TWO RECORDS - NIGHT THOUGHTS BY SUEDE AND K 2.0 BY KULA SHAKER

Compared to the first reunion record BLOODSPORTS of a couple years ago, Suede's new release NIGHT THOUGHTS is a bit better. I liked that record too but the songs were a lot simpler, THOUGHTS is a much bigger record, swirling dense arrangements, longer slower songs dominate over the crunchy T-Rex type rockers. This sounds like a record made by middle aged men who haven't lost their love of music nor their love of their influences nor their ability to rock out. A strong record by the most glam influenced of the 90's Brit Pop bands in the wake of Bowie's passing is an occasion for happiness. They've long been a favorite band of mine. Brett Anderson's voice has not aged a day, he hits some amazing notes!

The first two Kula Shaker records from the 90's Britpop era K and PEASANTS PIGS AND ASTRONAUTS are an intoxicating miss of 60's psychedelia, trad rock type guitars, and most interestingly Indian musical touches both in the music with sitars, tablas etc. and in the lyrics which feature references to Hinduism. After that Kula broke up but reunited in the 2000's. The third and fourth records STRANGEFOLK and PILGRIM'S PROGRESS are much more scaled down pastoral and quiet and not much in the way of Indian affectations although still not bad as far as the tunes go. However, K 2.0 gets back to the bigger louder sound of the 90's and throws in a number of Indian touches to boot. This feels like a third album immediately following the 90's records. Really nice when a band gets back to their original sound and makes a good record.