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issue 1 june 2004

as far as i can remember, q had no big cover story dedicated to suede. their dislike of anything post-butler had been long known already, but hey look! it’s a head music review by tom doyle and it includes the following final communiqué: “even if there might be a strong sense that suede will definitely have to return to the drawing board for their next record, in fear of dangerously stretching the point, head music is easily – almost effortlessly – their best and most wholly realised album to date.” like select’s wilkinson, doyle writes about the staticness of suede, about them taking the risk of becoming a ridiculous parody of themselves (an accusation often heard ever since head music) – but “against all odds -- it’s a gamble that pays off.” 4 stars. 

did i prove my point already? people liked suede a hell of a lot more in 1999 than they did in 2003. 

when you count together the press head music got and the promotion it got, and then the press a new morning didn’t get and the promotion it didn’t get, it’s not very difficult to see why the former sold (well at least something!) and the latter didn’t. they might not be perfect albums, but neither of them – oh stone me if you like, i won’t step back – neither of them is bad. they don’t deserve to be slagged off on a “gotta pan this eh? right let’s see…” basis.