Can an album continue to sound as fresh as it did upon release an entire 30 years later? Suede are proving it can with the 30th anniversary reissue of their seminal 1996 album Coming Up. An album made with the end goal of “ten hits” could go either way, a cringe-inducing 90s throwback or a timeless record enjoyed by those who weren’t even born at the time of its release. Coming Up is nothing short of the latter. Across five discs, Suede showcase the worth of their biggest commercial success.
Naturally, the first of the five discs is the entire studio album, including the monumental five top ten singles it produced (only the second of any act in Britain to achieve this incredible feat). To see the same level of critical acclaim today as in 1996 is a testament to how astonishingly well Coming Up has aged. It’s incessantly easy to hear, with the effortlessly cool singles Lazy and Filmstar, the gritty yet mesmerising side of Suede on Saturday Night, and unforgettable hits Trash and Beautiful Ones. The commercial side of the album remains as strong today as it ever has been. Looking at the other half of the album, tracks Starcrazy and She carry the same anthemic power of many of the singles, while Picnic by the Motorway and The Chemistry Between Us follow, slightly toned down but filled with incredibly catchy hooks. The real outlier is By the Sea, its melancholic piano working to break up the guitar-heavy record. As anyone familiar with the period will know, Coming Up is one of the most timeless records of the era.
It is slightly unnerving then that disc two consists of a new, alternative mix of the album. Altering something so universally loved is risky, but Steven Wilson has taken on the task. These alterations largely consist of additional reverb on Brett Anderson’s vocals, a stronger emphasis on drums, and lead guitar used more sparingly. The result is a rockier sounding album, focusing on the heaviest elements of the record but allowing the parts that speak for themselves to continue to do so.
A few key moments of more drastic changes stand out, starting with the guitar solo on Trash. Lead guitar on the rest of the song is lower in the mix, drawing less attention, so that the prominence of the solo is much more. Trash didn’t exactly need this though, Richard Oakes’ guitar work remains one of the most celebrated parts of Coming Up. Surely the largest difference is that of By the Sea. Richening the piano, enhancing the siren-sounding effects, and softening Anderson’s vocals make for a rawer, somehow more melancholic sound. Enhancements are exceptionally pronounced on two of the most arresting tracks. The flashy, dragged-out verses of She have been doused in reverb, resulting in an unbelievably powerful sound, so the discreet “la la la” presents exceedingly sinister now. Starcrazy sees a somewhat similar fate; its verse shrinks, allowing room for a chorus that takes up more space. This unfortunately comes across as awkward. The vocals intended for the original mix, laced with confidence all the way through, don’t match the contrast between verse and chorus that wasn’t present in the original mix. The final notable change is the echo that changes the demeanour of Saturday Night’s bridge. Its dreamlike sound reflects the song’s message of escapism flawlessly. Coming Up’s new Steven Wilson mix is a very interesting listen. Select aspects haven’t been changed much, retaining the genius of the album, but others have been changed enough so it almost feels as though you’re listening to it for the first time.
After trying something new, it’s about time to return to what’s familiar. Suede have always been known to leave some of their most brilliant work on the b-side, songs that triumph select album tracks left a secret for only the most dedicated fans. Coming Up was no exception, and discs three and four consist of largely forgotten yet equally exceptional material. From the first tracks Oakes wrote for the band in 1994, including Together, a double a-side released with the Bernard Butler song New Generation from Dog Man Star, to every b-side from the Coming Up singles that were released into 1997, there seems to have been nothing forgotten. Beloved fan favourites from the time such as Europe is Our Playground, Young Men, and Sadie are sure to receive a warm welcome back to the rotations of many upon this release. Lesser-known tracks, including the wholly Neil Codling-penned and performed Digging a Hole and a cover of Elvis Costello’s Shipbuilding, Suede’s contribution to the 1995 War Child charity album, Help, can also expect a reprise in attention due to their inclusion. One of the most remarkable moments of Suede’s career can be heard here too, the original b-sides to the Filmstar single, live versions of Saturday Night and the Pet Shop Boys song Rent performed at the Roundhouse in 1996 with Neil Tennant. An occasion like this surely had to be included. With this incredible collection of rare and forgotten material, discs three and four are most definitely a treat.
Sticking to rare material, the final disc, Coming Up at the BBC, repeats the entire album in order through four different live performances and sessions. The first of these sessions was Suede’s Radio 1 evening session from the 29th August 1996, just four days before the album’s release. Lifted from this session are Trash, Lazy, She, Beautiful Ones, and Saturday Night. Of the singles released to promote this reissue, all three have been from this session, and there is no doubting why. This is a significant moment from the album roll-out, a display of Suede’s power, strength, and energy. Oakes’ guitar work, especially on She, is astonishingly striking. Four further tracks come from festival performances. Reading Festival 1997 is a highlight, providing Filmstar, By the Sea, and Picnic by the Motorway from the night. The strengthened power in Filmstar and the slow, harrowing extended intro of By the Sea are proof of Suede’s ability to make already remarkable songs sound even better live. A little later, at Roskilde Festival 1999, is the version of The Chemistry Between Us you’ll find, another decent festival performance worthy of its place. Finally, Starcrazy from the Mark Radcliffe session offers one more display of great command. Suede have long been known as one of the greatest live acts around, so the choice to include an entire album’s worth of live tracks was one of the best they could have made.
After 30 years, Coming Up remains a fresh and exciting album, one which can—and has—been played over and over, yet has never grown old. Suede’s ability to impress has kept intact for three decades, and easily could for another three, which is proven over five discs of material; old, new, renowned, and rare.
Suede: Coming Up – Out 25 September 2026 (Demon Music Group)
– Beautiful Ones (Official HD Music Video)
