Slow Attack
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Slow Attack
| type = studio
| artist = Brett Anderson
| cover = SlowAttack.jpg
| alt =
| released = 2 November 2009
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Indie rock
| length = 44:40
| label = BA Songs
| producer =
| prev_title = Wilderness
| prev_year = 2008
| next_title = Black Rainbows
| next_year = 2011
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/slow-attack-mw0001332390|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlwine|title=Brett Anderson - Slow Attack|website=AllMusic|accessdate=17 August 2019}}
| rev2 = The Independent
| rev3 = Mojo
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |last=Eccleston |first=Danny |title=A Little Night Music |journal=Mojo |date=March 2016 |issue=268 |page=41}}
| rev4 = NME
| rev4score = 7/10{{cite journal |last=Robinson |first=Martin |title=Brett Anderson: Slow Attack |journal=NME |date=31 October 2009 |page=37}}
| rev5 = Pitchfork
| rev6 = PopMatters
| rev6Score = {{rating|4|10|full=Disc Plain yellow dark.svg|half=AwesomeTemplate.svg|empty=Plain Disc 40% grey or 20% black.svg|rating=disc}}{{cite web |last=Cooke |first=Jennifer |title=Brett Anderson: Slow Attack |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/116753-brett-anderson-slow-attack/ |website=PopMatters |accessdate=17 August 2019 |date=7 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103033731/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/116753-brett-anderson-slow-attack/ |archive-date=3 November 2011 }}
| rev7 = The Sunday Times
| rev8 = The Times
| rev8Score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite news |last=Clay |first=Joe |title=Brett Anderson: Slow Attack |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/brett-anderson-slow-attack-l0c85w9v80n |access-date=17 August 2019 |newspaper=The Times |date=31 October 2009}}
| rev9 = Uncut
| rev9score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Martin |first=Piers |title=Brett Anderson: Slow Attack |magazine=Uncut |date=January 2010 |issue=152 |page=103}}
| rev10 = Virgin Media
}}
Slow Attack is the third solo album by the English singer Brett Anderson, and released in 2009. This is Anderson's last solo album before Suede's reformation in 2010.
Background
Produced by Anderson with new writing partner Leo Abrahams, it follows 2008's Wilderness. Anderson said: "It was conceived and created in the bleak London winter. It's when I feel most creative, as I often feel inspired to drown in music to escape the city's icy embrace."{{cite web |title=Anderson on the attack |url=http://www.teletext.co.uk/planetsound/news/8949a3e2ea622467282e297fa6ea68ee/Anderson+on+the+attack.aspx |publisher=Planet Sound|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019111622/http://www.teletext.co.uk/planetsound/news/8949a3e2ea622467282e297fa6ea68ee/Anderson+on+the+attack.aspx |archive-date=19 October 2009 }} The album is described as being influenced by film soundtracks and the work of Talk Talk singer Mark Hollis, and features a great deal of woodwind instrumentation.{{cite web |title=Brett Anderson Solo Album Details |url=http://www.xfm.co.uk/news/2009/brett-anderson-solo-album-details |publisher=Xfm |date=7 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009225620/http://www.xfm.co.uk/news/2009/brett-anderson-solo-album-details |archive-date=9 October 2009 }} Anderson said the record was "massively inspired by Spirit Of Eden and the sense of drama in it."{{cite web |last=Turner |first=Luke |title=There’s A Song Playing: Brett Anderson’s Favourite 13 Albums |url=https://thequietus.com/interviews/bakers-dozen/brett-anderson-suede-favourite-albums/13/ |website=The Quietus |access-date=5 October 2024 |date=5 October 2011}}
On his new release, Anderson said: "It's a new chapter for me. I finally feel like I'm starting to establish my own identity as a solo artist."{{cite web |last=Nissim |first=Mayer |title=Brett Anderson: 'Album is a new chapter' |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a186113/brett-anderson-album-is-a-new-chapter.html |website=Digital Spy |accessdate=17 August 2019 |date=10 November 2009}} Anderson has said that his new year tour will be devoid of any Suede songs. His live shows up until now have always included early songs and B-sides, however Anderson feels it is time to move on. Speaking to The Herald he says: "This is my third solo album and I think it’s time to move away from that... I still love those songs, they mean a lot to me, but I need some space from them."{{cite news |last=Thomson |first=Graeme |title=Finding beauty in haunting lines of melancholy music |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-ents/music-features/finding-beauty-in-haunting-lines-of-melancholy-music-1.930329 |work=The Herald |date=3 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091107045828/http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-ents/music-features/finding-beauty-in-haunting-lines-of-melancholy-music-1.930329 |archive-date=7 November 2009 }} Anderson wrote the album between January and May 2009, during which time he had written more than thirty songs. The sleeve was designed by Brett Anderson and photographer Paul Khera.
Reception
The album was more warmly received than his previous album. However, it still garnered a mixed reaction from critics. Metacritic do not have an aggregate score for this album, though competitor site AnyDecentMusic? rated the album 5.7/10 based on nine reviews. Andy Gill of The Independent, who was a harsh critic of Wilderness said: "this is by far his best solo effort, the collaboration with producer/arranger Leo Abrahams prompting Anderson's most interesting output since his alliance with Bernard Butler."
Joshua Klein of Pitchfork rated the album 7.0 out of 10 and commented positively on Anderson's departure from Suede manifestations in his music. He wrote: "But if his first two solo albums came across self-conscious refutations of his roots, Anderson was at least brave enough to stick to his guns. Slow Attack doesn't always make sense in the context of Suede, but as far as solo Anderson goes, this album marks a logical next step in his transformation. Slow and steady, it's a promising sign of progress."
Track listing
All songs written by Brett Anderson and Leo Abrahams, except where noted.
- "Hymn" – 3:36
- "Wheatfields" (Anderson) – 4:06
- "The Hunted" – 4:01
- "Frozen Roads" – 4:34
- "Summer" – 3:24
- "Pretty Widows" – 4:06
- "The Swans" – 4:39
- "Ashes of Us" – 4:41
- "Scarecrows and Lilacs" – 4:29
- "Julian's Eyes" – 3:46
- "Leave Me Sleeping" (Anderson) – 3:18
=iTunes Edition=
12. "Forest Lullaby"
=Japanese Edition=
12. "With You, Within You"
=Japanese Bonus CD ROM=
1. "Frozen Roads"
2. "Ashes of Us"
3. "When Doves Cry" (Prince)
4. "Leave Me Sleeping"
5. "The Hunted" (Video)