When Dog Man Star came out in 1994, Suede were right in the middle of chaos. It was their second album, recorded during internal tension and just before guitarist Bernard Butler left the band. You can feel that intensity all over it. If their debut introduced them as leaders of the early Britpop wave, this record swerved somewhere darker and more dramatic.

The sound is huge and theatrical. There are sweeping strings, glam rock guitars, and a kind of smoky, late-night atmosphere that feels almost cinematic. Brett Anderson’s vocals lean into that romantic, slightly decadent energy, and the whole thing has a moody, urban feel. You can hear shades of Bowie and classic glam, but it never feels like imitation. It’s grand without being polished smooth – there’s grit under all that shimmer.

A few tracks really show what makes it special. We Are the Pigs opens with menace and swagger, The Wild Ones is soaring and emotional, and New Generation has that anthemic rush that sticks with you. Even quieter moments feel loaded with atmosphere.

What keeps Dog Man Star worth revisiting is its ambition. It doesn’t play it safe or aim for easy hooks. Instead, it builds a world and invites you in. It’s dramatic, a little messy, and completely committed to its mood – and that’s exactly why it still hits.