Suede
Sci-fi Lullabies - Nude 1997
Tracks: 1. My Insatiable One / 2. To the Birds / 3. Where the Pigs Don't Fly / 4. He's Dead / 5. Big Time / 6. High Rising / 7. Living Dead / 8. My Dark Star / 9. Killing of a Flash Boy / 10. Whipsnade / 11. Modern Boys / 12. Together / 13. Bentswood Boys / 14. Europe Is Our Playground // 1. Every Monday Morning Comes / 2. Have You Ever Been This Low? / 3. Another No One / 4. Young Men / 5. Sound of the Streets / 6. Money / 7. W.S.D. / 8. This Time / 9. Jumble Sale Mums / 10. These Are the Sad Songs / 11. Sadie / 12. Graffiti Women / 13. Duchess
Comments:
"Sci-Fi Lullabies" from 1997 is an impressive collection of B-sides released in the period 1992-1997. Suede is known for their strong B-sides and has actually given concerts where B-sides were the focal point.
Most of the first CD is from the Bernard Butler period and the musical level here is really high. There were plenty of quality tracks for a third Butler album, but the group clearly prioritized that their CD singles should be attractive and not just offer the individual hits. For me, "The Living Dead" stands out as one of the group's most moving and beautiful tracks - with acoustic guitar and beautiful sensitive vocals. Other tracks that deserve a comment are the melodic "My Insatiable One", the slightly lighter "My Dark Star", which has some nice bluesy guitar and also the very classic Suede song "He's Dead". All songs from this period were written by Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler in collaboration.
In 1995 Bernard Butler had been replaced by the young guitarist Richard Oakes and it was a heavy legacy he had to lift; partly as lead guitarist and partly as a co-writer for Anderson. It must be said that he carried out the task impressively, partly as a co-writer for most of the group's big hits, but also for his contribution on these B-sides on "Sci-Fi Lullabies". Among the Anderson/Oakes tracks I would like to highlight "Bentwood Boys", "Europe is our Playground", "Every Monday Morning", "Young Men", "Jumble Scale Mums" and especially the melodic "This Time" and "Sadie".
"Sadie" also appears in Anderson's own great "Sounds of the Street" – another highlight. Other strong Anderson solo compositions include the piano ballad "Another No One" and "Graffiti Women". Finally, the Anderson/Codling composition "Duchess" is also worth noting.
All in all, a very valuable part of the now extensive Suede catalogue.
Back to Band pages
|
