Head Music [ENHANCED]

Suede

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 8, 1999)
• Original Release Date: June 8, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000J2PE
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (95 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,815 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
When the London Suede's original guitarist, Bernard Butler, quit the band in 1994, Anglophiles from coast to coast breathed a disconsolate sigh. Butler had played with passion and power, crafting sweeping rhythms that perfectly complemented frontman Brett Anderson's melodramatic vocals. How could the group ever find a suitable replacement? Well, they did the following year when Richard Oakes joined, and between then and now Oakes has grown into a dynamic, swaggering, and sensual musician, imbuing Head Music with a sleazy, vibrant energy. Like the band's 1996 disc, Coming Up, the album brims with glammy incandescence. Songs such as "Electricity," "Elephant Man," and "Head Music" couple thrusting beats and sweaty riffs with yelping vocals and lascivious lyrics ("She's shaking obscene like a fucking machine"). But the Suede also believe in candlelight and satin, as they prove on the more romantic fare of "Everything Will Flow," which glides along with mellifluous strings and delicate guitar lines, and the enigmatic "She's in Fashion," which writhes with bubbling guitars and sultry keyboards. --Jon Wiederhorn

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Many Great Tracks!, December 18, 2004

By	Morten Vindberg - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Head Music has often been regarded is Suede's weakest album; I won't go into that discussion, but simple note that the album contains some of my favourite songs by the band.

I was fortunate to see them last summer in Denmark shortly before their split was announced. They played several songs from Head Music, and I particularly enjoyed "She's in Fashion", "Asbestos" and "Down".

Other great tracks are "Everything Will Flow" and "He's Gone"

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Head Music" will be fresh and edgy for many years to come, July 21, 2003

By	Kevin Graham (Chandler, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

Suede's 1999 album "Head Music", I feel is Suede's all around best album. It is full of "monster stomper" rock songs if I can borrow that line from another review that I have read, glammy sleazy songs, and some really beautiful ballads.

Brett's vocals are super top notch. He has even more range than on the previous album from 1996 "Coming Up". Brett is a master of describing people and locations and allowing the listeners to see all the sleaze, grit, glam, and beauty of his world.

I have to point out my favorite songs. First of all is the ultra sleazy, ultra groovy "hi-fi". I love Brett's vocals, lyrics, and the cool keyboards or bassline that is on that song.

I also think "indian strings" is a really great, beautiful song. A cool bassline, really cool clean acoustic or electric guitar, and heart felt lyrics and vocals by Brett.

"electricity" the opening track is really cool too. Brett's has cool echoing vocals, a strong chorus, cool lyrics, and cool guitar throughout.

"savoir faire" is a song that I really liked after repeat listening. At first I was not that big on it. However, the chorus is really catchy. Actually there are like 2 choruses. Then about half way through Richard Oakes's guitar really kicks in and makes the song really rock.

"can't get enough", was really good and had a cool chorus, catchy woo hoo lyrics, and cool guitar throughout.

"everything will flow" is a really beautiful song with clean acoustic or electric guitar and upbeat lyrics at least to me.

"asbestos" was another sleazy, groovy song that I liked a lot.

"head music" was a cool song with the lyrics, "give me head, give me head, give me head music instead." Pretty cool lyrics! The guitar is also good.

"elephant man" is a good monster stomper and a real rock song that sounds like Brett is singing muffled and this is the first song where the music seems to be louder and more prevalent than Brett's voice.

Brett's voice is incredible throughout this album. In "Coming Up" it was very good, sort of Bowie-ish with much more high ranges. However, I feel in "Head Music" that Brett has really reached perfection with his vocal abilities. It is still Bowie-ish but with so much range. Check out the latest album "A New Morning" where Brett has actually developed his own signing style not reminiscent to me of anyone else.

Richard Oakes's guitars are very good. He is an excellent guitarist and seems to be able to play perfectly with the mood and vocals that Brett has created for each song.

Mat Osman's bass and Simon Gilbert's drums are very good also. They add a lot of the glammy, sleazy, funky, and rock moods to the songs.

Neil Coding's keyboards are much more prevalent in this album than "Coming Up", and I love synth mixed with guitar and it works very well on the songs in this album.

It's about 4 yrs later and I am listening to this cd daily. I think Suede produces music that is edgy and a breakthrough way before its time. Therefore, listening to this album 10 years later it will still sound current. I highly recommend this album along with "Coming Up", "A New Morning", and "SCI-FI Lullabies".

I have to recommend "Head Music" the most because it seems to encompass the most genres of music into a single cd out of all of the Suede albums.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it or leave it, March 13, 2003

By	Nicholas J. Austin (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The release following 'Head Music' is 'A New Morning,' which is fun in its own way, but it doesn't feel like the old sleazy Suede. 'Head Music' can now be seen as the last album that encapsulates the sleazy, street-walking, petrol-ridden pomp that is 'Suede.' Appreciate 'Head Music.' It feels like a glorious drug dance party that you stayed at too long. It is total excess, like getting drunk when you have a job interview the next morning. It's a mainline of something special, and you will never see the likes of it again. Besides, 'Head Music' is one of the few albums with a real 'feel,' and if you can't identify the feel and appreciate it, then you aren't even a Suede fan and your basis for judging the album is compromised.