Dog Man Star is, without a doubt, one of the most definitive albums of the 1990’s – powerfully striding away from the tacky charade of Britpop.
Andersons vocals exude passion, driving the immensely powerful machine that is Suede. ‘Introducing The Band’ is the kaleidoscope that allows us to peak into the mind of Brett Anderson circa 1994. It’s the start of the bands journey into superstardom and the dark underbelly of fame, sex and drugs. Then, without warning … We are thrown into the violent tremors of ‘We Are the Pigs’. And so the nightmare officially begins.
Now I want you to lay back, close your eyes and envision Brett Anderson frantically flicking his fringe to glam rock anthem ‘Heroine’. There’s something in the tone of Anderson’s vocals that evokes real passion, real emotion. When he says that he is “aching” to see his heroine, he really does mean it.
Now we plummet from the breath taking highs of this album, to some of the more simplistic, tender moments. Particularly in the first two bars of ‘The Wild Ones’ before the rest of the band kick in; it is hauntingly beautiful – the overall tone of The Wild Ones is something that a lot of bands lack. It’s the chemistry that Suede seem to capture perfectly on ‘Dog Man Star’ that sets them apart from so many of their contemporaries.
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