down the charts, exiting the Top 20 three weeks after release. In May 1999 the British Phonographic Industry certified the album as gold. The album was released in the US on Columbia Records 8 June. Head Music has sold about 26,000 copies in the US as of 2008 according to Nielsen SoundScan. Critical reception In the UK, the album received mostly favourable reviews with a minority of detractors. Ted Kessler of NME criticised Anderson's lyrical themes, saying: "he had nothing new to say." He did, on the other hand call it "hair-raising pop" and felt that the band were "striking out for new pastures." Andy Gill of The Independent, who harshly criticised Coming Up, gave the record a very positive review. He felt that the album was "broader in musical conception than their previous albums." He also felt that Osborne's influence was critical, saying he "naturally brings a more groove-oriented approach to the band's sound, which is slicker and smoother than before, and better reflects the band's 'chemical generation' outlook." The BBC were very favourable. Chris Charles felt that "all the pieces of the jigsaw are in the right place", and called it "the soundtrack for the future performed by artists in tune with one another." Reviews in the US were mixed. Tom Lanham of Entertainment Weekly called it a "sad, strangely lackluster epitaph". He added, "even the strongest track on Head Music, 'Everything Will Flow', is a cheap echo of vibrant early work." Keith Phipps of The A.V. Club felt the album was their least consistent, saying: "The end result may be the least consistent album in a career marked by consistency, but it's still remarkable and well-represented by the grandiose pop of 'Electricity', 'She's in Fashion', and 'He's Gone', which do sound like proper Suede songs." The Phoenix felt that "Head Music isn't much more than an attention-grabbing, entertaining tease." However, positive praise came from Spin. Barry Walters wrote: "Suede and Steve Osborne achieve a hard precision that brings back the brutality of early Suede while lending a complex sheen to simplistic material." Also very favourable was A.D. Amorosi of The Philadelphia Inquirer, who also noted Osborne's role, saying: "Since 1990, Anderson & Co. have made the most of Bowie glam-era tartness without sounding even vaguely interested in flesh or flash. Head Music changes that, though, as producer Steve Osborne imparts a much-needed sense of sonic and emotional