Suede - The London Suede

Suede - The London Suede - Suede - The London SuedeSuede - The London Suede - Suede - The London Suede

1992

from left:
Simon
Gilbert
(drums)
Mat
Osman
(bass)
Brett Anderson
(vocals)
Bernard
Butler
(guitarist
through
"Dog
Man
Star")

Bernard Butler
The Solo Artist, 1998
photo by Karena Bernard

Brett Anderson
Coming Up Tour, 1997
photo:courtesy of Ariana & Nina, Thailand

Sci-Fi Lullabies

by Nevin Martell

The London Suede have made three of the most pivotal albums in contemporary British music, Suede, Dog Man Star, and Coming Up. Each album showed an amazing progression of style, artistry and songwriting.

When co-founder Bernard Butler left in 1995, right after the completion of the epic Dog Man Star, the pundits thought the band were done for. However, with the addition of Richard Oakes the band continued on and eventually added keyboardist Neil Codling. These two new members brought a new dynamic to the band, both sonically and personally. No longer did guitarist Bernard Butler hold the reins with singer Brett Anderson. The London Suede had truly become a group, one that allowed for the input of all its members.

Brett Anderson lives in a world of tattooed tears, stolen ice cream vans, jumble sale mums, blades engraved with babies' names, and graffiti women. It is a strange world, but not one that is wholly unfamiliar.

Suede's self titled debut release (1993)

Dog Man Star (1994)

Despite Anderson's vividly futuristic and surreal imagery, there remains a potent level of emotionality in the London Suede's work. Anderson's world may be one addled with drugs and European grandeur, but the raw emotions he conjures with his lyrics are hyper-real.

Sci-Fi Lullabies is the album you should buy to find out what you've been missing about The London Suede, whether you're a fan or don't own a single album.

The London Suede's b-sides are special events. Each time a new single comes out, we rush out to buy two or more precious new pieces of the London Suede. They are never throwaways, or, worse yet, shoddy covers and indulgent remixes. Instead, they are rockers, mini-epics, sweeping acoustic sonnets and glimmering bits of pop. This is why Sci-Fi Lullabies is the best justified b-sides compilation since I can remember. It's like a new double album from Suede, though most hardcore fans probably own all the b-sides. However, for Stateside fans who must pay $10 and up for import singles, this compilation is a perfect idea. Twenty seven London Suede b-sides spanning all thirteen singles they have released.

The tracks proceed in chronological order leading off the set with "My Insatiable One" and "To The Birds" taken from the classic single "The Drowners." We proceed through the singles with "Where Pigs Don't Fly," "He's Dead," "The Big Time" and "High Rising" all off of singles released from the Suede album. The b-sides display the melancholy ballads and hazy ambient pieces of soaring pop. "The Living Dead" is a heart-wrenching paean to a drug user and Brett's touchingly understated vocal plays melancholy with Butler's guitar. "My Dark Star" finds Ander son highlighting his lyrical prowess as his voice echoes with remorse; "You'll hide among the covers and wave as the aeroplanes go by/There's nothing to say when you sleep all day, but "bye-bye"/You mind will find another, and that's where the days have gone/and all you can hear is a stereo somewhere playing a pig-of-a-song." That is a sci-fi lullaby.

The b-sides for Dog Man Star, starting with " Killing of a Flash Boy" find the band giving over a true a-side. The song has a staccato, quick-fire rhythm and a melodic chorus. There were only three singles released from Dog Man Star and the third single, "New Generation," gave us the first glimpse of Anderson/Oakes compositions. Though neither "Together" or "Bentswood Boys" is as instantly memorable as the Anderson/Butler b-sides, if you listen several times through, you'll find "Bentswood Boys" growing on you. With a confident acoustic strum, the song traces the lives of the youth who are lost intoday's glam-futuristic world.

Each time a new single comes out, we rush out to buy two or more precious new pieces of the London Suede. They are never throwaways, or, worse yet, shoddy covers and indulgent remixes.

When the first single, "Trash," was released from the then forthcoming third album Coming Up, fans were taken aback. No-one thought that Richard Oakes could fill the shoes of Bernard Butler. The slice of glittery pop genius that met their ears blew them away. The singles were the same way, there were true classics buried as b-sides. "Europe is Our Playground," a concert favorite, and the only London Suede song with bassist Matt Osmon's creative input, was re-recorded for this collection to reflect the live vibe of the song. "Another No One," "Jumble Sale Mums," and "These Are The Sad Songs" were all melancholy bits of genius.

Coming Up (1997)

There is only one minor problem with this collection -- track selection. Was it really necessary to make "Modern Boys" a b-side for the Stateside version of the collection when it was already included as a bonus track on the US version of Dog Man Star? And there were a number of true b-side classics that were left off; "Painted People," "Asda Town," "Feel," "Sam," and "This World Needs a Father."

Thankfully, the one b-side the London Suede ever commissioned, Brian Eno remixing "Introducing the Band," was left off. However, despite the minor track listing gripes, this collection stands as a testimony to the London Suede's skill as prolific and solid songwriters. Sci-Fi Lullabies is the album you should buy to find out what you've been missing about the London Suede, whether you're a fan or don't own a single album.

12-4-98: More photos from Reading will be added shortly, (now that I have my own scanner).

Richard Oakes
performing at Reading Fest '97
photo: k bernard

Neil Codling
performing at Reading Fest '97
photo: k bernard