Suede Prescribes "Antidepressants" With New Album Release
90s Brit-pop icons Suede (also referred to as The London Suede) released their tenth studio album, Antidepressants, on September 5. This is their fifth release since their comeback in 2013, and it carries along with it their continuously evolving sound. Frontman Brett Anderson has been adamant that Suede isn’t a group making throwback hits, but one that hopes to change and experiment with new sounds. Antidepressants is arguably the peak of their post-reformation releases, carrying with it a post-punk sound that complements the band's classic vibe in a new, elevated way. Anderson has made minor hits to other groups from the 90’s Brit-pop genre, commenting on their lack of evolution or unwillingness to make new music despite touring. Suede is all for the fresh sound, and it really pays off in this newest release.
Kicking it off with “Disintegrate,” a strong drumbeat starts the album, featuring ambient background sounds that add an eeriness to the track that is carried throughout the entire album. The atmosphere that the album itself creates is perfectly post-punk, with flourishes of that '90s sound that Suede fans can recognize and love. The album carries themes of societal discontent and comments on the dependence on medication in modern culture, hence the album's title. Stand out songs include “Dancing With The Europeans,” “Antidepressants,” and “Broken Music For Broken People.” The first song is upbeat yet desolate in theme, as Anderson sings about how an increased general connectivity in ways leads to less general connection. As the chorus goes, Oh, with a European stain within me / And a European suffering in me / Dancing with the Europeans, there is a twinge of negativity to the overall concept of a large party-esque gathering, though it is said that this song was inspired by a strong connection made with a fan during one of Suede's shows. Title track “Antidepressants” is perhaps the most obvious in its commentary: I’m on antidepressants, I just lie awake / Singing a song while I’m happy. The lyrics speak of the human experience and the monotony that can come with it, creating a society where being medicated becomes more normalized just to get by. “Broken Music For Broken People” is one of the catchier songs on the album that really sticks with you. It is also one of the last songs with upbeat, energetic vibes, before the album closes out with some slower songs that carry a bit more weight to them.
Not many groups make it to ten albums, and even fewer make those latest releases count. Suede has continued to elevate their sound to create consistently great albums with the same energy they had in the 90s. The group is taking this album, “dancing with the Europeans,” next year with multiple dates within the UK and throughout the rest of Europe. You can listen to Antidepressants anywhere you stream music, and find more information on Suede and their upcoming tour on their official website.
