the toppermost of 2013

Hello, my friends. Yes, I have returned from the wilderness. Actually, I didn't go anywhere. A series of business plans, musical endeavors, and odd back issues caused me to be blogless for a while. Now, I'm back, back, BACK!

Let's kick off this short entry with a list of my ten, favorite longplayers of 2013. Hopefully, at some point, I will be able to go into more detail about each one. I promise to try to post as much as possible without another hiatus. For the time being, let's just look at my top picks. Drum roll, please!

David Bowie - "The Next Day"
Disclosure - "Settle"
Agnetha Fältskog - "A"
Goldfrapp - "Tales Of Us"
Alison Moyet - "The Minutes"
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - "English Electric"
Pet Shop Boys - "Electric"
Prefab Sprout - "Crimson/Red"
ShyBoy - "Water On Mars"
Suede - "Bloodsports"

There you have it. Discuss amongst yourselves. There will be a quiz.

hit and run

Suede and their signature, sinewy swagger are back with "Hit Me", the incendiary highlight and third single from their current longplayer, "Bloodsports".

The four-track, digital single features two non-album b-sides, "Falling Planes" and "What Violet Says" alongside a handy radio edit of the title track.

With previous single, "It Starts And Ends With You", the band chose to shoot a simple video featuring a studio performance of the track. This time, they've splashed a little cash on the clip for "Hit Me" which focuses on the dramatic and destructive exploits of two people (one man, one woman) as they chase each other through a museum.

There is a twist at the end. No spoilers here. But it does raise a question. "Is life really art or is it the other way around?" You decide.

second start

Not even a month has passed since Suede returned reenergized for another crack at the pop pantheon. "Barriers", the first taste from "Bloodsports", their forthcoming longplayer, was splashed across the interwebs only a couple of weeks ago.

Now, "It Starts And Ends With You" is launched as the first, official single from the album nearly six weeks ahead of the album.



Brett Anderson is still a slinky, slender lad. Does this man ever eat? Perhaps he is the male Patsy Stone, subsisting on cigarettes and alcohol. Whatever his diet consists of, I hope it doesn't change if that's what fuels his distinctive, visually acute lyrics.

blood brothers

Suede are back, back, BACK! After an eleven year hiatus, my favorite band of the Britpop variety, will return with "Bloodsports", their sixth studio longplayer.

Clearly influenced by David Bowie, and to a lesser extent the long shadow of The Smiths, Suede, along with Pulp (who have a new tune out at the mo), were embraced by the artier side of Britpop as opposed to the lads that waved their banners for the likes of Blur and Oasis. Essentially, all four created the Venn diagram of the 90s rock scene in the UK.

References to drugs, alcohol, sex, androgyny and gasoline fueled Suede's lyrical tank. After their "difficult" yet accomplished and hazy, sophomore effort, "Dog Man Star", alongside the departure of guitar guru and songsmith Bernard Butler, the band embraced the flashbulb flicker of full on pop with "Coming Up". Double entrendre and tongues firmly placed in cheek. A big lipstick longplayer that is equal parts gorgeous and raucous.

Earlier this month, Suede roared back to life when they unveiled "Barriers", the first taste from their forthcoming elpee. A thundering, muscular tune featuring Brett Anderson's epic, sweeping, widescreen lyrical beauty.



The first, official single will be "It Starts And Ends With You" which will be available three weeks prior to its parent longplayer.

The following is the tracklisting for "Bloodsports".

1. Barriers
2. Snowblind
3. It Starts And Ends With You
4. Sabotage
5. For The Strangers
6. Hit Me
7. Sometimes I Feel I’ll Float Away
8. What Are You Not Telling Me?
9. Always
10.Faultlines

There is a lot of promise for the album due to the return of Ed Buller who twiddled the knobs for Suede's first three albums. "Bloodsports" hits the "shops" on March 18.