• Facts
      • Band: Brett Anderson
      • Album: Wilderness
      • Release date: September 1 2008
      • Genre: singer/songwriter
      • Label: BA Songs
      • Running time: 32:39 [9 tracks]
      • Official website: Brett Anderson
      • The Bullet Rating: 8,5/10
      • .
    • Tracklist
      • A Different Place
      • The Empress
      • Clowns
      • Chinese Whispers
      • Blessed
      • Funeral Mantra
      • Back to You" Feat. Emmanuelle Seigner
      • Knife Edge
      • P. Marius
      • .
    • Rating
      • 10 - Head banging rock
      • 8 - Rock N Roll
      • 6 - Wobble
      • 4 - Sway
      • 2 - Seaside rock
    Wilderness - Brett Anderson album 2008

Album review: Brett Anderson - Wilderness

Back in the 1990's, Suede was a household name in Western-Europe. It's said that the popularity of this band was the start of the Britpop movement that followed. With hits like We Are The Pigs, The Wild Ones, Trash, Beautiful Ones and Electricity all doing very well in the British charts, Suede was doing very well. Their razor-sharp music combined with Brett Anderson's distinctive voice and drugs inspired lyrics defining their style. Suede went on hiatus in 2003, after their last two albums hadn't done much.

Shortly after their break up, Brett Anderson formed The Tears, together with Bernard Butler, who left Suede halfway through the band's career. The album Here Come The Tears [2005] enteres the UK charts at number 15, but only two singles were released. The band was put on hold when Anderson announced he wanted to work on a solo-career. His first album – titled Brett Anderson – was released in 2006.

Wilderness is Brett Anderson's second studio album, released in September 2008. Anderson has stripped his music down to basics: he plays the piano and is sometimes accompanied by someone on a cello. The only resemblance it has to the Suede sound is the haunting sound of his voice. Where Suede's music was edgy, Anderson's solo work is delicate and fragile. It is the perfect background music when you're reading a book, working or having an intimate dinner.

Best tracks are A Different Place, The Empress and Back To You, featuring Emmanuelle Seigner. The overall feel of the album is of happiness and contentment. Anderson succeeds in making beautiful songs without them being sickly sweet. The only one that does tend to be a little too much is Blessed. The only real downside of Wilderness is it's length; only 32 minutes.

Verdict: There's only one word to sum this up: Beautiful! Brett Anderson manages to touch your soul with Wilderness. Whether it's live or on cd, he is definitely a great artist. As a bonus, Anderson still plays some of the Suede songs during his live shows!

Imre