252) Suede - Coming Up

Suede are finished aren’t they I remember saying? Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler wrote all the songs and Butler has left the band before the completion of their second album Dog Man Star. Seventeen-year-old Richard Oakes had been brought in to do the tour to promote Dog Man Star but surely the game is up after this.

In 2024 Suede are still going their last record going in the charts at number two and earning rave reviews with Oakes having a co-write on every track, aye maybe not done or their game up. Honestly if I bet on a two-horse race mine would come in second.

Two years after Dog Man Star with also Neil Codling added on keyboards Suede returned with Coming Up and it went straight to number one with ten tracks, five of them released as singles, all top ten hits, and some clown said they were finished.

Suede had decided to go back to basics after their extravagant second album and make a pure pop album, as well as breaking in Oakes and Codling they managed this with aplomb.

Trash stormed the charts and opens the record as it stomps from start to finish, still glorious and a great start to Oakes recording career with the band,  Marc Bolan, wherever he is, would be proud of him. Filmstar has a filthy riff and big drums as Brett prowls throughout the song and Matt Osman gets in on the act with his bass worming around in the background and Lazy is a bit more laid back, but you cannot beat a bit of jangly guitar.

She has a searing riff and then we have Beautiful Ones a near perfect pop single, storming riff, bouncing drums, great vocal and a damn catchy chorus, still fresh and The Chemistry Between Us shows Mr Anderson can certainly sing, nice strings as well.

Let’s not forget the ballads on this record, By the Sea is a simple piano before the rest of the band come in, restrained, dramatic and beautiful in equal measure and Saturday Night ends the record with the lines “Whatever makes her happy, whatever makes it alright” The simple answer is this record.

8/10

GIVE IT A STREAM: Beautiful Ones