| Wilderness | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 7 July 2008 (USB Stick Format) 29 July 2008 (Digital Download) 11 August 2008 (Disc Format through indie stores) 1 September 2008 (General Release) | |||
| Recorded | 12–18 May 2008 | |||
| Studio | RAK Studios, The Pierce Rooms | |||
| Genre | Indie rock, art rock, baroque pop, acoustic rock | |||
| Length | 35:48 | |||
| Label | BA Songs | |||
| Producer | Brett Anderson, Fred Ball | |||
| Brett Anderson chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Wilderness | ||||
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Wilderness is the second studio album by the English singer Brett Anderson.
Wilderness was created with minimal use of instrumentation and studio production. Singer Brett Anderson opted for a pared-back sound, singing and playing piano alongside cellist Amy Langley. [1] Wilderness was recorded in only seven days, with most tracks recorded as live takes. The cover photograph is by Allan Jenkins. Anderson is keen to make the live shows of Wilderness symbolise an intimate affair. "The live shows will be very minimalist with just myself and a cello player on stage." [2] Speaking on the album's much lower media profile compared with his previous work, Anderson said: "I have no record company, no publisher and a smaller audience but I have never been more confident and focused about what I am doing as an artist." [3]
According to Anderson's manager Ian Grenfell, promoting Wilderness was not going to follow the usual "rule book". He said: "Brett knew exactly what record he wanted to make, and we recognized it was unlikely to get radio airplay, so we've put a [marketing] structure around it that makes sense commercially." [1] The album was released on Anderson's own BA Songs label. [1] The album was released to audiences via various dates and methods. Fans who bought tickets for Anderson's performance at London's Mermaid Theatre on 7 July received a copy of the album on USB stick format. [4] Members of Bowers & Wilkins Music Club were able to receive a copy on their website from 9 July. [3] This was followed by a download version 29 July, limited CD release through Coalition independent music retailers 11 August and a general release 1 September. [1]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 46/100 [5] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
| The Guardian | [7] |
| The Independent | [8] |
| Metro | [9] |
| Mojo | [10] |
| musicOMH | [11] |
| NME |  [12] |
| The Press | [13] |
| Q | [14] |
| The Sunday Times | [15] |
The album received mixed reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 46 out of 100, which indicates "mixed or average reviews" based on 6 reviews. [5] Sam Wolfson of The Guardian was unimpressed, saying that "Anderson had reached a creative menopause." [7] Rick Martin of NME wrote: "Most depressing of all is that Brett Anderson, once one of Britain’s most beguiling indie-pop stars, has become this irrelevant." [12] Andy Gill of The Independent was also negative, saying: "this slim suite of melancholy reveries should polish off what remains of Anderson's fanbase." He did, however have kind words for the single "Back to You", calling it a "half-decent song" and his pick of the album. [8]
AllMusic were more favourable, Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote: "For those who are still paying attention, it's actually quite nice to hear Anderson reconnecting to that initial spark while finding ways to experiment. It may not make him a star again, but Wilderness does find Brett Anderson creatively revitalized." [6] Also favourable was Jenni Cole of musicOMH , who wrote: "Wilderness is a slow burner, a gentle and fragile album stripped of the raw emotion of earlier Anderson efforts but no worse for that." [11]
Credits adapted from Wilderness liner notes.
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.
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.
Suede is the debut album by English alternative rock band Suede, released in March 1993 on Nude Records. It was recorded in London at Master Rock studios late 1992 and early 1993 and was produced by Ed Buller. At the time the fastest-selling debut album in British history in almost a decade, Suede debuted at the top of the UK Albums Chart, won the 1993 Mercury Music Prize, and is often cited as one of the first Britpop records. Displaying a sound of Britishness and glam rock, its music and lyrical content has been compared to the Smiths and early David Bowie.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Sci-Fi Lullabies is a two-disc compilation album by English alternative rock band Suede released by Nude Records on 6 October 1997, consisting of B-sides from the singles that were released from the group's first three albums. It reached no. 9 on the UK Albums Chart, and received universal acclaim on release. In subsequent years, the record has been hailed as one of the finest B-side compilations in popular music.
Brett Anderson is the first solo release from Suede and the Tears frontman Brett Anderson. It was released on 26 March 2007 by Drowned in Sound Recordings.
"Back to You" is the second solo single by Suede frontman Brett Anderson. It was released in July 2007.
Black Rainbows is the fourth solo album by the English singer-songwriter Brett Anderson, released on 26 September 2011. This is Anderson's first solo album following Suede's reformation in 2010.
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.
Who We Touch is the eleventh album by British alternative rock band The Charlatans, released on 6 September 2010. It was released in a standard version and a two disc version. The second CD contained early demos, alternate mixes of tracks from the standard album, and some out-takes that didn't make it on to the album. The album charted at #21 in the UK album charts. The album was later released digitally.
The Best of Suede is a compilation album by English alternative rock band Suede, released on 1 November 2010.
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.
Weatherhouse is the second album by the English musician Philip Selway, released on 6 October 2014. It features musicians in Selway's backing band. On 31 July 2014 a music video was released for the first single from the album, "Coming Up for Air". On 22 September 2014 a music video was released for another song on the album, "It Will End In Tears". Whereas Selway's first album, Familial (2010), was largely acoustic, Weatherhouse features more ambitious arrangements and electronic elements.
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.
The Blue Hour is the eighth studio album by English alternative rock band Suede. The album was released on 21 September 2018.
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.
