Lloyd Cole and The Commotions are one of my all-time favorite bands. I have been an avid fan since their first album perplexed critics back in 1984. Initially dismissed by many as a “student bedsit classic” heavy on pretension and light on substance, Rattlesnakes has since received the acclaim it truly deserves — being included on the NME’s top 100 albums of all times list. I liked the Glasgow band the first time I heard them. Despite the inverted snobbery that was heaped upon them, I thought they defied easy categorization with their jangly, soulful folk-rock and elegant pop arrangements. Moreover, they were a welcome alternative to the post-punk sound that dominated the airwaves and my record collection in the mid ’80’s. Rattlesnakes sounded more like a seasoned band’s third or fourth record rather than a young band’s debut. And yeah, maybe Lloyd was over-inclined to show off how well-read and cultured he was studying philosophy and literature at Glasgow University, but I felt a connection with the music because of all the cultural references and clever word-play in his song writing, not alienation.
Rattlesnakes was originally released in 1984 on vinyl. When it later appeared on CD it had acquired four extra tracks. Twenty years later, Rattlesnakes was reissued to coincide with a brief reunion tour by the band. This time it was a double CD with demos, alternate takes and live cuts. The album itself reached #13 in the British charts, and yielded three singles: “Forest Fire,” the title track and today’s Happy Medium Song of the Day: “Perfect Skin.” Stay tuned for more…
(Please use the comments box to share your thoughts.)
Rattlesnakes was originally released in 1984 on vinyl. When it later appeared on CD it had acquired four extra tracks. Twenty years later, Rattlesnakes was reissued to coincide with a brief reunion tour by the band. This time it was a double CD with demos, alternate takes and live cuts. The album itself reached #13 in the British charts, and yielded three singles: “Forest Fire,” the title track and today’s Happy Medium Song of the Day: “Perfect Skin.” Stay tuned for more…
(Please use the comments box to share your thoughts.)