Suede really were fantastic.

 

I loved their fey, swaggering, stately grandeur at the start - a band with the full knowledge that they are simply the best band in the UK (and maybe the world) at that moment.

 

The Drowners was a colossal track - staggering. The whole of the first album was terrific.

 

Dog Man Star I found patchy in places - some of it was glorious, other bits I found too rough-round-the-edges.

 

I'm in the minority in that I think their other 2 really, really great records were Head Music and Coming Up. From the delectable artwork in, they were both masterpieces, I thought. Head Music was much-derided at the time..... simply because the band were no longer 'hip' and because their lead singer had upset almost everyone in the music industry.

 

The final Suede album was a complete disaster, though - the magic had truly evaporated.

 

Since the band, I've loved all the McAlmont and Butler stuff.... and some of the Tears album was pretty great, too. The solo Brett Anderson material I find a bit hit and miss, but there's still flashes of that old billiance.

 

I remember seeing Brett in the VIP bar at London's Heaven nightclub in the mid 90s, totally off his chops and surrounded by fawning, pawing oriental groupies.... hardly the done thing in a gay club :huh:

The final Suede album wasn't that bad. I preferred it to both 'Coming Up' and 'Head Music'.

Since the band, I've loved all the McAlmont and Butler stuff....

 

McAlmont and Butler were great, perhaps even better than some of the ‘Suede’ records put out at the same time.

 

Actually, I loved those ‘Thieves’ records that McAlmont put out before ‘Yes’ on ‘Hut’, I think he is one of the best vocalists of the last 10 years and probably one of the most under-rated. I’ve not heard Brett’s solo album yet, but if it is as good as the ones I’ve got by Butler solo, it should be worth purchasing.