming Up' is a very bright and optimistic record. The balance is, though, being kept with songs such as 'She' and 'Starcrazy,' even some parts of 'Filmstar', where we can see the negative sides, too. Instead of giving up after their guitarist's departure, they've given the perfect advice to everyone (which would probably match with Primal Scream's "Give Out But Don't Give Up" attitude), something that has never been taught at school.

Like the chameleon, Suede have only changed their colour. While 'Dog Man Star' was dark, 'Coming Up' is light, filled with green, yellow and blue tones. Just imagine yourself driving with your true love through the sunniest parts of some huge, urban city, feeling totally free and happy after a long time. Suede didn't lose any of their previous charms that they were famous for, only transformed them, and that's how they gained a lot more than anyone (including themselves) could have imagined. Ten songs, 43 minutes of paradise. Makes you have this unbearable hunger for more, but that's the catch. You just can't get enough. Perfect for listening in one breath with constant repeating. A timeless masterpiece.