The Blue Hour (album)

Last updated

The Blue Hour
Suede The Blue Hour.jpg
Studio album by
Suede
Released21 September 2018 (2018-09-21)
Recorded2017–2018
Studio Assault & Battery, London
Genre
Length51:36
Label Warner Music UK
Producer Alan Moulder
Suede chronology
Night Thoughts
(2016)		The Blue Hour
(2018)		 Autofiction
(2022)
Singles from The Blue Hour
  1. "The Invisibles"
    Released: 3 June 2018
  2. "Don't Be Afraid If Nobody Loves You"
    Released: 12 July 2018
  3. "Life Is Golden"
    Released: 15 August 2018
  4. "Flytipping"
    Released: 14 September 2018
  5. "Wastelands"
    Released: 29 October 2018

The Blue Hour is the eighth studio album by English alternative rock band Suede. The album was released on 21 September 2018. [1] [2]

Contents

It was the first Suede album since A New Morning not to be produced by longtime producer Ed Buller, and the first to be produced by Alan Moulder. [3] This is their final album to be released under Warner Music.

Background

The concept for The Blue Hour began in May 2016, when lead singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Richard Oakes and keyboardist Neil Codling wrote the song "Mistress"; a song about a boy's realisation of his father's affair. [4] The band then spent eighteen months composing the rest before recording it in six weeks from September to October 2017 at Assault & Battery studios in London with new producer Alan Moulder. [4] The band finished the recording of the album in February 2018, shortly after the recording of orchestra sessions was finished, later finished the mixing in April, announcing the album, release date, tracklisting and artwork at the end of that month along with their testing press of the album at Abbey Road Studios.

Release and promotion

The album was announced on 28 April 2018 with the mysterious title, #Suede8 through their Instagram, before they revealed the official title on 30 April 2018 via a video trailer on their Instagram and YouTube, along with their 2018 UK and Europe Tour. [5]

Just over a week before its release, the band uploaded their final trailer with the backsong "Flytipping" through their social media and YouTube.

The first promotional single, "The Invisibles", was released on 3 June 2018. Second single, "Don't Be Afraid If Nobody Loves You" followed on 12 July. The third, "Life Is Golden" was released on 15 August; its accompanying music video comprises footage of Ukrainian ghost town, Pripyat. Fourth single, "Flytipping" was issued on 14 September. The accompanying music video of "Wastelands" was uploaded on 29 October through their official YouTube channel, and featured the free-runner Robbie Griffith.

The album was released in a number of different versions:

The Official Charts Company reported midweek sales of 9,654. [6] It had sold 10,986 units by the end of the week. [7]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 7.6/10 [8]
Metacritic 77/100 [9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [10]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [12]
The Irish Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [14]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]
The Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [18]
Uncut 8/10 [19]

The Blue Hour was released to positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, The Blue Hour has an average score of 77 based on 16 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [9]

Commercial performance

The Blue Hour charted at number five on the UK Albums Chart, which is the highest-charting album by the band since Head Music in 1999. [20] The album has sold 27,396 units as of July 2021 according to the Official Charts Company. [20]

Year-end lists

PublicationAccoladeRankRef.
Drowned in Sound Top 15 Albums of 2018
13
Gigwise Top 51 Albums of 2018
10
The Independent The 40 Best Albums of 2018
35
Mojo The 75 Best Albums of 2018
35
musicOMH Top 50 Albums of 2018
5
The Quietus Top 100 Albums of 2018
4

Track listing

Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."As One"
4:10
2."Wastelands"
  • Anderson
  • Oakes
5:31
3."Mistress"
  • Anderson
  • Oakes
3:23
4."Beyond the Outskirts"
  • Anderson
  • Oakes
4:06
5."Chalk Circles"
  • Anderson
  • Codling
2:04
6."Cold Hands"
  • Anderson
  • Codling
3:16
7."Life Is Golden"
  • Anderson
  • Oakes
  • Codling
3:57
8."Roadkill"
  • Anderson
  • Codling
2:06
9."Tides"
  • Anderson
  • Oakes
4:08
10."Don't Be Afraid If Nobody Loves You"
  • Anderson
  • Oakes
4:24
11."Dead Bird"
  • Anderson
  • Codling
0:26
12."All the Wild Places"
  • Anderson
  • Codling
3:15
13."The Invisibles"
  • Anderson
  • Oakes
  • Codling
4:09
14."Flytipping"
  • Anderson
  • Oakes
  • Codling
6:41
Total length:51:36
Japanese and deluxe box set bonus CD
No.TitleLength
1."The Blue Hour instrumental"51:36
Total length:51:36
Box set 7" vinyl
No.TitleLength
15."Manipulation"2:05
Box set DVD
No.TitleLength
1."The Blue Hour album band's commentary" 
2."The Blue Hour Trailer"0:19
3."The Invisibles" (promo video)4:14
4."Don't Be Afraid If Nobody Loves You" (promo video)4:30

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [27] 58
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [28] 33
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [29] 29
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI) [30] 49
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [31] 52
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [32] 37
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [33] 32
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) [34] 37
Irish Albums (IRMA) [35] 22
Italian Albums (FIMI) [36] 40
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [37] 58
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [38] 38
Scottish Albums (OCC) [39] 7
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [40] 11
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [41] 48
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [42] 44
UK Albums (OCC) [43] 5

Related Research Articles

<i>Hot Fuss</i> 2004 album by the Killers

Hot Fuss is the debut studio album by American rock band the Killers, released on June 7, 2004 in the United Kingdom and on June 15, 2004 in the United States by Island Records. The album's music is mostly influenced by new wave and post-punk. Hot Fuss spawned four commercially and critically successful singles: "Mr. Brightside", "Somebody Told Me", "All These Things That I've Done" and "Smile Like You Mean It".

<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>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>To Lose My Life...</i> 2009 studio album by White Lies

To Lose My Life... is the debut album by the British indie rock band White Lies. It was released on 19 January 2009 by Fiction Records. The album was produced by Ed Buller and Max Dingel, and was recorded at ICP Studios in Belgium and Kore Studios in London.

<i>Ritual</i> (White Lies album) 2011 studio album by White Lies

Ritual is the second studio album by the British Indie rock band White Lies. It was released on 17 January 2011 by Fiction Records. The album was produced by Alan Moulder and Max Dingel, at the Assault & Battery Studios in London. The art direction and design were done by Tom Hingston Studio, featuring the Hartridge twins, Alice and Jessica, on the cover. The album's lead single, "Bigger than Us", was released on 3 January 2011.

<i>Magic Hour</i> (Scissor Sisters album) 2012 studio album by Scissor Sisters

Magic Hour is the fourth and final studio album by American band Scissor Sisters, released on May 25, 2012, by Polydor Records. The first single from the album was initially "Shady Love" but was later replaced by "Only the Horses", co-produced by recording artist and DJ Calvin Harris, which entered and peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Battle Born</i> (album) 2012 studio album by the Killers

Battle Born is the fourth studio album by American rock band the Killers. It was released in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2012, by Vertigo Records and in the United States the following day by Island Records. The phrase "Battle Born" appears on the state flag of Nevada and is the name of the recording studio owned by the band, where the majority of the album was recorded.

<i>Bloodsports</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Suede

Bloodsports is the sixth studio album by English alternative rock band Suede. It was released on 18 March 2013, via Warner Bros. Records. It is their first studio album since A New Morning in 2002.

<i>Hesitation Marks</i> 2013 album by Nine Inch Nails

Hesitation Marks is the eighth studio album by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released on August 30, 2013, by The Null Corporation and distributed by Columbia Records in the United States and Polydor Records elsewhere. It was the band's first release in five years, following The Slip (2008), as well as their only release on Columbia. Like previous albums, the album was produced by frontman Trent Reznor alongside longtime collaborators Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder. To date, this is the most recent band's album to be co-produced by Moulder.

<i>El Pintor</i> 2014 studio album by Interpol

El Pintor is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Interpol. It was released through Matador Records and Soft Limit on September 8, 2014, internationally, and on September 9, 2014, in North America. El Pintor is the band's first album without bassist Carlos Dengler, who departed Interpol after the release of the band's eponymous album in 2010.

<i>Music Complete</i> 2015 studio album by New Order

Music Complete is the tenth studio album by English rock band New Order. It was released on 25 September 2015 by Mute Records, their debut on the label. The album features guest vocals from Elly Jackson of La Roux, Iggy Pop, and Brandon Flowers of The Killers.

<i>In Dream</i> 2015 studio album by Editors

In Dream is the fifth studio album by British band Editors. It was produced by the band themselves and released on 2 October 2015 through PIAS Recordings.

<i>Night Thoughts</i> (album) Album by Suede

Night Thoughts is the seventh studio album by English alternative rock band Suede. Produced by long-time collaborator Ed Buller, the album was released through Warner Music UK on 22 January 2016 to widespread critical acclaim. It was accompanied by a feature film, directed by Roger Sargent. During their 2016 tour the band performed from behind a screen on which Sargent's film was projected during the first half of their set. The album is considered by many critics to be the band's finest work since 1994's Dog Man Star.

<i>Lukas Graham</i> (2015 album) 2015 studio album by Lukas Graham

Lukas Graham is the second studio album by Danish band Lukas Graham. It was released in Denmark on 16 June 2015 through Copenhagen Records. The album includes the singles "Mama Said", "Strip No More" and "7 Years". A version of the album incorporating "Drunk in the Morning" and "Better Than Yourself " from the band's debut was released internationally on 1 April 2016, serving as the band's debut album in the United States and United Kingdom.

<i>Bad Witch</i> 2018 studio album by Nine Inch Nails

Bad Witch is the ninth studio album by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released by The Null Corporation and Capitol Records on June 22, 2018. It is the last of a trilogy of releases, following their two previous EPs Not the Actual Events (2016) and Add Violence (2017). As with the previous releases in the trilogy, it was produced by frontman Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, making it the band's first studio album since 2007's Year Zero to not be co-produced by the long-time collaborator Alan Moulder, who is credited with mixing the album.

<i>Oochya!</i> 2022 studio album by Stereophonics

Oochya! is the twelfth studio album by Welsh rock band Stereophonics, released on 4 March 2022 on Ignition Records. It is scheduled to be supported by a 2022 arena tour.

<i>The Other Side of Make-Believe</i> 2022 studio album by Interpol

The Other Side of Make-Believe is the seventh studio album by American rock band Interpol, released on July 15, 2022, through Matador Records. Produced by Mark "Flood" Ellis and mixed by Alan Moulder, the album was recorded between September 2021 and January 2022 at Battery Studios in London. The songs "Toni", "Something Changed", "Fables", and "Gran Hotel" were released as singles in promotion of the album. The album title comes from the opening lyrics of the track "Passenger".

<i>Autofiction</i> (album) 2022 studio album by Suede

Autofiction is the ninth studio album by English alternative rock band Suede. The album was released on 16 September 2022 via BMG to critical acclaim. It was their first release in four years, following 2018's The Blue Hour and their first since Night Thoughts in 2016 to feature longtime producer Ed Buller. The album was created as a stylistic distinction from their previous reunion work, which had taken on a more orchestral and cinematic scope.

<i>Blue Hours</i> 2022 studio album by Bears Den

Blue Hours is the fifth studio album by British folk rock band Bear's Den. It was released on 13 May 2022 by Communion in the United Kingdom and internationally. The album was written by the band and produced by Ian Grimble. It marked the band's first record of new material since So That You Might Hear Me in 2019 and follows the collaboration album with Paul Frith, Fragments. The album debuted on the UK Albums Chart at number 6, making it the band's joint highest-charting album domestically.

References

  1. ↑ Copsey, Rob (30 April 2018). "Suede announce new album The Blue Hour". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "Suede Prep New LP, 'The Blue Hour'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "SUEDE :: Banda anuncia novo álbum para setembro". Urge | Música, Filmes, Séries, Games (in Brazilian Portuguese). 30 April 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  4. 1 2 Harrison, Ian (July 2018). "What Goes On!". Mojo (296): 22.
  5. ↑ YouTube trailer
  6. ↑ Homewood, Ben (26 September 2018). "Suede poised for Top 5 entry with The Blue Hour". Music Week . Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  7. ↑ Jones, Alan (23 September 2022). "Charts analysis: Blackpink become second Korean act to score UK No.1 album" . Music Week. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  8. ↑ "The Blue Hour by Suede reviews". AnyDecentMusic? . Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  9. 1 2 "The Blue Hour by Suede Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  10. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Blue Hour – Suede". AllMusic . Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  11. ↑ Turner, Luke (21 September 2018). "Suede: The Blue Hour review – a wild ride into a rural nightmare". The Guardian . Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  12. ↑ Beaumont, Mark; O'Connor, Roisin (20 September 2018). "Album reviews: Suede – The Blue Hour, Villagers – The Art of Pretending to Swim". The Independent . Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  13. ↑ Clayton-Lea, Tony (21 September 2018). "Suede: The Blue Hour review – Orchestral manoeuvres with a spark". The Irish Times . Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  14. ↑ Perry, Andrew (October 2018). "Suede: The Blue Hour". Mojo . No. 299. London. p. 93.
  15. ↑ Trendell, Andrew (19 September 2018). "Suede – 'The Blue Hour' review". NME . Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  16. ↑ Barton, Laura (October 2018). "Pomp and Circumstance". Q . No. 390. London. p. 118.
  17. ↑ Harley, Kevin (October 2018). "Suede – The Blue Hour". Record Collector . No. 484. London. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  18. ↑ Hodgkinson, Will (21 September 2018). "Pop review: Suede: The Blue Hour" . The Times . Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  19. ↑ Wray, Daniel Dylan (October 2018). "Suede: The Blue Hour". Uncut . No. 257. London. p. 34.
  20. 1 2 Paine, Andre (9 July 2021). "Suede sign to BMG for new album". Music Week . Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  21. ↑ "Drowned in Sound's 15 Favourite Albums of 2018". Drowned in Sound . 9 December 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  22. ↑ "Gigwise's 51 Best Albums of 2018". Gigwise . 17 December 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  23. ↑ "The 40 Best Albums of 2018". The Independent . 19 December 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  24. ↑ "The 75 Best Albums of 2018". Mojo . No. 302. January 2019. p. 43.
  25. ↑ Hubbard, Michael (5 December 2018). "MusicOMH's Top 50 Albums of 2018". musicOMH . Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  26. ↑ Turner, Luke (25 December 2018). "The Quietus' Top 100 Albums of 2018". The Quietus . Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  27. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Suede – The Blue Hour" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  28. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Suede – The Blue Hour" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  29. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Suede – The Blue Hour" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  30. ↑ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 39.Týden 2018 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  31. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Suede – The Blue Hour" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  32. ↑ "Suede: The Blue Hour" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  33. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Suede – The Blue Hour" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  34. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2018. 39. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  35. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Suede". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  36. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Suede – The Blue Hour". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  37. ↑ "Suede". Oricon . Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  38. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Suede – The Blue Hour". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  39. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  40. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Suede – The Blue Hour". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  41. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Suede – The Blue Hour". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  42. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Suede – The Blue Hour". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  43. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.