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She’s a Girl and I’m a ManLloyd Cole3 March 2009 |
The title of Lloyd Cole’s second solo release is Don’t Get Weird on Me, Babe. The phrase is a quote from the American neo-realist writer Raymond Carver; whose writing, it’s no surprise, is a favorite of Cole’s. Stylistically schizophrenic, the album is divided between rousing pop songs and lush, Paul Buckmaster orchestral arrangements recorded in Capitol Records’ legendary Tower Studio, where Frank Sinatra recorded with Nelson Riddle’s orchestra in the 1950’s.
Amazingly, the shift from side one (labeled “One Side”) to side two (cheekily labeled “Another Side”) feels seamless (on CD without having to flip anything over) as well as effortless, with regard to how naturally Cole’s voice and words are complimented by strings, woodwinds, percussion, piano and female backing vocals. A lot of people first discovered Lloyd Cole through side one of this album… side two either clinched the deal on that discovery just because it was so unique, or it baffled enthusiasts expecting more of the same. I personally love it when an artist has the balls not to deliver “more of the same” because that’s when things really start to get interesting.
Don’t Get Weird on Me, Babe reached #21 in the British charts, and once again three songs were released as singles: Cole’s second-highest charting song, “Tell Your Sister” (#6), “Butterfly” (which failed to chart), and Lloyd’s closest contender for an honest-to-god mainstream hit—today’s Happy Medium Song of the Day: “She’s a Girl and I’m a Man” (#7). (Please use the comments box to share your thoughts.)
Amazingly, the shift from side one (labeled “One Side”) to side two (cheekily labeled “Another Side”) feels seamless (on CD without having to flip anything over) as well as effortless, with regard to how naturally Cole’s voice and words are complimented by strings, woodwinds, percussion, piano and female backing vocals. A lot of people first discovered Lloyd Cole through side one of this album… side two either clinched the deal on that discovery just because it was so unique, or it baffled enthusiasts expecting more of the same. I personally love it when an artist has the balls not to deliver “more of the same” because that’s when things really start to get interesting.
Don’t Get Weird on Me, Babe reached #21 in the British charts, and once again three songs were released as singles: Cole’s second-highest charting song, “Tell Your Sister” (#6), “Butterfly” (which failed to chart), and Lloyd’s closest contender for an honest-to-god mainstream hit—today’s Happy Medium Song of the Day: “She’s a Girl and I’m a Man” (#7). (Please use the comments box to share your thoughts.)
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