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::k4:
a r t i s t :: Suede
t i t l e :: Night Thoughts
d a t e :: 2016-01-22
l a b e l :: Warner Music
g e n r e :: Indie
s o u r c e :: CD
b i t r a t e :: 874 kbps avg
e n c o d e r :: FLAC 1.2.1 -8 -V
t r a c k s :: 12
p l a y t i m e :: 47:37
s i z e :: 300.74MB
tracklist
1 When You Are Young 4:16
2 Outsiders 3:53
3 No Tomorrow 3:51
4 Pale Snow 2:42
5 I Don't Know How To Reach You 6:12
6 What I'm Trying To Tell You 4:11
7 Tightrope 3:51
8 Learning To Be 3:21
9 Like Kids 3:36
10 I Can't Give Her What She Wants 4:45
11 When You Were Young 2:19
12 The Fur And The Feathers 4:40
releasenotes
Suedes' 2013 comeback album 'Bloodsports' triumphed because it was essentially
designed as an Idiot's Guide To Suede. Released 10 years after their initial
split, it removed the dirt from their soiled legacy while introducing them to
a new generation, taking their trademarks - giant choruses, trashy melodrama -
and distilling them into 10 solid, Suede-as-Suede-can-be songs.
As a soft reboot, it worked perfectly - and while some bands come unstuck
wondering where to go next, tricky follow-ups are a Suede speciality. In 1994,
they followed their self-titled debut with the staggeringly ambitious 'Dog Man
Star', which turned its back on Britpop's bonhomie and their own
tried-and-tested formula in favour of something grander. 'Night Thoughts'
repeats that same trick: it snubs consolidation and takes a daring, defiant
leap into the unknown.
It's not a similar sound or lyrical sentiment that ties the two albums
together, though - it's a shared adventurous spirit. 'Dog Man Star' was
fuelled by frontman Brett Anderson imbibing oodles of hallucinogenic drugs,
intent on grandiose self-destruction. Now he's terrified by things beyond his
control, worried that everything might fall apart, panicked that life is being
wasted. 'No Tomorrow' chronicles his father's struggle with depression, while
the 'Coming Up'-like squall of 'I Don't Know How To Reach You' and taut,
scuzzy guitar of 'What I', Trying To Tell You' are the first two tracks in a
triptych obsessed with miscommunication and frayed relationships. 'I Can't
Give Her What She Wants' completes the set by turning things darker still,
Anderson tightening his "fingers round her perfumed throat" as delicate
strings swell dangerously.
'Outsiders' and 'Like Kids' were the first two tracks to be released from the
album, with crunching guitars and nods to outcasts finding solace among
squalor. They're certainly the most typical Suede songs here but they turn out
to be red herrings, outnumbered by stranger beasts - from the menacing thrum
of 'When You Are Young' to the trembling terror of 'Tightrope'.
Most impressive is 'Pale Snow', built around twinkling piano and eerie
electronics reminiscent of classic B-side 'Europe Is Our Playground'. "It
never works out for me," Anderson sings softly over otherworldly drops of
noise.
This time, however, it's worked out better than anyone could have hoped for.
This time, Suede sound bolder, brave and better than they have in over 20
years.
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Suede-Night_Thoughts-(WEA499)-CD-FLAC-2016-k4