Year In Review: Ten Of The Best Albums Of 2018

Words: Rajan Lakhani

Rajan here. It's been a tough ask to cut down my favourite albums of 2018, with excellent records by the likes of Beach House, Father John Misty, Janelle Monae, Jeff Tweedy and Boygenius just missing out on the top ten below. Tracks from these albums do however make it onto a Spotify playlist, alongside my other favourite songs of 2018, so check that out after you've read the list of ten of the best albums to come out last year below.

Watch: Suede - Life Is Golden [Official Video]

Words: Rajan Lakhani

While 'Life Is Golden' is the first official single from Suede’s upcoming 'The Blue Hour' album, it’s actually the third song released from the record following the orchestral, Morricone-influenced 'The Invisibles' and the rockier 'Don’t Be Afraid If Nobody Loves You'.

Playlist: Record Store Day 2013 Recommendations

Words: Team FG

Today is Record Store Day, an annual worldwide independent music extravaganza. By the time you read this, you may already have returned from your outing, records in tow. Equally, you might not have set out - every day is something of a record store day, after all. Either way, here are some of our recommended special releases that have come out on Record Store Day 2013.

Album Review: Suede - Bloodsports

Suede - 'Bloodsports' (UK Release: 18 March '13) // Words: Rajan Lakhani

I remember the moment Suede announced their decision to split up in 2003 vividly. I wasn’t particularly disappointed as their last album 'A New Morning' was, by some distance, their worst record - a band that had made such a colossal impact on British music with their debut album had gone out with a whimper. 'Bloodsports' is Suede’s opportunity to remind people what the fuss was all about in the first place.

Listen: Suede - It Starts And Ends With You [New Single]

Words: Rajan Lakhani

In my review of 'Barriers', I suspected Suede may be saving a more anthemic, poppy song for their first single and 'It Starts and Ends With You' is certainly that. With Britpop enjoying a cultural revival, exemplified by Pulp's appearance on 'The Jonathan Ross Show', it feels perfectly timed and the single wouldn't sound out of place on a 'Shine' compilation.

Download: Suede - Barriers [New Track]

Words: Rajan Lakhani

Suede lead singer, Brett Anderson is fast cementing himself as the comeback kid of the alternative music scene. It could be argued that this is his third return, after 'Trash', Suede's first new record released with new guitarist Richard Oakes following the departure of Bernard Butler, and then 'Refugees', which marked his reunion with Butler as The Tears' after Suede went on hiatus. Listen to new track 'Barriers' below.

Album Review: Suede - Head Music

Suede - 'Head Music' (UK re-issue: 20 June '11) // Words: Rajan Lakhani

1999's 'Head Music' should have been the album that saw Suede cement their position as one of the biggest bands in Britain. Instead, the record marked the start of both their critical and commercial decline, which they have only reversed in the last two years.