Search - The London Suede :: Head Music

Coming down from the high that was "Coming Up"

C.F. | California, USA | 08/07/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"After three majestic and diverse albums produced by Ed Buller, Suede had decided to experiment a bit in the collaboration department by enlisting the help of Happy Mondays producer Steve Osborne. An initial reaction to hearing this would be to picture a much more eclectic and experimental record.



While "Head Music", the band's 4th studio album, does succeed in being eclectic, it suffers in being lyrically shallow, and suffering from a fate that the band had not yet experienced, and that is including "filler" in a release.



If you loved "Coming Up" or you are new to Suede, this record may fulfill your pop and dance needs but for those accumstomed to the thoughtful Suede that had substance behind the sleaze, will be more than disappointed.



First thing's first, this album is not bad at all. Compared to most bands, the singles on this album are extremely well made. But by the Suede standard, the 2nd half of the album is lacking any fundamental focus.



The album starts with the fierce first single "Electricity" which is a jumpy number with retro synths and an infectious chorus, a solid track. The first half sets the pace for a classic with the Prince-like charisma of "Savoir Faire" and the America friendly dance of "Can't Get Enough" that get the mood going.



Neil Codling's contribution overrides Richard Oakes on this one by giving the ethereal "She's in Fashion", "Everything Will Flow", and "Down" their down to earth beauty with lush synths.



At this point the album seems to be going in the right direction. Sadly, things take a turn for the worse. From the redundant lounge of "Asbestos" to the downright self-parody in "Elephant Man", things just get ridiculous. The production also gets sloppy in places like "Crack in the Union Jack" and "He's Gone" but Anderson does his best to keep the songs moving with his trademark vocals. This is displayed on the classic Suede number "Indian Strings".



The sexual innuendo evident in the title track is cute but it hardly seems fit in an album filled with the same redundant vocabulary. Still, like most Suede tracks you will at first begin nodding your head to the catchy bass and beats. The problem is that there is not a lot of replay value.



So here you go, sex, drugs, but not the rock 'n' roll we usually enjoy from Suede. It is still worth buying for the first half."

Broke their own rules . .

NEYKO | 02/02/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It is understandable that people want a band to keep putting out the same sounding album because they loved the previous releases so much. Suede broke out and went in a direction that is dance meets Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On." The band went in a direction of fabulous catchy riffs and memorable hooks with a dance feel. Most unhappy reviews complain the band did not put out Dog Man Star II. They already took that album a step further with Richard Oakes and the amazing Coming Up. I am in the minority that feels Suede improved with the departure of Butler. And there is even more reason to cherish this release as Suede returned to a rock sound on their next release making this their only foray onto the dance floor."