So Bush returned with their sophomore effort and let me tell you, this one’s a bit of a weird beast. These English lads already caught hell from the critics calling them Nirvana wannabes after their debut Sixteen Stone, so what do they do? They hire Steve Albini, the same guy who produced Nirvana’s In Utero. Yeah, real smart move there fellas, nothing says “we’re not copying Nirvana” like using their producer.
But you know what? Sometimes dumb decisions work out alright, and Razorblade Suitcase turned out to be one hell of a grunge record, even if it’s darker than a coal mine at midnight.
Let’s dig into this thing track by track. “Personal Holloway” kicks things off like a punch to the gut, Gavin Rossdale sounds like he’s yelling through a megaphone while the guitars screech and wail. It’s heavy, it’s catchy, and it sets the tone for what’s coming. Then “Greedy Fly” hits you with that creepy vibe and those screeching guitars building to this massive crescendo. This single is probably the closest thing to perfection on the album, it’s got that hard rock edge with just enough melody to stick in your brain for days.
“Swallowed” dials it back a bit into more ballad territory, but don’t let that fool you, this track is catchy as hell and builds to this beautiful climax that’ll give you goosebumps. The lyrics about fame not being what it’s cracked up to be hit different when you know Rossdale was going through relationship troubles while writing this stuff. “Insect Kin” keeps the momentum going with its sad-but-heavy vibe, it’s got that soft edge that makes you feel something deep in your chest.
Now “Cold Contagious”, man, this might be the crown jewel of the whole damn album. Six minutes of moody alternative rock with this downbeat, almost vengeful feel to it. It’s ugly in all the right ways, and that chorus will burrow into your skull and set up camp. “A Tendency to Start Fires” bounces back with some post-grunge energy that’s bouncy and raging at the same time.
“Mouth” is where things get really interesting though. It’s this slow ballad that explodes into a hard rock chorus, and those lyrics about love being taken away hit like a sledgehammer. “We can’t breathe when you come around”, now that’s some relationship-dismantling poetry right there. “Straight No Chaser” feels like drowning your sorrows in whiskey, it’s the kind of track that runs on repeat in your head when you’re wallowing in your own misery.
“History” picks up the pace again with some bouncy grunge, though the lyrics stay dark as ever. Then “Synapse” drags you back down into the depths, this track sounds like depression itself, all resignation and inevitability. “Communicator” is another ballad that’s catchy enough but never really goes anywhere special.
“Bonedriven” brings in some orchestral elements, though the self-deprecating lyrics might be a bit much even for someone in full wallow mode. The album closes with “Distant Voices,” which guides you through this fantastic crescendo about remembering the good times in a relationship that’s gone to hell. It’s harsh but honest – the kind of track about doing extreme things for love that hits way too close to home.
The whole thing was recorded while Rossdale’s long-term girlfriend was literally packing her bags to leave him, and you can hear every bit of that anger and frustration bleeding through the speakers. Albini’s raw production works both for and against the album, tracks like “Cold Contagious” and “Swallowed” benefit from the stripped-down approach, but some songs like “Bonedriven” could’ve used a bit more studio polish.
This isn’t an everyday listen, that’s for sure. It’s heavy, it’s dreary, it’s sorrowful, basically everything you need when you’re feeling like the world’s taking a dump on your head. Sometimes you need to wallow in the dirt for a while before you can pick yourself up, and Razorblade Suitcase is perfect wallowing music. It hit #1 on the Billboard 200 and went triple platinum, proving that sometimes people want their music to match their misery.
Critics still gave Bush grief for being Nirvana clones, but honestly, who cares? This is solid post-grunge alternative rock with some genuinely catchy songs and real emotional weight behind it. If you’re into quality grunge and hard rock, or if you just need an album that understands what it feels like when everything’s falling apart, this one’s worth your time.