Trash // Suede
When it comes to Britpop, two bands immediately come to mind. Oasis & Blur. But the term attached to those bands’ styles may have never existed if it wasn’t for the seminal Britpop band, Suede. Formed in London in 1989, the group’s most prominent line-up consisted of Brett Anderson (vocals), Bernard Butler (guitarist), Mat Osman (bass) and Simon Gilbert (drummer). The band slowly became the centre of attention within the British music press, with their debut album Suede going to the top of the charts in 1992, becoming the fastest-selling debut album in almost ten years.
The band’s follow up album Dog Man Star (1994) saw them distance themselves from Britpop, which ultimately made the band suffer popularity wise. It wasn’t until the recruitment of new band members Richard Oakes and Neil Codling that the band rose to relevance again, with their commercial success Coming Up in 1996. This was the record that brought the classic songs ‘Trash’, ‘Beautiful Ones’ and ‘Saturday Night’ to the airwaves, ultimately making Suede’s third album a classic Britpop party record.
‘Trash’ signals a significant change in Suede’s musical composition, being much more theatrical and pop-influenced rather than their usual gloomy sound. The song is an anthem for outsiders, with Anderson describing it to be as much about himself as well as fans of Suede and the band itself.
Words by Sophie McEvoy