So Old, So Gone...

[dotinthesky]

There are two types of Suede fans in my opinion. First, there's the kind who believe Dog Man Star to be their best album, who think everything went crap after Bernard Butler left, and who deep-down hoped for the band's return-to-form. Not everyone in this group necessarily expected the same things from Suede, or loved them for the same reasons. Nevertheless, just the idea of Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler playing together again was enough to make their bony legs quiver.

Then, there's the second type of Suede fans: a small minority who actually saw some sense when the band recruited a keyboard player, who enjoyed the faux-futuristic sound that the new band was trying to shape. They knew that Suede were on shaky ground but, despite some bad ideas like Positivity, they sensed that new blood and new ideas could push the band into unchartered territory. Although they enjoyed Suede's past, they had hopes for the future.

The reason why I fell in love with Suede in the first place was because of the hinted mystery, the tawdry glam scenarios, the surge of adrenaline that accompanied the guitar and Anderson's voice. Animal Nitrate, My Insatiable One, Introducing the Band, Killing of a Flash Boy were a few of the highlights of the Butler/Anderson collaboration. Critics compared Suede to The Smiths because both bands dwelt with the imagination and artistic cohesion. Suede's old incarnation ushered Britpop, while it's later album Head Music announced the arrival of the new electro pop, in much the same way that The Smiths created so many copies during the 80s up until now.

Last night, Type 1 Suede fans were in heaven. Butler and Anderson on stage, together again, performing brand new songs from their band The Tears. Songs that veered straight back into Suede's old pedestrian world, song titles that left no mistake about who had created them.

Type 2 Suede fans, like myself, were disappointed. Where were the new ideas? Where was the new sound? Where were the good songs? When Anderson introduced a song called Beautiful Pain, I wanted to thrown my Kronenberg can on his head. Hadn't we already had Beautiful Ones and Beautiful Losers in Suede? Aren't there other words in the dictionary? An unoriginal song title only served to highlight the lack of original songs. There was the expected piano ballad, the choruses with "la la la", the shake of a tambourine. Then Anderson flung his water bottle into the crowd and hit... me!

Things weren't all that bad. Because the songs were unfamiliar to me, I still hope that on hearing them on CD I might "get it". Also, Anderson and Butler were both visibly nervous and trying to impress - never a good combination. And maybe, in the studio, Butler's production values will override the tepidness of some of the songs and bring out something more interesting in them.

I went to see The Tears hoping to find artists engaged in new sounds, experimentation, or at least adventure. I wanted Butler to dazzle us with his guitar, for Anderson to show us he could move on from Suede's imagined world. What I found were two guys sharing the stage like middle-aged prima donnas, chasing the dragon from years ago. They left me unmoved, but maybe that's because in the last 13 years I have grown up too.

Comments

v

[blackhallgreen.livejournal.com]

I found them amazing live, tho had heard all the songs (bar 2) before hand on the net - it's v hard to listen to 12-13 new songs and love them all - they need to grow on you. Personally for me the Ednburgh gig was one of the best concerts i've been to in ages. I think if they loose a few of the weaker tracks the album is going to be a classic.

There are songs that resemble suede from both eras
Apollo 13, lovers and A love as strong as death are typical Anderson/Butler era

but Imperfection/Autograph/2 Creatures have a very post Bernard sound to them.

We're in a unique position that we are fans of a band with no records out yet - I rarely enjoy gigs where i don't know the bands material - wait til you hear the album and you'll be eating your words!

Re: v

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

wait til you hear the album and you'll be eating your words!

I really hope so! :)

[thelma-viaduct.livejournal.com]

That'a an brilliant reveiew.

Me, I'm a type 2 fan :)

[ex-stanza602.livejournal.com]

Reunions like this never work on the first album. You'd probably need to see two albums before they find their sound (either again or anew).

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

The question is: will this be a side project/one-off or a long-term commitment?

[ex-stanza602.livejournal.com]

Yeah I dunno. They'll obviously draw quite a following due to their pedigree and maybe that'll be enough to convince 'em to stick it out for a while.

[tonight-we-fly.livejournal.com]

I bet you made that up just to make me feel better, and really they were brilliant.

I did't realise it had been that long since The Drowners, I feel like I've grown up by about three years since then.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

They weren't brilliant, but good. It's ok for some bands, but it should not be the standard for them!

[combat-slasher.livejournal.com]

I think "Refugees" and "Fallen Idol" are very good songs.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Was "refugees" supposed to be in the last Suede album? I remember reading something around that time about a song which talked about refugees.

[combat-slasher.livejournal.com]

"Refugees" was mentioned in "Love And Poison", but I think it's the same lyrics put to different music.

[4q.livejournal.com]

I love the review and the way it was written, myself I have never been a fan of suede, perhaps if I gave them a listen now I might like them, but meh. I already listen to enough bands

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

There's hardly anything "punk" about them, so I'm not surprised. :)

I got caught up because of their gay innuendo in the beginning of their career, and have been there ever since. I love them, but I wish they'd grow into new, different, music.

[4q.livejournal.com]

hey! I dont just like punk music! but I know you know that already darling

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah! But no matter how many different genres you like, isn't your heart in punk?

[4q.livejournal.com]

its true. I would say maybe oi more then punk, but they both have a huge huge part in everything.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

That's why I love you so much. <3

[4q.livejournal.com]

I have some cds to make for you once my stupid ass burner gets fixed...

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Aw! As soon as I get my own laptop, I'm going to bury you in a diluge of cds. :)

[4q.livejournal.com]

ha ha! yay! one of the cds I want to make you has such an amazing mix of songs but a few you already have, but it makes for a good cd so you might get them anyway

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I've got Chinese Takeaway in at least two cds! So no worries there... :P

[4q.livejournal.com]

ha ha! yay!

you will get buzzcocks again as well!!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Luv them!

Dude, I really want the Epoxies!! If you could exchange that with me I'd be in heaven.

[4q.livejournal.com]

do you listen to vinyl?

I can get you the album on vinyl!?!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I wish I did! I don't have a vinyl player. :(

[4q.livejournal.com]

well don't worry I will get it for you!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

A vinyl player?!?!!

[4q.livejournal.com]

ha ha i believe it's called a record player, and no an Epoxies Cd!!

I was listening to the summer mix you made me last night. I usually try and do themes for my cds I make but man I like the crazy mixes too. I am goingto have to try and do some crazy mixes!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I love crazy mixes... go nuts on me!

[4q.livejournal.com]

weeeeeeeee

cant wait!

[dilvalicious.livejournal.com]

Dog Man Star is my fave Suede album

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Diagnosis: Type 1 fan.

[dilvalicious.livejournal.com]

so is that good, or bad?

*LOL*

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Good! There's no bad in this situation.

[dilvalicious.livejournal.com]

okay

[dilvalicious.livejournal.com]

no, i like their other albums too, but dog man star is dstill my fave!

(I had to go back and re read your entry, and I do not agree with the type 1 mentality)

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Type 1s like the other albums too, but hold Dog Man Star waaaaay above the rest.

[dilvalicious.livejournal.com]

it has nothing to do with anything, other than me relating to a bunch of the tracks at a certain time in my life

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

That's what a Type 1 would say in an argument. :P

[dilvalicious.livejournal.com]

stop it!!!!

Stop!
Stop! Stop!

*LOL*

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean... that year was particularly good for me. It was my senior year in High School, and it was a sort of soundtrack for our nights during the weekends.

[suede.livejournal.com]

I loved the gig, and the most I listen to their songs the more I like them.And I am not a butler type of fan :D

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Hopefully I'll change my opinion when the singles and album come out!

[suede.livejournal.com]

Hope so :D

[gorecky22.livejournal.com]

Like you, I should be considered a Type 2 Suede fan... and what I've read about The Tears gig make me feel there's not gonna be new ideas. Don't now if there will be good songs... but you can be sure that they aren't trying to make "a new sound".

¿In it for the money? Maybe, but at least they could try to improve their sound... to make something interesting... if they still can.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

My guess is that they are chasing their muses, hoping to revive the glories of their early years.

[ataxi.livejournal.com]

About Suede in recent years virtually nothing has been more commented upon than Anderson's vocab problems. He doesn't move on from the same old images, the same old metaphors.

Type 1 fan here.

Sad to hear that the lyrics haven't taken a turn for the better. Will still dig the Tears though, in all likelihood.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Same here... I will wait to make a final judgement when I hear their album. But, based on the live show, I'm not that excited or hopeful.