reviews on suede

HEAD MUSIC
by Sonja Rajin from Yugoslavia
Star rating: ***** out of ***** (5/5)

Suede - once claimed as Britain's brightest hope, with the fastest-selling debut album at the time, having been built up and knocked down by the music press, survived the Britpop era, got a whole bunch of new fans... etc. All that in just 6 years. The question was: what next? This is their fourth 'proper' album, and they've always had something to prove with every release. 1st - that they are more than just a hype; 2nd - that 'difficult' album which always has something to prove, in their case, that they truly ARE the Best Band In Britain; 3rd - the 'comeback of the century' as Select suggested. It was their rising from the dead with such optimistic songs. So how about this one? That they can still be Suede without repeating themselves, probably. Which is easier said than done, but in their case it might as well be the opposite.

So what does the album sound like, then? A bit experimental, but not in the usual way, it's still very Suede. Lyrically, it's similar to the Coming Up-era b-sides, so don't expect another 'Dog Man Star'. The songs are very catchy, great tunes to sing along to. Influences probably include Prince (Savoir Faire), Bowie (Down) or Pet Shop Boys (Asbestos). But don't take this for granted, cause various sounds have been mixed up to create that unique sound Suede are recognised for. Sounds a bit dancey? But it's not, it's just that I find it hard to describe their music.   

Comparing to 'Coming Up', it's darker and more realistic; less emotional a bit, giving us straight answers and facts. If 'Coming Up' was one side of the coin, then this is the other. It's dealing with disappointment and negative characters (Savoir Faire, Indian Strings), despair and anxiety about the future (Down, Crack In The Union Jack). But it's also got some standard Suede themes (He's Gone - a ballad, similar to Another No One, Can't Get Enough - about drugs, Hi-Fi - the life in the city, like Saturday Night), just to show the cynics that they haven't gone 'all disco', but just improved and spread their music style. And then there's Everything Will Flow which makes the balance between optimism and despair which is so well reflected with lyrics such as 'Nothing lost and nothing gained'. Hearing that tremendous voice of Brett's in front of those beautifully arranged strings, you just feel a strange warmth around the heart, like you're going to melt. If Trash was the biography of our lives, then Everything Will Flow is the motto, the way we should lead our lives.  

Even the sceptics have to shut up. This is the album which takes guts to be made. The style hasn't been changed, just moved with the times. What you get for 12 pounds just can't be measured, it might as well cost 12 000, and it still wouldn't be enough. Go out and buy it, close your eyes, put the headphones on, pour all the love that you keep inside into a song, the love from nowhere towns, with graffiti in your eyes and music in your minds, and everything will flow, cos these are the thoughts that you keep inside. Then you might get the picture, because this is the album for everyone and every occasion. And yes, it was worth the wait. Every little second of it.