Sci-Fi Lullabies

by Suede

Overview

Few debut singles have the impact of Suede's "The Drowners," which helped set the course to Britpop and established Suede as one of the U.K.'s most important bands. In that light, it isn't surprising that the B-sides were considered as important as the A-side -- the slow, grinding "My Insatiable One" was covered in concerts by Morrissey weeks after its release, while the band often closed shows with the majestic "To the Birds." The strength of the "Drowners" B-sides wasn't an anomaly -- it established a precedent of high-quality B-sides that Suede strove to maintain on their first three albums. The double-disc Sci-Fi Lullabies collects the majority of those B-sides, leaving behind the odd live track and remix, as well as the worthy "Painted People" and "Asda Town" and the non-LP single "Stay Together." What's included is stellar, offering an alternate history of Suede. In fact, the first disc -- comprised of Suede and Dog Man Star B-sides, plus the haunting "Europe Is Our Playground" -- is as strong as any of their albums, featuring such essentials as the sleazy "He's Dead," "The Living Dead," "My Dark Star," the storming "Killing of a Flash Boy," the sighing "Where the Pigs Don't Fly," and "Whipsnade," all strong enough to be A-sides. Disc two isn't quite as consistent, which might be because they're all drawn from the singles for Coming Up, but it does find the band exploring their darker, more adventurous side, which they largely suppressed on that record. Unlike most B-sides compilations, Sci-Fi Lullabies is far from extraneous -- for any Suede fan, and most fans of contemporary Britpop, this is absolutely essential material, confirming the group's status as one of the '90s' greatest bands. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	02/25/2014
Label:	Demon Records
UPC:	5014797890299
Rank:	53019

Tracks

Disc 1

1. My Insatiable One
2. To the Birds
3. Where the Pigs Don't Fly
4. He's Dead
5. The Big Time
6. High Rising
7. The Living Dead
8. My Dark Star
9. Killing of a Flash Boy

Disc 2

10. Whipsnade
11. Modern Boys
12. Together
13. Bentswood Boys
14. Europe Is Our Playground
15. Every Monday Morning Comes
16. Have You Ever Been This Low?
17. Another No One
18. Young Men
19. The Sound of the Streets

Disc 3

20. Money
21. WSD
22. This Time
23. Jumble Sale Mums
24. These Are the Sad Songs
25. Sadie
26. Graffiti Women
27. Duchess