Lloyd Cole (album)

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Lloyd Cole
Lloyd Cole (1990).jpg
Studio album by
Lloyd Cole
Released21 February 1990
Recorded1988–1989
StudioRight Track Studios, New York City
Genre Rock
Length52:20
Label Polydor, Capitol
Producer Lloyd Cole, Paul Hardiman, Fred Maher
Lloyd Cole chronology
Lloyd Cole
(1990)		 Don't Get Weird on Me Babe
(1991)
Singles from Lloyd Cole
  1. "No Blue Skies"
    Released: 27 January 1990
  2. "Don't Look Back"
    Released: 31 March 1990
  3. "Downtown"
    Released: 15 October 1990

Lloyd Cole, also known as The X Album, [1] is the debut solo album by English singer, songwriter and musician Lloyd Cole released on 21 February 1990 by Polydor and Capitol. Previously Cole was best known for his work with the Commotions but this album marked a departure from their signature sound and an opportunity for him to collaborate with other musicians and explore new ideas.

Contents

Background

Following the release of Mainstream , and limited touring and promotion in support of it, Cole left the Commotions. The chance to write and record new types of songs was the motivating factor.

"The Commotions had been a certain kind of pop band; a thoughtful pop band. I wanted to do everything the Commotions had not done; I wanted to make stupid rock 'n' roll or beautiful, almost, fleur bleue type music. The things someone in the band would have said no to were all the things I wanted to say yes to." [2]

He also believed that the group had reached a natural conclusion and he no longer wanted the pressure and responsibility of managing a band. [3] His self-titled debut album was written and recorded in New York, where, following the demise of the Commotions and a long-term relationship, he resided permanently. "I left London, because I was only there for two reasons," said Cole. "It was where the band recorded and it was where my girlfriend lived. I left to escape the shadow of these things after they had gone wrong. It was a chance to start over." [4] Cole lived in a studio apartment in lower Manhattan where, over the course of six months, he wrote the songs for his first solo release. Turning his living space into a recording studio to demo ideas and sounds, he had to move his bed into the kitchen to make space for all the equipment. The songwriter found the New York environment and atmosphere inspiring, "I wrote more songs in [those] months than I had done in the previous couple of years." [5] For the recording of the album, Cole wanted a nucleus of musicians to play with. He was first in contact with Fred Maher who would co-produce the album and also serve as the drummer. For the lead guitar, Cole already had had Robert Quine in mind long before a meeting was arranged by mutual acquaintance Maher. Blair Cowan, formerly of the Commotions, was re-united with Cole and would receive song writing credits for some of his contributions to the album. Matthew Sweet, then an obscure solo artist, was recruited under recommendation from Maher to play bass guitar. [5]

All of the album was recorded and mixed at Right Track Studios in Manhattan with the exception of "No Blue Skies" which was recorded at Skyline Studios in NYC and mixed at Maison Rouge in London.

This period in Cole's life would later be the subject of the self-referential song "I Tried to Rock" released on The Negatives released in 2000. A self-deprecating song in which the singer makes light of the dramatic change in music, and his own lifestyle, after his move to New York.

Composition

Cole made a conscious decision to change and evolve his lyrical style from that which he used in the Commotions. A new approach saw him less afraid to attempt more obvious themes and simpler narratives, "You get to the point, in writing, where the obvious is the best thing to do. I shied away from that for a long time. I think you have to be a better writer to use the obvious, and still make it sound fresh." [6] The album opens with the track "Don't Look Back", which is about how people become more attracted to faith the older they become and the closer to death they get. The song's protagonist is based on character traits Cole feared he could attain. [6] "No Blue Skies" was the first song released, "[It] is a simple song; boy leaves girl or girl leaves boy, bitterness. That's what I like about it, it's so simple," said Cole. The song was the last to be written and recorded for the album after Cole was told the album needed a lead single. After writing most of what would become "No Blue Skies", he was so pleased with it that he arranged for the song to be recorded immediately. Still in the process of writing the lyrics and structuring the song, in the studio he performed a rough vocal track to guide the other musicians. This would be the only vocal track recorded, after he was reluctantly convinced by the other musicians that it could not be bettered. [7] "A Long Way Down" is based on the themes of excess and materialism but also serves as a song about a comedown. It was written for an unreleased film about a Glaswegian artist who becomes entangled in the New York high life, losing his values and sense of perspective in the process. [6] The song "Undressed" has a double meaning, Cole explained: "Half the song is about nakedness, and the other half about emotional nakedness and, vulnerability. That's why it opens with the line, 'You look so good when you're depressed', because women do. It's really unfair!" [6]

Promotion and touring

Before the album was released, Cole began publicising the album in Paris, staying on the city after enjoying a honeymoon. Large cardboard cut outs of the singer were displayed in record shops across Europe during the early days of the record release. [8] Three singles were released for the album; "No Blue Skies" debuted just under a month before the release of the album to heighten anticipation, with a music video also produced. "Don't Look Back" followed, again with an accompanying music video. The final single was "Downtown", which would become a moderate radio success reaching number five on the US Modern Rock charts, making it Cole's most successful song in the US. The song was also included in the soundtrack for the film Bad Influence which starred Rob Lowe. The music video for the song featured excerpts from the film.

Before the release of the album, Cole plus Fred Maher, Matthew Sweet, Nicky Holland and Sprague Hollander performed as a live covers band under the monikers 'The Bob Dylan Band' and 'Billy Blake and The Eternals'. [9] A bootleg of them performing at CBGBs currently circulates on the internet. [10] Cole wanted the core of musicians who recorded the album to join him on tour in support of the album. Blair Cowan was signed up and Matthew Sweet was to play guitar instead of bass. Maher and Quine both declined, the latter had become disenchanted with the rigmarole of touring. [5] Cole eventually convinced the guitarist to tour but it would be the last time he would play with any band on the road. [11] Cole later praised Quine for his contribution to the band's live performances, "[He and] no-one else had my ear. We might as well have been called the Quine Band." [12] Dan McCarroll (drums) and David Ball (bass) were later added to complete the line-up. [5]

As well as tracks from the album, the shows would include songs from the Commotions' back catalogue, often with new arrangements, and cover versions including The Beatles' "Why Don't We Do It in the Road?" and Lou Reed's "A Gift".

Reviews

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]
NME 8/10 [14]
Record Mirror Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Smash Hits 6/10 [16]

Music Week made the record its album of the week; "[It] has all the trade-marks of his past work along with a couple of Stonesy riffs, greater vocal depth and a little more diversity in style. It takes a while to really get into but Cole's musings and the lush synthesized backing soon become irresistible. He's certainly lost none of his appeal." [17] St. Petersburg Times gave the album a glowing review; "Cole uses his austere yet seductive voice to create mental pictures. His songs are vivid vignettes and scenarios... The songs are closely related enough to make Lloyd Cole a cohesive whole. Cole's shades are gray, but translucent enough to show musical light, and enjoyable enough to show he is a viable solo artist." [18] The Guardian praised the assembled musicians who feature on the album, "They charge into the mostly laid-back, introspective material with a rare confidence, balancing crisp guitar lines against a moody swirl of Hammond organ, shifting gear for a chugging, wide-screen ballad setting, or showing their New York underground roots with a pounding muted rocker. They are so good that they could easily run away with the album, and it's to Cole's credit that his personality dominates." [19] Record Mirror gave the album a positive review but identified the lack of exceptional material; "Of the 13 songs on the album, those with harder edges work best. The bluesy riffs of 'What Do You Know About Love', the gambolling bass and haunting harmonica of 'Downtown'... and the hard, Stones-ish rock of 'I Hate To See You Baby Doing That Stuff' smack of leathers and punky sneers. The single 'No Blue Skies' and the ballad 'Loveless' are the pick of the lighter moments on the album which, though not disappointing, offers no surprises or classics." [15] The Washington Post criticised the album, describing it as "Moody, low-key and drowsy, this long album is almost too too Lloyd Cole, complete with such characteristically literary put-downs as 'Baby, you're too well-read.' A few more songs that aspire to the rambunctiousness of 'Sweetheart' or 'I Hate to See You Baby Doing That Stuff' would be welcome." [20]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Lloyd Cole; all music is composed by Cole except where noted

Lloyd Cole track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Don't Look Back" 3:47
2."What Do You Know About Love?" 4:09
3."No Blue Skies" 4:10
4."Loveless"Cole, Blair Cowan 4:12
5."Sweetheart" 4:32
6."To The Church" 2:25
7."Downtown"Cole, Cowan5:20
8."A Long Way Down" 5:24
9."Ice Cream Girl"Cole, Cowan3:06
10."Undressed" 3:06
11."I Hate to See You Baby Doing That Stuff"Cole, Fred Maher 4:00
12."Waterline" 3:02
13."Mercy Killing" 5:16

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Lloyd Cole
Chart (1990)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [21] 49
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [22] 38
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [23] 6
UK Albums (OCC) [24] 11

Certifications

Certifications for Lloyd Cole
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [25] Silver60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neil Clark (musician)</span>

Neil Clark is a Scottish guitarist, known for his work with Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. He has regularly worked and toured with Lloyd Cole post-Commotions including playing on and touring in support of Cole's 2006 album, Antidepressant. He also worked on Cole's albums Bad Vibes, Love Story, Etc, Music in a Foreign Language, and Guesswork. Clark was a member of Bloomsday with Stephen Irvine of the Commotions and Chris Thomson of The Bathers. Clark features on the Bathers' 1993 album, Lagoon Blues. He collaborated with Canadian singer Mae Moore on her album Dragonfly - his guitar playing featured on her single "Genuine", which reached No. 6 on the RPM "Top 100" singles chart in Canada. In 1995 and 1998 he worked on two albums with French singer Axelle Renoir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blair Cowan (musician)</span> Musical artist

Blair Cowan is a Scottish musician, formerly a member of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. Following the breakup of that band, he continued to collaborate with Lloyd Cole early in the singer's solo career, playing and co-writing on 1990's Lloyd Cole and 1991's Don't Get Weird on Me Babe.

<i>Easy Pieces</i> 1985 studio album by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

Easy Pieces is the second studio album by the British rock and pop band Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. It was released on Polydor Records in the UK on 18 November 1985 and included the hit singles "Brand New Friend", "Lost Weekend" and "Cut Me Down". The title of the album derives from the American drama film Five Easy Pieces (1970), which Cole described as "one of my very favourite films", saying, "I want to write at least five songs out of that film".

<i>Mainstream</i> (Lloyd Cole and the Commotions album) 1987 studio album by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

Mainstream is the third and final studio album by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. It was produced by Ian Stanley and released by Polydor Records in the UK and by Capitol Records in the US on 26 October 1987. It included the singles "My Bag", "Jennifer She Said" and "From the Hip". Although the album reached number nine in the UK, it failed to chart in the US and was not embraced by all critics: Mainstream is the only Lloyd Cole and the Commotions album not to sell at least 100,000 copies in the US.

<i>Standards</i> (Lloyd Cole album) 2013 studio album by Lloyd Cole

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<i>Dont Get Weird on Me Babe</i> 1991 studio album by Lloyd Cole

Don't Get Weird on Me Babe is the second solo album by the English musician Lloyd Cole, released in 1991. The title comes from a Raymond Carver expression. Unlike the original release, the American version of the album leads with the "rock" half and ends with the orchestral songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Blue Skies</span> 1990 song by Lloyd Cole

"No Blue Skies" is the debut solo single by English singer, songwriter and musician Lloyd Cole, released in 1990 from his self-titled studio album. The song was written by Cole and produced by Cole, Fred Maher and Paul Hardiman. It peaked at number 42 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for four weeks. Cole has described "No Blue Skies" as "very simple" and a "girl leaves boy or boy leave girl" song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Look Back (Lloyd Cole song)</span> 1990 song by Lloyd Cole

"Don't Look Back" is a song by English singer, songwriter and musician Lloyd Cole, released in 1990 as the second single from his self-titled studio album. The song was written by Cole and produced by Cole, Fred Maher and Paul Hardiman. It peaked at number 59 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for three weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lost Weekend (song)</span> 1985 song by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

"Lost Weekend" is a song by the British pop and rock band Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, released in 1985 as the second single from their second studio album Easy Pieces. The song was written by band members Neil Clark, Lloyd Cole and Lawrence Donegan, and produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley. It peaked at number 17 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 75 for seven weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">From the Hip (song)</span> 1987 song by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

"From the Hip" is a song by British band Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, released in 1988 as an extended play from their third and final studio album Mainstream (1987). The song was written by the band and produced by Ian Stanley. It peaked at number 59 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 75 for two weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Bag (Lloyd Cole and the Commotions song)</span> 1987 song by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

"My Bag" is a song by British band Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, released in 1987 as the lead single from their third and final studio album Mainstream (1987). The song was written by the band and produced by Ian Stanley. It peaked at number 46 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 75 for three weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butterfly (Lloyd Cole song)</span> 1991 song by Lloyd Cole

"Butterfly" is a song by English singer, songwriter and musician Lloyd Cole, released in 1991 as the third and final single from his second studio album Don't Get Weird on Me Babe. The song was written by Cole, and produced by Cole, Fred Maher and Paul Hardiman.

References

  1. ↑ "Lloyd Cole plugs back in, taps 'X' album collaborators for forthcoming 'Standards'". Slicing Up Eyeballs . Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  2. ↑ Cole, Lloyd. "A Date With Lloyd Cole – Teaser". PIXIES FILMS. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "Solo Commotion". Arena. Winter 1989. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "Brit Dumped It All to Start Over in US". The San Francisco Chronicle. 1 December 1991. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Cole, Lloyd (30 July 2007). "Lloyd Cole Live at The BBC".
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Cool-cut". The Observer. 25 November 1990. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  7. ↑ Cole, Lloyd (30 January 2009). "One Red Wine Glass". Cleaning Out The Ashtrays.
  8. ↑ Cole, Lloyd (25 October 2010). "Life after fame: Lloyd Cole on what your hotel room tells you about your pop career". Independent On Sunday. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  9. ↑ Cole, Lloyd. "Billy Blake and The Eternals". Lloydcole.com. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  10. ↑ "Billy Blake and The Eternals CBGBs 1989". SoundCloud. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  11. ↑ "Robert Quine Interview by Jason Gross". Perfect Sound Forever. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  12. ↑ Cole, Lloyd. "Live in LA 1990". Lloydcole.com. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  13. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Lloyd Cole - Lloyd Cole; Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic . Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  14. ↑ Quantick, David (10 February 1990). "Long Play: Cole Comfort". New Musical Express . p. 34.
  15. 1 2 Crossing, Gary (17 February 1990). "Albums". Record Mirror . p. 19. ISSN   0144-5804.
  16. ↑ Cranna, Ian (21 February 1990). "LPs". Smash Hits . Vol. 12, no. 4. p. 53. ISSN   0260-3004.
  17. ↑ "Album of the Week: Lloyd Cole". Music week. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  18. ↑ "Lloyd Cole". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  19. ↑ "Cole, Calm and Collected". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  20. ↑ "Cole Seconds That Commotion". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  21. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Lloyd Cole – Lloyd Cole". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  22. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Lloyd Cole – Lloyd Cole" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  23. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Lloyd Cole – Lloyd Cole". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  24. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  25. ↑ "British album certifications – Lloyd Cole – Lloyd Cole". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 8 May 2023.
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