release date: Oct. 13, 2003
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: various
label: Sony Music - nationality: England, UK
Compilation album by Suede encompassing all the band's A-side single releases from 1992 to 2003 including two brand new singles - released to promote this album. It was released only a few weeks before the band officially declared its split. Suede had done studio sessions to record a follow-up to A New Morning, but the album was shelved, and this then became the band's last album - or: at least until a new incarnation came together almost a decade later.
Overall, the album is a great collection and looking at the individual songs represented really underlines its greatness. I just don't like the random order of the singles as the band stylistically, as well as soundwise, has moved from one point through various, specific stages, to end its musical tour in a completely different corner an universe, and listening to the whole album from start to finish is like a bit of a mish-mash. A much better idea would have been to release a collection containing all of the band's singles: A- and B-sides together drawing the band's progression from sheer glam rock [revival] over art rock and alt. rock to pop / rock and synthpop, although, such a release would require 3 discs. Nearly all songs on the album are taken from the band's studio albums, and this basically just serves to sum things up, and to attract attention from non-fans - i.e. collecting more dough!
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]
