REVIEW: The London Suede, Stay Together (E.P.)
- Bob Gajarsky
Suede has, for two years, had the pressure of living up to the billing as the "next Smiths". Lead singer Brett Anderson and the Smiths' Morrissey have similarities including voices which can best be described as "acquired tastes", an indifference to gender-specific sexuality, a great feeling of inevitable grandeur and wildly passionate fans. In addition, Morrissey has already covered one one of Suede's songs, a b-side titled "My Insatiable One".
However, Suede *has* only released one album, their self-titled debut. The band has now released a new E.P. of 6 songs, 5 different, titled Stay Together which stakes the band's claim as heirs to the Smiths throne.
Like other English bands (Wham!, Charlatans), a band in the United States had the name Suede. After a legal settlement, the band Suede agreed to change their name to The London Suede. Thus, their present (and future) recordings will be titled in America with the new monicker.
Enough about the history. The title track, "Stay Together", is unquestionably the best song any incarnation of The London Suede has ever written. It compares favorably to their own song "Animal Nitrate", but with that extra push that makes the song a classic. The track appears in two version, an edited-down single version and the original 8 1/2 minute mix. If the Smiths lasting single was "How Soon Is Now", The London Suede's might very well be "Stay Together".
Two songs on the E.P. have only appeared as b-sides in England; "Dolly" and "High Rising". "Dolly", with its pounding drum intro, is a rocker unlike anything The London Suede have ever done before. "High Rising", however, is an almost acoustic track which would have been better left unreleased.
Two other tracks on Stay Together have never appeared on any of The London Suede's releases. "The Living Dead" rolls along at a slow pace but doesn't lose the listener and "My Dark Star" maintains the level of songs which The London Suede fans have come to expect.
Stay Together is an interim E.P. which will keep fans eagerly anticipating a full length album, due to be released in the fall. However, in the meantime, the band has released a quality 6 song E.P. whose title track has solidified the band's claim as the successor to the throne vacated by the Smiths.
