Boards

Seems a little odd for a site to so brazenly and repeatedly do this (seen it a lot)

The Guardian supposed to have exclusive rights to the stream for a few day?

Anyway, I've heard the album all the way through. Not as good as their first three albums. Few albums are good as their debut and Dog Man Star (both 90s classics) but an excellent comeback album on first listen.

of being a confident record for big stages on the comeback circuit, but I find the ultra-bombastic production really alienating, it's all a bit stadium rock.

I'm really excited about this, Barriers is a great song.

sounds like a solid comeback album that should rescue their legacy a bit. I like that while many of these reunions result in bands just playing their back catalogue ad nauseum that Suede just got right on with putting out some great music that stands up with anything being released right now.

Like a Suede tribute band recorded their debut album but forgot to write anything of merit. Really by-the-numbers and sometimes even a bit desperate in how hard it tries to make another typical Suede anthem happen.

Did we listen to the same albm? Sounds like they completely re-discovered their voice and what made them unique. Songs are incredibly self-assured. The last 4 tracks are a powerful, very dog man staresque closing to the album. Very ambitious, beautiful, and very Suede. Honestly if they put out an album sounding like early suede a lot of people would play the "they just sound like they're trying to duplicate past" but if they pushed on and did something really different most fans would have been disappointed hoping they would made another Dog Man Star. Suede have always been in a lose lose situation. I personally don't get how Suede fans could be disappointed in this. I was completely satisfied after first listen it could easily slot in next to Coming Up and DMS. There are at least 3 great singles on here as well. I was a little worried about ISAEWY that they were trying to make a radio friendly pop album. Thankfully the album is full of that dark, tragic Suede sound they captured so well early on.

I was expecting to hate it, to be honest. I've been pleasantly surprised and am glad that my favorite band still has it in them.

like it, might even buy it, wow

It'll take quite a few listens before I can really pick up its substance.

Still better than the Tears though!

Always was a fan of Animal Nitrate, Metal Mickey and The Drowners, but never bothered listening to an album by them until 4 or 5 years back.

Should I give the other albums a go?

1994 was a big year in music for me. It was literally in a few weeks that Nirvana were over and after the aftermath the spotlight turned onto what became known as Britpop (the worst unbrella term in music for a while). In 1994, Parklife, Definitely Maybe, The Holy Bible, His n'Hers and Dog Man Star all came out (as did Portishead's Dummy but I guess that's not Britpop). From all those British albums Dog Man Star was the best then and remains easily the best now for me. Do check it out.

the internet started. You're right about the hype that Suede had, I remember it as a kid. Bands like S*M*A*S*H and Terris were hyped unbelievably and put on front covers of the big press in those days that included Select (which was quite a good magazine). I have to admit to not being the biggest Suede fan as I didn't really like their later stuff at all but Dog Man Star remains an all time favourite of mine. They're great live too. I've found this list of The NME's Top 50 of 1994. It's worth having a look not necessarily to see the order but which albums were released back then. There are some huge albums there probably more than most years. I have to admit that 1994 was a sort of coming of age year for me as I started uni that summer and so I have fond (and not so fond) memories of that year.

http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/1994.html

The first 2 albums and Coming Up are really good records, beautiful arrangements, Brett's voice.

But the lyrics - any sustained listening and you can't get round them. Which is not to say they're all bad. But it's a narrow repetetive palette, whereas the music isn't anywhere near so narrow.

I mean.. make your own Suede lyrics..

She's fucking with a slip of a man
Inside of an abandoned ice cream van
He's running out of gasoline
Whilst she lets out a nuclear scream
<Song title> <Song title>

I can't find my horse
Oh If you were here we'd drink our fill of gin
I'd find it in due course
Or at least some ketamin
<Song title> <Song title>

Sitting at my desk grinning like a wanking chimp. It's an absolute monster. The production doesn't bother me at all - Suede were never exactly lo-fi to begin with. Snowblind and Always seem like the standouts so far.

and it gets stronger every time I hear it. I was a bit concerned before as I didn't understand the praise that Black Rainbows received and presumed that this would be very similar, but this is a totally different beast for the better. I also wasn't particularly impressed with Barriers when I first heard it but as part of the album it sounds stronger and is a great opener. I don't think there are any weak tracks on there although 'Always' sounds like it should grow at the end into some sort of overblown piece a little like 'Still Life' did but unfortunately stops short. All in all its a great return and a stunning return to form when considering A New Morning and Head Music.
I imagine a lot of people will diss it before they give it a chance...

The only question for me is whether I want to listen to Suede in 2013.

It doesn't seem 20 years ago that their debut came out. I guess I'm showing my age.

times and it gets better with each listen. I'm a biased fan though. I'll do a Pitchfork and give it 8.2

http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/suede-bloodsports

Like the approach on the tracklist. First you have your pop songs and then the you end up with four ballads on a row. Hardly innovative but very effective

Dawn Chorus one of the bonus tracks on Japanese version is great too. Recent reviews over the weekend have been raves which makes the DIS review all the more minority.

the ballads are ridiculous, but not actually bad, and possibly very good. I don't think it sounds '90s' or anything, but it sounds very Suede. I bought it today on a whim after discovering how much I liked hearing the single about 5 times a day on 6Music, got it from Rough Trade and it turns out that they're playing instore on friday and i got given a wristband, which was unexpected but nice, I can't wait! Seen them once and it was amazing ('Suede' album gig at Brixton academy), but can't afford that Alexandra Palace gig.

Do they all have day jobs or something?

venue but it's all been Brixton gigs for me; both before break up and two years ago. I've got an Ally Pally gig. It'll be fun no doubt but it's at Ally Pally and so won't be too memorable I think.

and Roundhouse in 1996. Amazing both times.

i think it easily outclasses Coming Up, maybe even the debut which I never really rated compared to Dog Man Star.

Snowblind is a killer.

Best review of it I've read, actually: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17779-suede-bloodsports/

Saw them at Rough Trade East yesterday and it was amazing, absolutely heroic, especially the new stuff, wish I was going to see them next week.