Suede: "Autofiction" (BMG, 2022)
(The London) Suede’s Autofiction is a remarkable piece of rock n’ roll with glam-sounding overtures. This is their ninth album, and I find their discography pretty consistent. There are two types of Suede albums, the semi-narrative driven low concept albums, think Diamond Dogs like, and there are the LPs that sound like a great hits collection. Suede’s first album, Coming Up, Head Music, and now Autofiction, is made to raise your arms/hands in a packed theater. It’s uplifting music with dark overtures in its presence and lyrics. The more conceptual and mood albums like Dog Star Man, Night Thoughts, and Blue Hour are meant for contemplation and a glaze through their landscape. Most Suede songs deal with the thorny issues of sexuality and survival in what one thinks is JG Ballard’s version of London.
Brett Anderson, the singer, and lyricist, seem to have been born to be the frontman of these remarkable musicians. I have seen their live performances on YouTube over the years, and, like the decades-older Mick Jagger, Brett doesn’t stop. I’m 12 years older than him, but I suspect when he gets to my age, he will still be able to jump from the sound monitors to the floor with no problem. Unlike the Stones, he and the band will always do a ‘new’ album. Like Sparks, aging is not an issue but a plus in their world.
Songs on this album like That Boy on the Stage remind me of the late Smiths and Suede, I think, is a band that listened to Morrissey/Marr songs as blueprints for their own, but they don’t imitate; it is just their take on that world. Suede is bitterly romantic about their surroundings, and the characters are those who have an emotional need to connect. I never felt that Brett Anderson was writing about himself like Morrissey writes his character in his work. Anderson is more of a short story writer, and he writes for his audience. Anderson can step aside and look at himself from a distance, but for Morrissey, that’s impossible.
Autofiction is about how the band sees their audience and their relationship, perhaps over the years. Their ninth album, and here they are accepting their role in their career as well as their audience participation. The opening song She Leads Me On is the gift that a mother gives to their child to move on and share the love with one’s audience. It is, by all means, a rock star’s ballad.