Lloyd Cole And The Commotions: Classic Or Dud

Message Bookmarked
Bookmark Removed
Not all messages are displayed: show all messages (237 of them)
rattlesnakes
easy pieces
lloyd cole
etc
mainstream
the negatives
don't get weird on me, babe (which i first heard during the worst period of my life and which i don't have anymore)
love story
plastic wood

i haven't heard bad vibes or music in a foreign language.

youn, Tuesday, 10 February 2004 15:02 (twenty years ago) link

Well, at least you have missed out on the worst two. That is some queer kind of fortune.

Of course even they are better than almost anyone else's records.

225: how many listens does MFL take? What do you think is good about it?

It does have good points - even 'Shelf Life', for instance, does something for me.

the blissfox, Tuesday, 10 February 2004 15:12 (twenty years ago) link

how many listens does MFL take?
I don't know - I'm not there yet myself.. But it's been my experience that Lloyd's best records don't do much for me immediately.

dave225 (Dave225), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 15:25 (twenty years ago) link

I wish I could find "Easy Pieces" on CD. And now I feel sort of bad because I WAS the stereotypical LC girl described upthread, except for the Citroen 'cause my parents were having none of that. I read Joan Didion and Simone de Beauvoir at age 16 'cause of "Rattlesnakes". Who cares if I was pretentious? better than being stuck in South Carolina. CLASSIC.

Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 05:21 (twenty years ago) link

I am shocked that the pinefox was not the one to revive this thread.

I must agree! But he chimed in quickly!

Donna, no Citroen? Clearly your parents treated you poorly and you must lash out against an uncaring society and form a nu-metal band. Oh wait.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 05:27 (twenty years ago) link

nah, nu-metal is SO over! (therefore, old-metal, or summat)

Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 05:36 (twenty years ago) link

Rock or somesuch.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 05:44 (twenty years ago) link

yeah, what he said :)

Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Wednesday, 11 February 2004 06:07 (twenty years ago) link

five months pass...
The other day, Simon Reynolds praised Lloyd on his web site. It was good of him to do that, and it was nice of him, too, to mention me in doing so. JtN has pointed out before how LC has been put back on eg. the Morley radar screen, by eg. ILM.

Yet, all Reynolds seemed able to do was say that he'd once liked Rattlesnakes. I think it would be good if he took a broader view - and revisited his own interview with Lloyd, from MM in c. Jan / Feb 1990, at the time of the X LP. This was no mere interview: it contained good writing and real insight, more than I've often seen from Reynolds since. It was definitely one of the three best things ever written about Lloyd Cole.

I wonder has he merely forgotten the piece, since, or is he ashamed of its thoughtful interest in later Lloyd, whose work he now thinks mainly matter for mockery?

the pinefox, Tuesday, 10 August 2004 16:03 (nineteen years ago) link

Sometimes I worry that you identify yourself too closely with Lloyd Cole.

Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 16:05 (nineteen years ago) link

i think easy pieces is his best work and 'why i love country music' is unbelievably affecting to me, i can't even listen to it when driving because i will cry my way off the road

Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 18:12 (nineteen years ago) link

such a dud that i won't waste the effort to be insulting about it

rentboy (rentboy), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 18:19 (nineteen years ago) link

Second the "why I love country music" rave: "she is everything that I need, and she would rather be anywhere but here" is a favorite line. Definite CLASSIC. Looking forward to seeing him and the band in Glasgow.

Chris Hill (Chris Hill), Tuesday, 10 August 2004 19:12 (nineteen years ago) link

this thread has made me tear everything up trying to find my lloyd cole record, without any luck. so i'm listening to a david kilgour album that i found, which is good but not the same at all.

lauren (laurenp), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 00:01 (nineteen years ago) link

Funny, I'd put Don't Get Weird On Me way higher up. It sounds like I always imagined late-70's LA coke-rock should sound before I heard any. I'd go:

Rattlesnakes
Don't Get Weird
Mainstream (just for Hey Rusty and Sean Penn Blues)
Lloyd Cole
Easy Pieces

Although leaving the title song off Don't Get Weird was a shideous mistake.

Jim E-T, Wednesday, 11 August 2004 08:27 (nineteen years ago) link

Does anyone know the tracklisting for the expanded deluxe Rattlesnakes extravaganza? I couldn't find it anywhere.

PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 08:52 (nineteen years ago) link

If you mean the German pressing with 14 songs have a look on www.amazon.de I know it is listed there.

svend (svend), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 11:18 (nineteen years ago) link

No, there's supposed to be a 20th anniversary 2xCD job coming out.

PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 11:36 (nineteen years ago) link

Classic, and to hell with the naysayers. I'm somewhat surprised nobody mentioned my favourite Cole song, Rich. What a wonderfully nuanced lyric: blunt but insightful, bitter but compassionate. Love that line about people falling "down off the wagon and under the wheels...

Palomino (Palomino), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 11:44 (nineteen years ago) link

Is it too early to start talking about a Glasgow FAP on the 12th?

dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 11:48 (nineteen years ago) link

Saracen's Head?

PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 11:54 (nineteen years ago) link

I thought it was "Saracen Head".

Sometimes I worry that Alba does not identify herself, enough.

the bellefox, Wednesday, 11 August 2004 12:17 (nineteen years ago) link

I have just had a look at SR's web site, to see if he had rethought on Lloyd. I am disappointed - not by the lack of response, but by the reminder of what bad taste he has. One terrible paragraph on hip-hop makes me wonder whether this can be the same writer who wrote those good things, once.

the bellefox, Wednesday, 11 August 2004 12:52 (nineteen years ago) link

It might be. RJG will know.

(x-post)

PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 12:53 (nineteen years ago) link

THAT WAS NEVER ON THAT ALBUM ARGH! FIERCE PANCAKE IS BRILLIANT ALBUM ARGH! HOW MUCH IS THE FISH ETC WAS erm a single way before that etc etc and annoying because defining band for hewry masses ect blather.

Errr....yes it was. And I can say that with all certainty as A Fierce Pancake is the ONLY bit of Stump's catalog I've ever been able to find (and if's the only think I know, how would I know "Buffalo" if it weren't on it?) I have it on much-covetted compact disc too, so nyah!

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 12:59 (nineteen years ago) link

Copying from LC's site, the Rattlesnakes bonus version is as follows:

Disc 1 will be the original 10 songs

All to be confirmed but this is disc 2 if all the tracks can be found -
Original (never released) single version of Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?
Perfect Skin - Demo
The Sea and The Sand
You will Never be no Good
Andy's babies
Glory
Sweetness
Jesus Said
Beautiful City (rattlesnakes recording)

Live recordings / BBC Sessions -
Beautiful City - Marquee 5/11/84.
Charlotte Street - Marquee 5/11/84
Four Flights Up - Barrowlands
Forest Fire - Richard Skinner Show.
Glory - Night Moves 15/6/84
Patience - Saturday Live
Rattlesnakes with the strings - Richard Skinner
Sweetness - Barrowlands
2CV - Barrowlands
Speedboat - Richard Skinner

Chris Hill (Chris Hill), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 16:15 (nineteen years ago) link

'Beautiful City'! I have never heard of it!

the bellefox, Wednesday, 11 August 2004 16:19 (nineteen years ago) link

Thank you, Chris.

PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Thursday, 12 August 2004 06:32 (nineteen years ago) link

"Beautiful City" - it's a jangly, uptempo number, in the vein of "Perfect Skin". Bought a boot from Tunnel Records (now defunct?) back in '97 or so. It's a live recording, 04-12-84, Le Palace, Paris and includes "Beautiful City" and two versions of "Glory" (one's a reprise). Believe it's an audio copy off a UK videodisc of the same show, but I've never seen the video. Will trade or do b&p, if anyone's interested.

They've also re-released the second and third Commotions albums in Japan. No bonus tracks listed at Siren Disc (search "Cole"), so I don't know if Easy Pieces is the 10 track or 13 track version.

Chris Hill (Chris Hill), Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:09 (nineteen years ago) link

What is 'do b&p'?

the bellefox, Thursday, 12 August 2004 16:20 (nineteen years ago) link

I was so excited that the Commotions were going on tour until the American leg got cancelled. I've dined with Lloyd at least five or six times - he's a nice guy. He took my girlfriend and I to see Television at the Great American. Have any of you heard his Leonard Cohen covers, 'Chelsea Hotel' and 'Dirty Blue Raincoat'?

Michael White (Hereward), Thursday, 12 August 2004 17:34 (nineteen years ago) link

b&p = sending blank cdr(s) & postage. Sometimes more painless than scanning the other's bootlegs lists and arranging a trade.

LC played both those Cohen covers at his recent Seattle solo show. His voice suits them.

Chris Hill (Chris Hill), Thursday, 12 August 2004 17:54 (nineteen years ago) link

I think it's "saracen's".

apparently, it's no secret that LC will be drinking in the halt bar.

RJG (RJG), Thursday, 12 August 2004 19:21 (nineteen years ago) link

There was a time when The Lloyd was very important to me.

But then he nicked our bassist, and I've never forgiven him. ;-)

Super-Masonic Black Hole (kate), Friday, 13 August 2004 10:28 (nineteen years ago) link

Michael White is trying to make us envy, us.

It's 'Famous', not 'Dirty'.

He spends too much of his time, live, playing Leonard Cohen songs.

the bellefox, Tuesday, 17 August 2004 15:20 (nineteen years ago) link

one month passes...
for pinefox tracklisting info for:
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - The Singles [CD + DVD]
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002XME8Q

DJ Martian (djmartian), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 14:50 (nineteen years ago) link

Thanks, Martian.

It is sweet, that you post such things when you don't like Lloyd Cole.

the bellefox, Friday, 24 September 2004 13:39 (nineteen years ago) link

the sun gives lloyd's 'rattlesnakes' a five star review today! its parting lines are, "let's all sing along now: 'she looks like eve marie saint/in on the waterfront'"

dave amos, Friday, 24 September 2004 13:43 (nineteen years ago) link

Beat that, JtN.

the bellefox, Friday, 24 September 2004 13:49 (nineteen years ago) link

Today I saw a CD called

LLOYD COLE.
THE COMMOTIONS.
THE SINGLES. (I think.)

Excitingly, it includes a DVD.

I will find a Try Glasgow More thread for this too, because it has already been mentioned here.

I might start being a huge Lloyd Cole fan for the duration of this little revival.

PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Monday, 27 September 2004 17:10 (nineteen years ago) link

This is either from Lloyd's website or from an e-mail (my gf sent it to me this am):

Lloyd Cole. The Commotions. The Singles. This is the best we could come up with for a title to replace the soon to be deleted 'The Collection'. The new release will actually live up to it's name. Singles only, hits and many misses. Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken? is schedules to go to radio as a single 20 years after it's original release.
There is a bonus DVD which will hopefully satisfy those who have been looking for the videos we made. All are included. The package contains absolutely no new material and some of the mixes have been shortened ever so slightly to fit all 21 songs on the audio disc. The artwork is really nothing to do with me, the project isn't either really, I saw no reason to stop them doing it and they are supposedly doing TV ads prior to the release and our reunion shows.

Release date in the UK is Sep 27.
Track Listing
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions:
Perfect Skin
Forest Fire
Rattlesnakes
Brand New Friend
Lost Weekend
Cut Me Down
My Bag
Jennifer She Said
From The Hip
Lloyd Cole:
No Blue Skies
Don’t Look Back
Downtown
She’s A Girl And I’m A Man
Weeping Wine
Butterfly
So You’d Like To Save The World
Morning Is Broken (single edit)
Like Lovers Do
Sentimental Fool
Baby
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions:
Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?
Bonus DVD
Perfect Skin
Forest Fire
Rattlesnakes
Brand New Friend
Lost Weekend
Cut Me Down
My Bag
Jennifer She Said
From The Hip
No Blue Skies
Don’t Look Back
Downtown
She’s A Girl I’m A Man
Weeping Wine
Butterfly
So You’d Like To Save The World
Morning is Broken
Like Lovers Do
Baby
Sentimental Fool
Mainstream (bonus video)
Fool You Are (bonus video)

Michael White (Hereward), Monday, 27 September 2004 17:16 (nineteen years ago) link

I wish it had been nicelier packaged.

PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Monday, 27 September 2004 17:18 (nineteen years ago) link

Check it out!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/homeentertainment/story/0,12830,1316522,00.html

Not that interesting, actually. Except the vibrato bit.

PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Saturday, 2 October 2004 08:29 (nineteen years ago) link

Other sources of possible interest:

Lloyd lived in 'The Pennines', if that's how you spell it. Could this be 'Glossop'? It certainly isn't 'Derbyshire', or is it? The plop thickens...

Lloyd wanted to be Isaac Hayes. (I think he's making this up.)

PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Sunday, 3 October 2004 09:22 (nineteen years ago) link

PJ Miller, did you live in 'The Pennines'?

It is funny how you and he still have the same voice, up to a point.

the bellefox, Tuesday, 5 October 2004 11:47 (nineteen years ago) link

No, 'The Pennines' was the exclusive preserve of 'Go With Noakes' when I were a lad. Now I live near 'The Chilterns', which are nice, but considerably poofier.

Today I saw the DELUXE RATTLESNAKES. It looked nice, but even with 40% off (Virgin closing down sale) it was still pricey. Besides, I had my doubts. The I went to WHSmiths and read The Jerry Nipper's piece about it, which was all I could have hoped for and more, and it confirmed my doubts. He only gets on to the extra disc in the last paragraph. I think that says it all.

There is quite a lot of Jerry Nipper in that issue, but still nowhere near enough.

It is thundering and lightninging. I predict it will reach London in about 35 minutes.

I am listening to GENE PITNEY.

PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Wednesday, 6 October 2004 13:57 (nineteen years ago) link

So - apparently the Commotions did a rehearsal at the Bunker Bar in Glasgow... so there.

dave225 (Dave225), Friday, 8 October 2004 10:31 (nineteen years ago) link

Cor!

PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Friday, 8 October 2004 10:36 (nineteen years ago) link

I was there, somehow. I can report that it was....magnificent.

This will remain a high point in years to come. Oh, I TALKED TO LLOYD.

Cor.

Ally C (Ally C), Friday, 8 October 2004 11:55 (nineteen years ago) link

Cor!

What did he say? What did you say? And what did he say? And what did you say? etc.

PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Friday, 8 October 2004 11:56 (nineteen years ago) link


You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.