Yes I dislike covers, but only when they are done in a mundane fashion. If you’re going to take someone elses work, then please do something to change it slightly. Add something to it. I don’t know what, but blow people’s minds. You have the power to do so, so you should.
So, with my dislike for covers those that are familiar with the best day of the year, RECORD STORE DAY will be aware of some of the releases that are coming out. I’ve got my eyes (and hopefully hands) on The Horrors/Toys split release. Looks good. However, there’s one in particular that got my attention more than others.
Patti Smith is my ultimate idol, closely followed by Shirley Manson. Basically, I have a thing for women who aren’t afraid to speak up and use their voices for the greater good. Oh, and they also make insanely beautiful music. No days have gone by where I haven’t listened to Garbage or Patti Smith. I just have to. That’s all there is to it.
Most are familiar with Patti’s cover of Bruce Springsteen’s Because The Night. Probably the best love song of all time? Oh go on then. Some have covered it and butchered it. There was a truly awful dance version of it some time ago. I wanted to do a Van Gogh; it was that bad. Then you have some who cover it and bring back the beauty and purity in it. They nail it. They bring it back to perfection.
Record Store Day sees the release of Garbage and Marissa Paternoster’s (Screaming Females. Listen to them. They are a brilliant rock band) cover of Because The Night. The live clips I have seen are out of this world. But my favourite has to be from Garbage’s show in New York at Terminal 5 from this Friday just gone.
Marissa is THE best guitarist around right now. No doubt about it. She has such a distinctive voice that goes so well with Shirley’s. You can see why both bands have come together to do this release. They just work so well together. One can only hope they do more.
When your hero covers a song by one of your heroes and makes it just as beautiful, it makes you proud. Makes you proud to not just a music lover, but proud to love both bands. Everything about their cover is all kinds of wonderful. The way Shirl and Marissa look at each whilst singing this is gorgeous. You can see how Shirl has taken Marissa under her wig, and in time will probably be just as empowering as her. She’s probably already there to be honest.
Anyway, go to your local record store on Record Store Day (20th April) and buy this. Buy some others too. Support your local record store, always.
Bad luck happens to us all. It happens to some more than most. Some attract bad vibes, bad people and bad luck. Thing is, what you class as bad luck may seem like something trivial to someone else. This is why you should never measure yourself against other people’s woes. When you do that you start to carry more dislike for yourself because you feel pathetic for feeling a bit silly. It happens, you are human. It’d be much easier if you were an animal wouldn’t it. Or you know, didn’t have any feelings.
Bad luck will catch up to the luckiest of people. Call it what you want, it always does. I think I was pretty shit in my past life because of certain step. One step forward is about 50 backwards. The further backwards you go, the more careful you are when making your next move. So really, it isn’t all so bad. The older I get, the less I find what I am good at. The things I am good at are utterly useful. My brain is like a jukebox, and my limbs are too short. My body fat is decreasing because I basically live at the gym. I don’t think anyone understands how happy I am that I’ve gone down a size or two, and that I can zip up my favourite hoodie..AND THERE IS ROOM. I’m good at losing my body fat; can’t make a living from that can I?! No, I can’t. Me? Do a fitness video? Never. I don’t understand them. Go outside and do stuff.
I had a nap earlier and woke up with hair that resembles Nick Cave when he was in The Birthday Party. Wild. Truly wild. It’s the only thing about me that is. But it’s alright. Some want to conform, I just want to catch up on some sleep. Bad luck.
Bad luck is happening to us all. Some of us ignore the bad and appreciate the good. That’s how it should be. Even with fuck-ups and set-backs. You see people thrive off being utterly miserable. I have my grumpy moments. I have them more than I wish, but it’s only when I am here. When I am with her, everything is just fine. Not grumpy at all. But, it’s just something I must deal with for now. It isn’t bad luck, it’s just a crappy situation. I could be further, but thankfully I’m not.
Bad luck doesn’t define you. Everything shit that happens to you doesn’t rule you. Just because one person cannot stand you doesn’t mean you are awful. Just because someone feels the need to be awful about you doesn’t mean you have a problem. They’re the ones with the problem. But, we live in a world it seems where having an opinion is a bit lethal. Like you’re not allowed to speak up. If you see someone doing something wrong or harming someone, then fucking speak up because you’d want someone to save you.
Just because you’re carrying around some bad luck doesn’t mean you’ve got to share your negativity with anyone. Explain your troubles, but don’t act like you are the only one with them. I’d write a book but not even I would read the rubbish I write.
Maybe I should just go find a new band to fall for and write about.
“I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death. Beyond the walls of intelligence, life is defined. I think of crime when I’m in a New York state of mind.”
April 19th 1994. One of the greatest hip hop records of all time came out. For a lot of rappers, this record has been their blueprint. I bought it a good few years after it came out. It was one of the first hip hop records I bought with my own money. I wasn’t listening to hip hop; it was sheer poetry. Poetry in the most unconventional way possible. I’ve played it more times than I’ve played anything I own by Bob Dylan or the Velvet Underground. I guess, even though I favour a lot of bands more than most, I think hip hop will always have my heart. I cannot explain why, and that’s why I know it is real love. When you are able to explain why you love something/someone you probably need to re-think your love for them, because you shouldn’t be able to pin-point it. It should just be a fact. Unconditional and forever.
Illmatic is ten tracks of the ugly truth. Listen to NY State Of Mind; it isn’t the New York television shows portray. Nas’ version, his ode (in a sense) to New York is the raw truth. That’s what I’ve always loved about Nas; he just gives you the truth. I always hated the Jay-Z/Nas thing. Much like I hated the Tupac/Biggie battle. They’re all different, but had the same story. They all overcame their own personal struggles to make something of themselves. Two of them did it in a shorter time but left a legacy that will outlive us all.
With his debut record, you cannot deny that Nas pretty much revived the Queensbridge hip hop scene. He’s QB’s finest, easily. The way he couples words together on Illmatic was enough to make you take pen to paper and write your own story in any way possible. One of (if not my favourite) sample Nas uses on Illmatic is on the track, Memory Lane. He uses Pickin’ Boogers by one of the most underrated rappers ever, Biz Markie. But then the sample of Come In Out Of The Rain by Parliament on Life’s A Bitch is incredible too. A heavily sampled record, but it’s still flawless. I don’t think any true hip hop fan doesn’t own this. Even if they don’t own anything else by Nas, they cannot deny just how inspirational and how powerful Illmatic is.
The relaxed vibe of The World Is Yours makes you pretty much see how the film Scarface influenced a hell of a lot of hip hop artists (Jay-Z also sampled The World Is Yours on Dead Presidents.) It’s also one of the many highlights of Illmatic. I’ve listened to it so many times, and I don’t think I could ever find one song I love more than others. With every listen, I find another element to love. I notice more. As I listen to it with older ears, I find more to love. I can truly appreciate Nas’ way with words. I did when I bought it, but as I’ve matured (a bit) I can take more meaning from it, but one thing still remains; it is always going to a record a lot of rappers strive to make. They try to make their Illmatic.
Halftime is the one song I remember being hugely obsessed with when I bought Illmatic. I just played it over and over. My obsession was then turned onto One Love, pretty sure it was because Q-Tip was on it, and produced it. These were the two songs I remember fawning over. Then I just listened to Illmatic from start to finish on repeat. Over and over. But like I said, cannot pick a favourite but those two were the first I feel in love with. The way the words flow on Halftime is just ridiculous. It’s insane how someone so young could make music like that. He became one of the greatest immediately. That rarely happens.
I’ve stayed a loyal fan to Nas. I can’t imagine my record collection being without his music, it’d be senseless. Sure enough I cannot relate to a lot of his subject matters; but I know what it’s like to be frustrated with your situation and seeing no way out. Knowing you’re so far away from making something of yourself. But you find an escape. In words, music, anything. Creativity can cure some of it. The frustration in One Love, of hearing someone so young go through having friends killed to being in jail; no one should ever have to go through that. Regardless of age.
I learnt a lot from Nas. From how to make words flow as perfect as I can together (whether here or in my notebooks full of lyrics..no you cannot and will not see them) he just made it seem so effortless, but at times it can be a headache. Some of his records since have been hit or miss, but that depends on who you ask. I know a lot of Nas fans will regard the song One Mic (taken from Stillmatic) as one of the best hip hop songs ever made, and it truly is. Even if you were never a fan of Nas you really cannot deny how powerful that song is and how the dramatic build-up in the first few verses are. And also how the come down in the last verse just shudders your soul. Play it to anyone who says hip hop is pointless. They’re probably into the pointless stuff. Give them something they can feel.
It does make me sad, as a hip hop lover, that hip hop is no longer like this. It has lost some meaning in some respects- but hopefully someone will come along and be as great as artists such as Nas to Big L to Kurtis Blow. Illmatic was the soundtrack to New York in 1994 and it probably still is. Nas never has romanticised what he sees, that was obvious from the very start. Nothing ever needs to be covered up to look or sound nice- just let the truth out, but do it from the heart. That’s exactly what Illmatic did, and still does. Timeless and nothing short of a masterpiece.
Last year I wrote about my favourite new band. A band that are so exciting, they make you want to break stuff because they get you that excited. Or maybe I just want to break stuff so I can say I have done something outrageous. Whatever.
Loom are incredible. I love them. They were the highlight of last year because they brought something new. I got my cassette of Bleed On Me and I’ve played it only once. I don’t want to ruin it. I’ve pre-ordered their new one, I Get A Taste and I’m sure I’ll just play it once out of fear of ruining it.
I Get A Taste is just as ferocious as Bleed On Me. Thing is, even if they did some insane power ballad it would still sound brutal because thankfully, Tarik has a voice like no other. He’s got this fucking incredible and passionate gravely tone to his voice which makes you so bloody thankful that a band like this exist because I am sick of a lot of what I hear. Do you remember how exciting it was when you first heard The Kills? Spiritualized? Bands like that. Bands like The Jesus And Mary Chain or more recently The Men; they all had/have something so exciting about them. This excitement makes you glad you went out of your way to find something new.
I think seeing Loom live would leave you bruised and beaten. That’s how you know you’ve had a good time at a gig. They make music to thrash around to. Music that’s not like anything else around. Throw your body around and into the walls. Unleash all the fury. All of the fury inside. Let it all out, let it all go.
I don’t think there’s anything left to say except for, it isn’t too late for you to pre-order the 7″ which is out on Monday on Hate Hate Hate records : http://www.roughtrade.com/albums/70155
Some places in the world make really good music, some places are the hub of music that isn’t all that. It is all personal taste therefore this is just my opinion. I’ll choose The Jesus And Mary Chain over The Beatles any day. I’ll choose Morrissey over David Bowie. Again and again. People look at you as if you have two heads when you say things like to them. As if you you’re supposed to listen to and love The Beatles or Bowie. B is for bullshit kids.
Los Angeles is the home to a LOT of bands a love. Part of the reason I’d like to visit there, but I know I wouldn’t leave. I’d set up camp in a sweaty basement bar watching bands thrash about. Leaving covered in whisky and sweat from anyone/everyone. Small, intimate venues own my heart. They are the home to purity and unity within music. I struggle to think how you can connect with a band playing an arena. It isn’t for me, but it is for others. That’s fine.
So yes, L.A. Home to a lot of bands I love and such. As is New Yorks (but please don’t mention the Knicks to me at the moment..panic sets is when I check the league standings.) One band that I’ve recently familiarised myself with and fallen in love with is Roses. Three guys who make a lot of noise. I love The Fall, and they sound like how Mark E Smith would sound if he sung in a more conventional way. I guess what I am trying to say is that Roses sound like a band from Manchester in the 80s. Some would be insulted, but this is a big thing. It’s a great thing. Two amazing bands came from Manchester; The Fall and The Smiths. They have the thrashing quality that made me fall for The Jesus And Mary Chain when I was very young. You can just hear the fury in the guitarist; you can imagine his fingers bleeding as he plays like a feral beast.
As always when I find a new band; they don’t have much to go on. Personally this is okay with me because it means I can pay more attention to two songs rather than a demo collection enough to throw me off. They have a song that’s just listed as Untitled. It is stunning, it is beautiful and innocent. The singer’s voice really does sound as if he is truly reaching out to one person in particular. It feels entirely personal, and your heart just goes out to him. It may just be a demo for now, but I hope they don’t change too much. It is perfect as it is.
A lot of the West coast bands I love do have a certain vibe to their music, like you just know they are from there. It isn’t a bad thing, but sometimes you want more. If you want those who go against a typical West coast sound you have the likes of Crocodiles, L.A. Witch, The Long Wives and of course, Roses. Play them loud. So loud. I think I’m annoying my neighbour by playing them loudly, and on repeat. But the thing is, We Hate Our Friends HAS to be played quite loud and on repeat. I’m just doing what I should.
Sometimes you just hear a band and you try to fathom why you love them. What lured you in and why. Thing is, when you give yourself a headache over that, you don’t enjoy the music as much. So just listen to whatever you want. Don’t call someone out for being a fan of a band you dislike or for not liking a band you don’t like. If we all liked the same thing, then all music would be boring. And trust me, there’s some really exciting stuff out there. You’ve just got to look for it if you want it badly enough, and with that….VIVA ROSES!!
One person can be the voice of so many; yet not many may be familiar with this person. The underdog representing the underdog, and evoking every feeling possible. Whether it is the purity of lust or the disgust in deceit. One person can sum it all up so simply and elegantly. One person can make you realise all that you are, and fix most parts of you that you never knew how to sort out. You start to line everything up and shoot down the problems. One by one- you get better. What else could work?
Wes Eisold is my generation’s Morrissey. Not his voice, not his music- but his words. His words echo everything a human being could want and seeks. He’s my modern-day Morrissey because he sums up the ugly feelings in such beauty. You’re missing out if you’re not familiar. I have Morrissey’s words running through me day after day. Every single day. Not a day goes by where a song by him doesn’t sum everything up. The same goes for Cold Cave and a small amount of others. People Are Poison is a prime example as to why a chunk of my heart is in debt (forever) to Wes.
I became a fan exactly the same time I became a fan of Crocodiles. I picked up their records one day when my heart was smashed and I just needed music. Within weeks I was fixed up. Within weeks I let everything go, and left the past alone. People flirt with their past because they have no idea how to cope with what they have now, and what they will become in the future. Some people really are poison. I know some who are. Maybe they know they are poison too. Fortunately for me and them; we will never meet again. That’s the beauty of packing up and leaving everything. Drop it and start all over.
People Are Poison is dark and have a ferocious feel to it. Delicately rambunctious on the ear. It is going to please most/all Cold Cave fans; because let’s be honest here, Wes can do no wrong. People Are Poison has everything I want a Cold Cave song. EVERYTHING. As I listen to it, I am falling back in love with them. When I go back to the gym later (twice a day..check my motivation!) I’m more than likely just going to blast Cold Cave in my ears. I won’t care for the sweat falling off my face; I’ll just be driven by one of my favourite bands ever. That’s how it is, that’s how I function.
The song is menacing, musically. But Wes’ voice, as always, just seduces you in the purest way imaginable. You can feel parts of you drift off to him, just knowing he is saying everything you’ve been building up over time. Time..time..time. It is frail and we take advantage of it. And time does the same to us. The heavy intro is carried throughout; which is also lures you in too. As soon as Wes starts to sing, the heart flutters..races. Pick up the pace. You realise that a lot of people are poison. Politicians for example. Authority figures. People you used to know. Do you think about the time you were at your worst? Were you poison too? Or did you just have it trickle into your bloodstream?
I’ve essentially not really told you about the song, have I? Well, you don’t need to read anything I’ve written. I just felt like it. Go listen to the song. Go buy it from http://www.deathwishinc.com as part of the Oceans With No End 7″.
Watching one of your favourite bands grow is an exciting thing. I remember when Wavves started. It was only Nathan, and over time has grown. Grown into one of the best lo-fi bands around. Always consistent with their ferocious sound; once you’re a fan, that’s it for life.
Nathan’s vocals on Afraid Of Heights haven’t really changed from King Of The Beach, which came out around 3 years ago now I think. But that’s why I love Wavves. There are no obviously massive changes in their sound, you have to listen extremely closely and have listened intensely to previous releases to get it. However, if you are new to Wavves (where have you been?!) Afraid Of Hearts will lure you in and captivate you just fine.
If you constantly feel like a loser or the arse of society, then I guess you’re going to get a lot of comfort from this record. If you feel hopeless, desperate, out of luck or anything like that; this record will just speak to you. It’ll speak to you like no other. Every song is bold and free of pretentious imagery that is found in far too many bands. Wavves have their own take on it all; I think it is the right way. Simple but nothing short of brilliance.
The summer will creep up on us soon enough, but as you wait and wait for it you are seeking out music to play during the long nights when you feel a bit lost. Or just really really fucking tired. You don’t need to go too far; it’s all in Afraid Of Heights. I really like Cop as it shows Nathan’s gorgeous story-telling in a way like no other does. Yeah it’s about killing a cop and that’s bad- but the way Nathan tells it is so open and vulnerable. Like he’s going to care for his friend and make it all okay again. That’s pretty much the essence of this record; it just makes you feel like everything is going to be alright. Most of the songs on the record last just over 2 minutes. There aren’t many bands that can really hold you and keep you when they make songs this short. The kings of this of course were the Ramones. Wavves do have a hidden punk ethic to their music. Punk isn’t dead, so long as people keep the teachings of it alive. Afraid Of Heights is raw but also frail.
Everything Is My Fault has an ethereal psychedelic vibe to it. Nathan’s voice gently swims through you. Making you take the blame for all the fuck ups. Even if you never did a thing wrong. Some people just like to pass the blame around so they shake responsibility. Those filthy fucks; we don’t need them do we? No. Get rid of them. Right after this, we’ve got That’s On Me which just feels like a massive life lesson. To be honest though, a lot of songs by Wavves feel like a life lesson. If Nathan can get through his troubles which seem identical to your own, then you can get through your own too. They say everything will be alright, maybe it will be. I guess. I Can’t Dream is 5 minutes of sheer heaven. It is stripped back and dreamy. For when you just want something to soothe you, this is the one to do so. Easily.
Nathan has changed. As I listen to the record more and more; you can hear the growth. The band play a bit more harder and his words are more passionate. Growing up does this. Whilst recording the record, Nathan was listening to Weezer’s (best record) Blue Album. You can hear the influence for sure. Not a rip-off, far from it. You can just tell he’s been influenced by something great and in the process has created something really really incredible.
I have no idea how music is going to go this year. I don’t know if we’re going to have a piss-poor year, or if everything is going to be great. I just want it to be as loud as Wavves. So I guess I’m going to call Afraid Of Heights as one of the best records of the year. It’s my favourite so far, for sure. From an entirely personal level, I’m truly connecting with a lot of the lyrics. Wavves merge all I love; lo-fi and garage rock, and just make something I cannot get enough of. This is staying firmly on repeat. Oh and the appearence of Jenny Lewis is wonderful too.
I sometimes become a fan of bands based on their names. If they have a strange name, I will make sure I listen to them enough times to become a fan. I’ve bought many records based on artwork, and fortunately I enjoyed it. That’s as good as my luck seems to go. It’s okay, because I love music more than most things. I’d choose it over a lot a of things. I listened to Dum Dum Girls based on their name, The Kills based on their name and a load of others- it’s worked out well so far. Chicks Who Love Guns was another one that won me over with their name too.
Deptford Goth is another I can add to my list. It’s not really a list. I don’t like lists, mainly because I’m not really a fan of organising stuff. Making plans is my idea of hell. Anyway.
Daniel Woolhouse aka Deptford Goth is making the kind of music that makes you want to stay cooped up in your bedroom making spacious music causing the listener to feel as if they are floating through time. Bypassing everything that is awful and finding something beautiful. If only this could happen in “real life” then maybe we’d all be a bit happier. His record, Life After Defo is out on Monday. I’ve heard it and I’m in love with it. This isn’t an album review. If you want a review of it, check Music Broke My Bones website today at some point, I sent in my review. Hopefully you’ll dig it and go buy the record. You don’t need to me tell you though; just buy it anyway.
We’ve got people like Youth Lagoon to The Weeknd making music that has this gorgeous atmospheric vibe to their music that just makes you feel as if you are in some dream like state. You feel as if nothing can touch you as you listen to it. The same goes for Deptford Goth, but he has that Burial feel going on; he makes you want to wander around in the dark with nothing or no one around. Everything is desolate bar your mind. It could be an unhealthy way to look at it, but some musicians just make you feel this way. Personally, I think it’s an excellent thing to take away from music. Twinges of loneliness are healthy. Why would you want to be surrounded by people all the time? The headaches, the noise and their meaningless words. Just saying things with no worth in the hopes to be heard. It’s dull and boring.
Deptford Goth has a lot to say. His vulnerable vocals and straight to the heart lyrics will make you feel at times, he’s living inside your head. I’m aware that teachers/teaching assistants are vital. But thank goodness Daniel sacked that off and went towards music. He just has this exquisite world he has created with his music, if Life After Defo isn’t hailed as one of 2013’s highlights then I think something is seriously wrong.
His music will find lost souls and provide much-needed comfort. An escape route for the mundane and tumultuous trials of everyday life. He is just utterly perfect.
I really like The Band In Heaven because they’re weird. People try to be different because they don’t want to be like anyone else, they try really hard and they just look really silly. You see through it. They go home, and they watch the same deathly boring tv shows as everyone else. Behind closed doors they are like every other person you pass. When you see them in the street, they act a certain way just so they seem unlike anyone else. This just makes them fake and full of bullshit. I have a point..and I’ll get there. Skip this part and just listen to The Band In Heaven. Or if you want to torture yourself, you can carry on reading.
The Band In Heaven do not try hard to be unlike anyone else. They don’t try hard to have this weird vibe about them. I’ve gone through most of their back catalogue and it just sounds so effortless. We are forced to fawn over bands who evidently won’t last and have nothing about them. The Band In Heaven do sound like what you would hear as you reached the end of your life. Well, I would anyway. I don’t know what my view on Heaven/Hell is. How can you have an opinion on something that happens when you die? You can’t come back and tell anyone about it. I guess you make up your own mind on it, just to get you through. So you don’t shit yourself when you die (actually, you do shit yourself when you die because..well, you know. ANYWAY.)
They fall in the Shoegaze category, well they pretty much pick up where others left off. They aren’t like The Jesus And Mary Chain. Which is good because I love them, and I don’t want another. I was looking for something new/different and I’ve found it. They have the same amount of fury in their sound like TJAMC did, but that’s it. There’s no obvious 60s girl group influence here. They have a more space-like feel to their music. It’s as if they want you to fall into some trance and feel complete after you’ve listened to them. Again, this could just be me couldn’t it.
I really like the way their song High Low starts and eventually becomes this hazy and mystical trip. Their music may make you lucid. Or maybe you’ll just think everyone else around you is insane and you’ve got everything figured out. I doubt anyone ever has got anything figured out. You can never be sure. A healthy amount of doubt is just fine to carry around. They’ve just managed to take influence from other bands/genres and made something of their own. Not many bands have done this, or can do this in such a way.
The Band In Heaven have this ethereal yet haunting feel to their music. Something which I always look for. If it doesn’t make me feel like I’m somewhere else or if it doesn’t leave me feeling slightly creeped out; I don’t want to know. They do this, and more. A hell of a lot more. They’re the kind of band that younger generations should listen to and want to start a band. The talent they posses to make you want to start your own movement is incredible.
If your life is a boring mess (I can relate) and you want something to make you feel human for a while, then give them a listen. Most of what they have done can be found here: http://thebandinheaven.bandcamp.com/
They are the kind of band that you want to hear in your dreams. Or walk around at night guided only by hazy street-lights that you stare at for so long, everything goes blurry. They’re just stunning.
You have to wait a long time for good things to happen. Thee good things don’t have to be huge. They can be anything; but everything to you. I wait and wait for my favourite bands to release new music, and when they do this strange and euphoric feeling takes over. This is happening right now.
I won’t ever EVER have a bad word said about Suede. I still regard Brett Anderson as one of the best frontmen ever. Do you remember when everyone was a bit silly in the 90s and thought Oasis and/or Blur were the best thing? How foolish. I didn’t like either. I still don’t. My heart and ears belonged to Suede. I remember first seeing Brett Anderson flail around to Metal Mickey on Top Of The Pops and I fell in love. It was a deep obsession that just grew and grew over time. His solo work is just as beautiful. I’m worried about my attraction towards him, but I don’t want any help. My girlfriend has nothing to worry about though.
Bloodsports is Suede’s first release in just over a decade. Some may think that, over such a long space of time that Suede may have given in to how modern music now sounds. Would they go synth crazy? Or even worse, would the band wear ill-fitting chinos and raid the sale section in Topman? Fortunately, they’ve done neither. They’ve remained true to themselves. They have a very distinctive sound. A sound that is found in no other band before or after them. Proving that they will forever be timeless.
The record starts with Barriers. As I listen to Bloodsports, I really cannot fault their decision to open the record with that song. It really does set the tone for Bloodsports. Bloodsports is made up of anthemic songs for you to cry out in your bedroom that posses such pleading and beautiful lyrics. This is why I love Suede. Their songs may sound as if they would sound perfect in a massive arena, but the thing is, as the lyrics are so vulnerable you cannot imagine listening to this record with anyone. That’s just my personal view. I couldn’t imagine listening to Bloodsports with anyone. It feels like such a personal record.
If you’re looking to have your heart broken, then listen to What Are You Not Telling Me or if you fancy something that contains a euphoric build-up then listen to Always but if you are seeking comfort in any form; then please just go out next Monday and buy Bloodsports from your local record shop. Part of me wants to say that this record will only be understood by the proper Suede fans. Not the ones who only know Beautiful Ones and that’s it. But the thing is, it is a perfect record from start to finish; everybody should hear it. Buy it for your lover, relatives and the friends that you can stand. I don’t care. Just have this brilliant record in your collection and give it to others. Every single song on Bloodsports gives you answers to the questions that keep you up at night. But, Suede- what took you so long? It’s not that I mind because Bloodsports is truly worth the wait.
Hit Me is my favourite off Bloodsports. It is an open letter. That’s the only way you can describe it. You simply must play it loud and imagine you are singing it to those who get in your way and put you down. The way Brett sings “I’m not as strong as I pretend to be”is just so captivating. A line so simple, yet painfully easy to connect with.
Bloodsports is 10 songs all crafted so perfectly and beautifully. If we have to have to wait another 11 years for a masterpiece, then so be it. You can easily forgive them for it because they’re just so divine. Bloodsports is made up of delicate bedroom anthems. Sing, scream along. With Suede, you are never alone.
Beat In My Bones. 