The album was later described by writer Nick Duerden as "the most pompous, overblown British rock record of the decade".[12] Anderson has said that its overblown sound was down to his use of psychedelic drugs: "I was doing an awful lot of acid at the time, and I think it was this that gave us the confidence to push boundaries."[12] He has also said that he thrived on the surreal environment he lived in at the time; next door were a sect known as the Mennonites, who would often sing hymns during Anderson's drug binges.[13] After the success of their debut album, Suede were hailed as the inventors of Britpop, something they were proud of for a short while. However, Britpop started to be dominated by the other bands, notably Blur, Oasis and Pulp. This disgusted Anderson, who called Britpop "a musical Carry On film."[12] Fearing he was on a collision course of becoming a celebrity, Anderson deliberately distanced himself from the scene, which prompted his relocation to Highgate.[13] "We could not have been more uninterested in that whole boozy, cartoon-like, fake working-class thing", the singer said in 2008. "As soon as we became aware of it, we went away and wrote Dog Man Star. You could not find a less Britpop record. It's tortured, epic, extremely sexual and personal. None of those things apply to Britpop."[14]
Anderson spoke of the album's title as a kind of shorthand Darwinism reflecting his own journey from the gutter to the stars.[60] Fans noted the similarity to experimental film-maker Stan Brakhage's 1964 film, Dog Star Man. According to Anderson, the film had no influence on the title. He claims that the three words are featured in almost all the songs in some form.[61] The title is intended as a proud summation of Suede's evolution. "It was meant to be a record about ambition; what could you make yourself into."[13]
Suede Dog Man Star Remastered To
Promotion for the album took place in a somewhat lukewarm atmosphere. With the departure of one half of the song-writing partnership, fans and the music press had assumed that the band were finished.[12] Anderson and the remaining members were determined to continue on as normal and conducted press interviews to get the message across that the band were looking for a new guitarist; and that they were staying together, as Suede was the only thing they ever truly believed in. Promotion for the album started one month before its scheduled release with the band conducting interviews with the UK and American music press. The band recruited new guitarist Richard Oakes mid-September after hearing a tape of him playing "My Insatiable One" that he had sent to the band's fanclub.[64] Lead single "We Are the Pigs" was released 12 September peaking at 18 in the UK.[65] The choice of lead single had been a subject of debate, with Sony pressuring Anderson to release "New Generation" first for commercial reasons.[19][66][67] He was unwavering on the matter, putting his artistic beliefs ahead of business sense as he felt "We Are the Pigs" had the "drama and power" that represented the album's message.[68] He recalled: "I'd mis-read people's perception of the song. I'd lost my perspective on reality."[67] Bassist Mat Osman felt "The Wild Ones" should have been the first single, and said releasing "We Are the Pigs" was "commercial suicide."[69] The single was performed 22 September on Top of the Pops where Oakes made his first TV performance. The band played three dates in Paris early October, with Oakes making his live debut there before making his official UK debut at a secret fanclub show at Raw Club in London 10 October.[70]
In June 2011, Suede released remastered and expanded editions of their previous five studio albums. Released in chronological order each week. The expanded version includes the original 12 tracks remastered. Additional bonus material includes demos, all b-sides from the singles "Stay Together", "We Are the Pigs" and "The Wild Ones". Missing are the b-sides to "New Generation", which featured replacement guitarist Richard Oakes. Also included are six extra tracks; notable songs include the original unedited versions of "The Wild Ones" and "The Asphalt World", and "La Puissance", a version of "The Power" sung in French. The DVD features song-films which were specially created for the Dog Man Star tour and previously-unseen footage of the band playing at the Casino de Paris and at the Fnac, Les Halles in Paris on 27 November 1993. The bonus DVD material features a 2011 interview with Anderson and Butler including contemporary film inserts from Simon Gilbert. The booklet contains all the lyrics, hand-written lyric drafts and previously unpublished photos of the band. There is also a specially-written note by Anderson; in it he says: "If I could choose to be remembered for just one musical document it would be this."[81] The reissue is notable for having no content featuring Oakes. It was revealed by Suede's biographer David Barnett that Butler made an "11th hour" request that all traces of Oakes - B-sides, live footage and promotional videos for the singles be erased from the reissue.[82] The reissue charted at no. 63 in the UK Albums Chart.[65]
Queen fans will want to snap up this 2-CD collection of remastered hits, deep cuts, reinterpretations and three previously unreleased tracks featuring the late, great Freddie Mercury (currently selling for just $15.88) 2ff7e9595c
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