Did the departing Neil add more than we thought to the dynamics of the group? Was Stephen Street a wise choice? Should Anderson have dropped the whole bass/guitar/drums route? Do we blame Natalie Imbruglia?
― Kinski, Saturday, 10 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― the pinefox, Saturday, 10 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
I'm only surprised there are people still clinging to the remnants of the Suede flotsam. Suede were merely one of the many Britpop galleon's to crash and smash against the rocks of progress. Brett humself has, for a long time, seem bored and maybe even slightly embarrassed by his role as decadent, foppish wastrel. And, trapped by rabid fan's expectation, that's clearly what he see's it as: a role. His lyrics have had the air of 'Oh well, this is what Suede fans want to hear, so what can I do?' and he wearily goes through his list of key SuedeWords and fashions another Suede song that matches all the other Suede songs. With obvious diminishing results. If Brett's heart was in it, they may just get away with it. But it isn't.
― DavidM, Saturday, 10 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
Fighting words. But I've vented elsewhere. ;-)
― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 10 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
Hm. Who among here does not have someone artistic -- doesn't matter who, doesn't matter what kind of music, might not even be music! -- they cling to obstinately regardless of the array of the world's opinion against them. I suspect nobody here is innocent (or you're liars ;-)).
I wonder if Brett even knows HOW to make a different type of record.
― Mark, Saturday, 10 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
It goes through the motions, all the while adhering to a certain style so as to constantly remind the listener that - like previous albums do you see - it came directly from the Suede Factory and, therefore, must be As Good.
Only it's not. In fact, it sucks. Hence, it sounds like Suede, only crapper.
(But I guess we know that they sleep in clean, comfy linens now...)
I have no problem with comfort, and Suede sound comfortable on A New Morning and that's quite all right with me. Depeche Mode have found a way for comfort and exploration to coexist, for example, so I'd rank Exciter as the more satisfactory listen all around, say. But I have no reason based on what I've heard to now chuck Suede out the window with a curse. If "Positivity" didn't stick I'd say so -- but stick it does. :-)
Maybe they're on autopilot. Maybe they ARE past it. But really, anyone who ranks this as being even in the top HALF of embarassing post-success Britpop flops clearly hasn't listened to it on its merit.
― EdwardO, Sunday, 11 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
oh is it fixed now ?
― piscesboy, Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Shaun Kinski, Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― jjreece, Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Spencer Chow, Monday, 12 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
Listened to a bit of this again the other night. It's so much better than anyone would tend to imagine. 'Obsessions' and 'Lonely Girls', in their way, as powerful and direct as any songwriting BA had ever done.
― the pinefox, Monday, 23 July 2018 10:58 (five years ago) link
Eheh same for me today : I barely remembered this album since I was definitely past Suede at the time but it's surprisingly... er not that bad !Relaxed/satisfied and even positive Suede is OK with me although I agree that they don't make much effort, especially in the lyrical department, so it's not exciting, great or anything.This is also appreciable after revisiting Head Music too which is borderline awful/unlistenable to me (and I had some hopes there would be some good b-sides from that period to make an alternate decent album/playlist... but at most they had a good EP in them at that time apparently !).It might be their We Love Life (only not as good).
― AlXTC from Paris, Monday, 4 November 2019 10:30 (four years ago) link
I've wasted many an hour listening to this album trying to find some enjoyment in it, but it really is an uninspired sad state of affairs.
― PaulTMA, Monday, 4 November 2019 12:31 (four years ago) link
I listen to "New Morning" and "Head Music" so infrequently that I get them mixed up. Which I did again this morning, so looked up the track lists and learned that it's "Head Music" that actually has a few songs I like.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 4 November 2019 13:13 (four years ago) link
Honestly think Head Music is pretty excellent with the exception of a couple of songs (Head Music and Elephant Man)
― PaulTMA, Monday, 4 November 2019 13:25 (four years ago) link
After listening to ANM again, I like it (except the ridiculous copy of a part of "Metal Mickey" that is "Beautiful Loser" and "Streetlife" + maybe "Astrogirl" which is not bad just boring).The rest is nothing great (although "Lost in TV" comes close) but it's nice and smooth (lol at the Peanuts inspired "When the rain falls").Head Music I can only accept "Everything Will Flow" (which is a great song), "Down" and mayyyybe "She's in Fashion" (but the production is atrocious, like on the rest of the album).
― AlXTC from Paris, Tuesday, 5 November 2019 10:06 (four years ago) link
"Everything Will Flow" is the one that's always stuck in my head.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 5 November 2019 12:35 (four years ago) link
Yeah, it's very good. Certainly the best song on this album (and of that period of theirs).The lyrics are limited and full of BA's usual words but it has a soothing almost spiritual touch.
― AlXTC from Paris, Wednesday, 6 November 2019 09:25 (four years ago) link
"She's in Fashion" is amazing! I know it's not their most loved single, but I find it a rush, and as a late discoverer of the band, it was one of the first tracks that grabbed me. "Everything Will Flow" also great. Love the shiny production on both tracks, though have never given the album a listen
― Vinnie, Wednesday, 6 November 2019 15:55 (four years ago) link
"Head Music" def. continues in the OTT eccentric production vein of "Coming Up."
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 6 November 2019 16:04 (four years ago) link
re : "She's in Fashion", I remember reading at the time that BA was certain it was going to be a big hit/n°1. It wasn't.
― AlXTC from Paris, Wednesday, 6 November 2019 16:07 (four years ago) link
xp I should get around to checking it out then! I've never been put off by the production of Coming Up
I am with BA on that one
― Vinnie, Wednesday, 6 November 2019 16:10 (four years ago) link
Well the production on HM is OTT in a different way + the songs are simply (mostly) not good.
― AlXTC from Paris, Wednesday, 6 November 2019 16:17 (four years ago) link
"She's in Fashion" is nice but besides the production, it lacks something to be very good. It's too superficial/shallow imo (well, that's fasion for you !).
― AlXTC from Paris, Wednesday, 6 November 2019 16:19 (four years ago) link