Bloodsports (album)

Background and production

Frontman Brett Anderson commented that the album would sound like a cross between Dog Man Star and Coming Up. He stated that Bloodsports is "about lust, it's about the chase, it's about the endless carnal game of love. It was possibly the hardest we've ever made but certainly the most satisfying".

The band performed new material in 2011, most of which got scrapped when they went into the studio with Ed Buller, the producer of their first three albums.

Release

In January 2013, Suede released a free download of opening track "Barriers". The lead single, "It Starts and Ends with You", followed in February. Second single "Hit Me" was released 27 May. Third single "For the Strangers" was released in October on the same day the band released The Vinyl Collection, a box set of the band's six studio albums and b-side collection on vinyl. Bloodsports debuted on the Official UK Albums Chart at number 10, on first-week sales of 10,453 copies. It went on to sell 22,410 units after 12 weeks. A 7-inch double a-side of "Barriers"/"Animal Nitrate" was released 20 April on Record Store Day.

Critical reception

Bloodsports has been very well received by critics, their most acclaimed album since Coming Up in 1996. At Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 80, based on 29 reviews, indicating "generally favourable reviews".

Year-end lists

Bloodsports has been included in many Best Albums of 2013 lists including:

Track listing

Personnel

Suede

• Brett Anderson – vocals
• Richard Oakes – guitars
• Simon Gilbert – drums
• Mat Osman – electric bass
• Neil Codling – synthesisers, guitars Technical
• Ed Buller – production, engineering
• Andy Hughes – engineering
• Paul-Édouard Laurendeau – engineering
• Joel M. Peters – engineering assistance
• Andy Wallace – mixing
• Paul Suarez – Pro Tools engineering
• Howie Weinberg – mastering
• Dan Gerbarg – mastering Artwork
• Jonathan Baron – cover
• Matthew Holroyd – cover
• Brett Anderson – cover
• Mat Osman – cover
• Blommers/Schumm – artwork photography
• Roger Sargent – band photography
• Studio-Baron – design

Charts

References

References

1. Lakhani, R.. (5 July 2013). "The best albums of 2013 (so far)". [[The Guardian]].
2. Matusavage, Philip. (12 March 2013). "Suede – Bloodsports". [[musicOMH]].
3. Cooper, Leonie. (30 November 2012). "Suede Unveil New Album and Live Show Countdown". NME.
4. Hart, Tina. (7 January 2013). "Suede to Release First New Material in 10 Years". [[Music Week]].
5. Neighbour, Flora . [http://www.gigwise.com/news/72936/suede-ditch-all-material-recorded-for-new-album "Suede Ditch All Material Recorded for New Album"]. Gigwise. 11 May 2012.
6. Cooper, Leonie. (14 May 2013). "Suede add dates to autumn UK tour – ticket details".
7. (27 August 2013). "Suede - For The Strangers: Exclusive video". [[The Guardian]].
8. (24 March 2013). "Recently reunited indie rockers Suede are back with their first Top 10 album in almost 14 years". Official Charts Company.
9. Williams, Paul. (21 June 2013). "Going It Alone". [[Music Week]].
10. Newall, Phil. (21 March 2013). "Full list of Record Store Day 2013 releases unveiled…". louderthanwar.com.
11. "Bloodsports by Suede reviews". AnyDecentMusic?.
12. "Reviews for Bloodsports by Suede". [[Metacritic]].
13. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Bloodsports – Suede". [[AllMusic]].
14. Brown, Helen. (8 March 2013). "Suede, Bloodsports, album review". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
15. Hann, Michael. (14 March 2013). "Suede: Bloodsports – review". [[The Guardian]].
16. Gill, Andy. (15 March 2013). "Album review: Suede, Bloodsports (Warner Music Group)". [[The Independent]].
17. (April 2013). "Suede: Bloodsports". [[Mojo (magazine).
18. Hewitt, Ben. (18 March 2013). "Suede – 'Bloodsports'". [[NME]].
19. Berman, Stuart. (22 March 2013). "Suede: Bloodsports". [[Pitchfork (website).
20. Segal, Victoria. (April 2013). "Brett, the Devil You Know". [[Q (magazine).
21. Sheffield, Rob. (20 June 2013). "Suede: Bloodsports".
22. O'Connell, Sharon. (3 April 2013). "Suede – Bloodsports". [[Uncut (magazine).
23. Raible, Allan. (30 December 2013). "The Year in Review: The 50 Best Albums of 2013". [[American Broadcasting Company]].
24. [https://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/allmusic-best-of-2013 Best of 2013]. AllMusic. 2013.
25. [https://www.popmatters.com/best-albums-of-2013/2 The 75 Best Albums of the 2013]. ''PopMatters''. 2013.
26. [https://www.brooklynvegan.com/arctic-monkeys-46/ "Q Magazine's '50 LPs of 2013' List; Arctic Monkeys top it"]. ''BrooklynVegan''. 2013.
27. [https://thequietus.com/articles/13960-albums-of-the-year-2013 "Albums of the Year 2013"]. ''The Quietus''. 2013.
28. [https://www.brooklynvegan.com/rough-trades-to-2/ "Rough Trade's Top LPs of 2013"]. ''BrooklynVegan''. 2013.
29. [https://thequietus.com/articles/13960-albums-of-the-year-2013 "Top 125 Albums of 2013"]. ''Under the Radar''. 2013.
30. "Suede ARIA Chart history complete to 2024". ARIA.