Slow Attack

Last updated

Slow Attack
SlowAttack.jpg
Studio album by
Released2 November 2009
Genre Indie rock
Length44:40
Label BA Songs
Producer
Brett Anderson chronology
Wilderness
(2008)
Slow Attack
(2009)
Black Rainbows
(2011)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 5.7/10 [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
NME 7/10 [5]
Pitchfork 7.0/10 [6]
PopMatters Disc Plain yellow dark.svgDisc Plain yellow dark.svgDisc Plain yellow dark.svgDisc Plain yellow dark.svgPlain Disc 40%25 grey or 20%25 black.svgPlain Disc 40%25 grey or 20%25 black.svgPlain Disc 40%25 grey or 20%25 black.svgPlain Disc 40%25 grey or 20%25 black.svgPlain Disc 40%25 grey or 20%25 black.svgPlain Disc 40%25 grey or 20%25 black.svg [7]
The Sunday Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
The Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Virgin Media Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]

Slow Attack is the third solo album by the English singer Brett Anderson, and released in 2009. This is Anderson's last solo album before Suede's reformation in 2010.

Contents

Background

Produced by Anderson with new writing partner Leo Abrahams, it follows 2008's Wilderness . Anderson said: "It was conceived and created in the bleak London winter. It's when I feel most creative, as I often feel inspired to drown in music to escape the city's icy embrace." [11] The album is described as being influenced by film soundtracks and the work of Talk Talk singer Mark Hollis, and features a great deal of woodwind instrumentation. [12]

On his new release, Anderson said: "It's a new chapter for me. I finally feel like I'm starting to establish my own identity as a solo artist." [13] Anderson has said that his new year tour will be devoid of any Suede songs. His live shows up until now have always included early songs and B-sides, however Anderson feels it is time to move on. Speaking to The Herald he says: "This is my third solo album and I think it’s time to move away from that... I still love those songs, they mean a lot to me, but I need some space from them." [14] Anderson wrote the album between January and May 2009, during which time he had written more than thirty songs. [14] The sleeve was designed by Brett Anderson and photographer Paul Khera.

Reception

The album was more warmly received than his previous album. However, it still garnered a mixed reaction from critics. Metacritic do not have an aggregate score for this album, though competitor site AnyDecentMusic? rated the album 5.7/10 based on nine reviews. [1] Andy Gill of The Independent , who was a harsh critic of Wilderness said: "this is by far his best solo effort, the collaboration with producer/arranger Leo Abrahams prompting Anderson's most interesting output since his alliance with Bernard Butler." [3]

Joshua Klein of Pitchfork rated the album 7.0 out of 10 and commented positively on Anderson's departure from Suede manifestations in his music. He wrote: "But if his first two solo albums came across self-conscious refutations of his roots, Anderson was at least brave enough to stick to his guns. Slow Attack doesn't always make sense in the context of Suede, but as far as solo Anderson goes, this album marks a logical next step in his transformation. Slow and steady, it's a promising sign of progress." [6]

Track listing

All songs written by Brett Anderson and Leo Abrahams, except where noted.

  1. "Hymn" – 3:36
  2. "Wheatfields" (Anderson) – 4:06
  3. "The Hunted" – 4:01
  4. "Frozen Roads" – 4:34
  5. "Summer" – 3:24
  6. "Pretty Widows" – 4:06
  7. "The Swans" – 4:39
  8. "Ashes of Us" – 4:41
  9. "Scarecrows and Lilacs" – 4:29
  10. "Julian's Eyes" – 3:46
  11. "Leave Me Sleeping" (Anderson) – 3:18

iTunes Edition

12. "Forest Lullaby"

Japanese Edition

12. "With You, Within You"

Japanese Bonus CD ROM

1. "Frozen Roads"
2. "Ashes of Us"
3. "When Doves Cry" (Prince)
4. "Leave Me Sleeping"
5. "The Hunted" (Video)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suede (band)</span> English rock band

Suede are an English rock band formed in London in 1989 by singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Justine Frischmann, and bass player Mat Osman. Drawing inspiration from glam rock and post-punk, Suede were dubbed "The Best New Band in Britain" by Melody Maker in 1992, and attracted much attention from the British music press. The following year their debut album Suede went to the top of the UK Albums Chart, becoming the fastest-selling debut album in almost ten years. It won the Mercury Music Prize and helped foster 'Britpop' as a musical movement, though the band distanced themselves from the term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernard Butler</span> Musical artist

Bernard Joseph Butler is a British musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as guitarist with Suede, until his departure in 1994. He has been hailed by some critics as the greatest guitarist of his generation; BBC journalist Mark Savage called him "one of Britain's most original and influential guitarists". He was voted the 24th greatest guitarist of the last 30 years in a national 2010 BBC poll and is often seen performing with a 1961 cherry red Gibson ES-355 TD SV with a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Barre</span> British guitarist

Martin Lancelot Barre is an English guitarist best known for his longtime role as lead guitarist of British rock band Jethro Tull, with whom he recorded and toured from 1968 until the band's initial dissolution in 2011. Barre played on all of Jethro Tull's studio albums from their 1969 album Stand Up to their 2003 album The Jethro Tull Christmas Album. In the early 1990s he began a solo career, and he has recorded several albums as well as touring with his own live band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Tears</span>

The Tears were an English rock supergroup formed in 2004 by ex-Suede bandmates Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler, along with the former Delicatessen and Lodger members Will Foster (keyboardist), bassist Nathan Fisher, and Bernard Butler session drummer Makoto Sakamoto. The duo Anderson and Butler were a much anticipated reunion and music critics praised their first concerts and only album, Here Come the Tears. However, the project was short-lived as they disbanded in 2006, which allowed Anderson to focus on his solo career and the latter Suede's reformation in 2010, Butler became a full-time producer, and Foster worked as additional musician for The Fratellis since 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Anderson</span> English singer

Brett Lewis Anderson is an English singer best known as the lead singer and primary lyricist of the band Suede. After Suede disbanded in 2003, he fronted The Tears with former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler in 2004–2006, and released four solo albums on which he also played guitar and keyboards. Suede re-formed in 2010; they continue to record and tour.

<i>Suede</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Suede

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<i>Coming Up</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Suede

Coming Up is the third album by English alternative rock band Suede, released on 2 September 1996 through Nude Records. It was the band's first album since the departure of guitarist Bernard Butler, who was replaced by Richard Oakes. Also added to the band was keyboardist Neil Codling. The album was nominated for the 1997 Mercury Prize. A commercial and critical success, Coming Up was the second by the band to reach no. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, producing five top ten singles and receiving a favourable reception at home and in the US. Coming Up was the album that introduced Suede to a worldwide audience, in places such as Europe, Canada and Asia.

<i>Dog Man Star</i> 1994 studio album by Suede

Dog Man Star is the second album by English alternative rock band Suede, released in October 1994 on Nude Records. The album was recorded in London at Master Rock studios in early 1994, and was produced by Ed Buller. It was the last Suede album to feature guitarist Bernard Butler; growing tensions between him and singer Brett Anderson ended with Butler leaving the band before recording was complete. As a result, some tracks on the album had to be finished with the assistance of session musicians.

<i>A New Morning</i> 2002 studio album by Suede

A New Morning is the fifth studio album by English alternative rock band Suede, released in September 2002. By the time the album was released, public interest in the band had waned, as shown by the poor charting of both the album and singles. Despite this, however, the album received moderate praise from critics. It is the only Suede album not to be released in the US. It was the last studio album released by the band before their seven-year hiatus and reunion in 2010. Before recording took place, keyboardist and guitarist Neil Codling left the band due to his health concern, and later was replaced by former Strangelove guitarist, Alex Lee. As Codling returned to the band for their 2010 reunion, this is their only studio album to have featured Lee.

<i>Head Music</i> 1999 studio album by Suede

Head Music is the fourth album by English alternative rock band Suede, released by Nude Records in May 1999. Produced and mixed by Steve Osborne, Head Music features a more electronic sound, which was a new approach for the band. The recording of Head Music was plagued with difficulties such as singer Brett Anderson's addiction to crack, and keyboardist Neil Codling's struggle with chronic fatigue syndrome. The album still went to number 1 on the UK Albums Chart, however, making it the band's third and final chart-topping album. Overall, the album received generally favourable reviews from critics.

<i>Here Come the Tears</i> 2005 studio album by The Tears

Here Come the Tears is the only studio album by English rock band the Tears. It was released on 6 June 2005 on Independiente. Frontman Brett Anderson and guitarist Bernard Butler had found success together earlier in Suede, with Butler leaving that band after just two albums. Suede's career was on pause when the two reunited for this project. In January 2004, the pair had begun recording music together in secrecy; they decided to form the Tears with bassist Nathan Fisher, drummer Makoto Sakamoto and keyboardist Will Foster. The band had accumulated 18 demos by June 2004, after which, they started recording the album. Sessions were held across various studios with Butler as the producer and finished by October 2004. Here Come the Tears is a pop album that evokes the work of David Bowie, and was compared to Suede's second studio album Dog Man Star (1994).

<i>Sci-Fi Lullabies</i> 1997 compilation album by Suede

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Wild Ones (song)</span> 1994 single by Suede

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trash (Suede song)</span> 1996 single by Suede

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Wilderness is the second studio album by the English singer Brett Anderson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leo Abrahams</span> Musical artist

Leo Matthew Abrahams is an English musician, composer and producer. He has collaborated with a multitude of professional musicians, including Brian Eno, Katie Melua, Imogen Heap, Jarvis Cocker, Carl Barât, Regina Spektor, Jon Hopkins and Paul Simon. After attending the Royal Academy of Music in England, he started his musical career by touring as lead guitarist with Imogen Heap. Since 2005 he has released five solo albums, largely in an ambient style involving complex arrangements and a use of guitar-generated textures. He has also co-written or arranged a variety of film soundtracks, including Peter Jackson's 2009 release The Lovely Bones and Steve McQueen's Hunger. Abrahams has produced Regina Spektor's album Remember Us to Life. Hayden Thorpe's Diviner, Editors' Violence and Ghostpoet's Dark Days + Canapés.

Black Rainbows may refer to:

References

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  2. Erlwine, Stephen Thomas. "Brett Anderson - Slow Attack". AllMusic . Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  3. 1 2 Gill, Andy (6 November 2009). "Album: Brett Anderson, Slow Attack (BA Songs)". The Independent. Archived from the original on 10 November 2009.
  4. Eccleston, Danny (March 2016). "A Little Night Music". Mojo (268): 41.
  5. Robinson, Martin (31 October 2009). "Brett Anderson: Slow Attack". NME: 37.
  6. 1 2 Klein, Joshua (4 January 2010). "Brett Anderson - Slow Attack". Pitchfork. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  7. Cooke, Jennifer (7 December 2009). "Brett Anderson: Slow Attack". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  8. Edwards, Mark (8 November 2009). "Brett Anderson: Slow Attack". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  9. Clay, Joe (31 October 2009). "Brett Anderson: Slow Attack". The Times. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  10. Gittins, Ian. "Britpop A-lister takes the road less travelled". Virgin Media. Archived from the original on 5 November 2009.
  11. "Anderson on the attack". Planet Sound. Archived from the original on 19 October 2009.
  12. "Brett Anderson Solo Album Details". Xfm. 7 October 2009. Archived from the original on 9 October 2009.
  13. Nissim, Mayer (10 November 2009). "Brett Anderson: 'Album is a new chapter'". Digital Spy . Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  14. 1 2 Thomson, Graeme (3 November 2009). "Finding beauty in haunting lines of melancholy music". The Herald. Archived from the original on 7 November 2009.