Bloodsports

As last months I was not writing on the blog, some CD's were released and I never did a review. Maybe the most important of all of them was Bloodsports of Suede. As a big fan of the band, I think I should write something about it.

First let's see the background of the album. Suede released their "Best Of" without new tracks and then they re-released their 5 studio albums with b-sides, demos and unreleased songs.
Brett Anderson finished Black Rainbows and Richard Oakes his debut album with Artmagic. Brett's album was, according to his own voice, a pop/rock album something like Coming Up (which I disagree). The album is good but I think he made big expectations for it and some songs on it are not that good. The album is still brilliant but it is my least favourite from his solo career. Richard's album was more concise, more worked and more poppy. I love the album (although, with all the respect, a think it deserved a stronger singer), it is powerful when it has to be, nostalgic and deep.

Let's go to Bloodsports now. On the end of 2011 Suede played a special gig in Saint Petersburg when they premièred 7 new songs. The songs were nice, but they didn't seem to be as good as the band could do. They were too simple, too rocky, small riffs. From those 7 only two were released: Sabotage and the b-side Falling Plains. In my opinion the other songs were good enough to record. Maybe not as album songs but as bonus tracks or b-sides. I really liked Cold War for example. Suede didn't like the songs that much so they started again to write what would become the album. Some months later they played live "For The Strangers". At first listen I was not to keen on it but my opinion would change a lot really.

The first studio song to be heard from Bloodsports was Barriers, track #1. It was available as a free download some weeks before the release of the album. Again, at first listen, I tough it missed something, that the chorus where a little bit forced to the melody and that the guitar riff missed production. I was wrong again. Today, after some listening, it is one of my favourite songs from the album. The "Trash" spirit is completely in it and the lyrics are absolutely uplifting and beautiful.
Now let's see track #2 from the CD, "Snowblind". It was, and it still is one of my favourites. It is the most powerful and rockier song of the album and it is so quick that it is almost breathtaking. Although the chorus is not so catchy, the outro guitar is one of the most beautiful guitar lines I heard for years!
The main single, "It Starts and Ends With You" it is a nice and poppy song, but I wouldn't choose it for first single, in fact I wouldn't choose it to be a single at all. The riff is great and the chorus is catchy but there's something on it that I don't know, I love it less than the other songs. However it remains as a great piece of music.
Then we can listen to "Sabotage" the only survivor of the Russian concert. The studio version is far better than the live version and it is simply great. The bass line of Mat Osman are great and the guitars on the chorus (specially on the last chorus) are perfect. Brett's voice is not so high as on the other songs but I quite prefer it like that.
"For The Strangers" comes next and it's Anderson's favourite song from their last album. Really beautiful, when you are listening to it, it seems that Brett's voice is surrounding you room. The guitars are making riffs during the entire song which makes it maybe the most complex song in the album. It is the 3rd single and I think it can turns easily to a live favourite for the fans.
The second single was "Hit Me". The best part on it is without a doubt the guitar riff in the chorus and Richard's solo (finally a solo). It is poppy and the chorus is mesmerizing. I understand why the song was a single, however I think it deserved a better video clip (it's like Can't Get Enough part 2).
Then, we enter to a new part of the album, a darker one without catch pop songs but with great hymns.
The first is "Something I Feel I'll Float Away", a Anderson/Oakes song. melancholic ballad which turns into a great anthem in the end with a long Brett's voice and a very powerful Richard's guitar. The riff in the chorus, mixed with the singer's voice is a perfect combination. It really makes you feel you are floating.
"What Are You Not Telling Me?" is the most slow song on Bloodsports. A sad and soft song which bring the most sensitive part of the band. It's so sad that it makes it completely beautiful. Even the little solo is slow and heartbreaking. It's the only song without drums on it.
I think that, "Always" can be seen as a modern "The Asphalt World". It is the longest song on the album (but it's not that long, only 4:43) and it has a break in the middle for a growing up solo more or less in the same style of the Dog Man Star song. Brett's voice in the end are amazing, he really can scream and hit the notes perfectly, his voice really made great progresses during the last years.
The last song is "Faultlines", a nostalgic celebration and hymn for the album. The chorus is great, again the power of the guitar on the chorus are great. I think it could be longer, with a nice instrumental part in the end or some kind of solo but, it is a perfect ending for an album. After 9 great songs, this song is like the peacemaker song to make you go back to the real world. Amazing.

As overall review I can say that Ed Buller's work (the producer) was determinant for the album to sounds as it is sounding. He could bring the magic from the beginnings of the 90's and, as an outside member of the band, he could advise and help them to select the songs.
Brett Anderson's voice is amazing and he really improved it. If you compare his singing today with "A New Morning" era you think he has rejuvenated. Richard Oakes' guitar riffs and creativity are better than ever, he can pick always great lines at every song. Neil Codling is more present in the songwriting than in the real song from the album, this album doesn't use too much keyboards but we can see great work on the last 3 songs. Mat Osman is one of the most underrated bass players ever. Although he only co-wrote "Always", the bass lines in "Sabotage" and "For The Strangers" gives really an identity to the songs. Simon Gilbert is consistent as he always was. Best parts must be heard probably on the chorus of "Faultlines", in "Always" and in the main single too! He is a world class drummer and team member!

It was good to see that 5 of the 10 songs were written by a combination of Anderson/Codling/Oakes, something that was not usual. The band are working more as a band and another proof of that is that Brett didn't wrote any song on his own. Always is credited to the five members of the band which is curious and great!

I will not give a classification to the album but I think I can't be impartial when it concerns Suede, so I'll just say it is one of the best albums I heard for a long long time and it was the best reunion album ever. Take a listen to it here: