Although the chorus is the weakest of
Suede's five singles to this point, thanks to an ineffective falsetto backing vocal by
Brett Anderson, a lush and lustful, pretty verse -- another instant tune from guitarist
Bernard Butler, the big talent in the band -- and a dramatic bridge punctuated by uncharacteristic background touches in the form of horns and cello make "Stay Together" another fine outing. It's no departure from the LP material, and the rather overt
Bowie/
Smiths influences are still everywhere, but this is no treading-water release either, particularly since the B-side "The Living Dead" brings the cello back to spruce up a gurgling acoustic track. Similarly, the other B-side "My Dark Star" continues
Suede's
Smiths-like tradition of high-quality shimmer pop B-sides that often beat their lesser LP material.
Butler's guitar stabs like a throbbing tone underneath a tasteful lead in the vocal-less verse. Nice stuff, nice single, exceptional guitar work.