Coming Up (Deluxe Version)

The departure of superstar guitarist Bernard Butler during the mixing of 1994’s Dog Man Star left frontman Brett Anderson with the task of restructuring Suede. Richard Oakes, then just 17, beat out more than 500 candidates auditioning as Butler’s replacement. The band also added keyboardist Neil Codling to flesh out its sound, which was a raw return to Anderson’s love for seductive, Bowie-inspired glitter rock. Coming Up takes a sharp detour from grandiose sweeping ballads about “chasing the rain-blown fields away.” The opening single, “Trash,” unleashes rock ‘n’ roll swagger, with sing-along melodies and handclap rhythms reminiscent of the harder songs from the band’s debut. “Filmstar” and “Lazy” similarly fuel the fire of nouveau glam, with spiked guitar riffs that distort and strut as Anderson’s androgynous vocals croon contagious melodies. Fans of the band’s ballads are rewarded with “By the Sea” and “Picnic by the Motorway,” where the melancholy musings of Dog Man Star have been replaced with lyrical confidence and optimism.