Suede - Night Thoughts

Why do bands break up?  The usual band trajectory is that they release a couple of great albums, then a mediocre album.  Then a terrible one.  then they break up.  This was certainly the case with Suede.  They released three classic albums in the early/mid 90s then an average album.  Then one so terrible that it was met with massive indifference and caused the breakup of the band. 

Therefore news that they had reformed in 2013 was met with trepidation from the fan base.  Would they be doing it just for the money?  Would they just play the old hits?  Would they be any good?  Bloodsports from that year was truly a return to form.  It was like they had found a well of inspiration straight from 1993 where they could draw on the best bits from their heyday but still bring something new to the party.  The album fitting quite comfortably next to their best work. 

What to do for a follow up?  This time Suede have decided to stretch their legs.  Where previously the title Night Thoughts would have been about stumbling out of nightclubs at 3am or taking dr*gs, or other pleasures in this instance the title refers to the concerns that we all have in the middle of the night – worries about relationships, your place in the world, etc.  It is the sound of a band who has grown up and is posing difficult questions.  The band reportedly recorded the music first before letting lead singer Brett Anderson write lyrics.  This has a twofold effect.  The album holds together musically from start to finish.  Musical themes present themselves all through the album, at the beginning and then the band return to them later in the album.  Lyrically, it allows a story to unfold.  Not in a “concept album” kind of way, but in a way that the songs feel like a collected work, rather than just a series of songs. 

The question for any returning band is “Does this fall into nostalgia?”  The test is if they played live would you want to hear the old hits or the new album?  In this case not only would you want to hear the new songs, but you’d want to hear them played as intended – as one complete work.   

4.5 stars