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So You'd Like to Save The WorldLloyd Cole11 March 2009 |
By the time Lloyd Cole released his third solo album, Bad Vibes, his number was up as far as the critics were concerned. He’d been on a creative winning streak and enough was enough. The House never loses and it was time to remind Mr. Cole of that fact.
See, I think what happens is that critics eventually just get fed up when an artist appears to be unstoppable. Call it sour grapes. Call it critical backlash. One thing’s for sure, Bad Vibes did not deserve the slagging it got from the press. Loaded with irony, cynicism, bitterness and sarcasm it may be — devoid of poppy hooks and clever lyrics it most definitely is not. In fact, despite its mean moodiness, I’d say it’s probably his hardest solo album to single out just one song for the HMSOD spotlight. Whereas Lloyd Cole is the sound of Lloyd getting his feet wet for the first time without The Commotions, and Don’t Get Weird on Me Babe is a two-sided experiment comprised of his trademark literate, jangly guitar pop and dramatic orchestrations, Bad Vibes is a full-on pop masterpiece that features him in his best Lou Reed/Leonard Cohen/Bob Dylan/Marc Bolan-meet-the-Beatles mode.
The band line-up is slightly different this time around so the sound is a little more elctronica-tinged psychedelia than NYC rock n’ roll. Lloyd and producer Adam Peters play most of the instruments themselves. In addition, Robert Quine is replaced on guitar by ex-Siouxsie and the Banshees guitarist John Carruthers, and ex-Commotions guitarist Neil Clark returns. Fred Maher is back again on drums, but with help from ex-Lounge Lizards and Feelies drummer Anton Fier. Matthew Sweet plays bass this one last time for Lloyd before leaving to pursue his own burgeoning career based on the success of Girlfriend (1991) and 100% Fun (1995).
Although Bad Vibes only yielded two singles that barely cracked the British top 100 charts, the album itself made it to #38. Morning is Broken (#83) was one of the singles, the other is today’s Happy Medium Song of the Day: So You’d Like to Save the World (#72). Sarcasm infused pop at its best. (Please use the comments box to share your thoughts.)
See, I think what happens is that critics eventually just get fed up when an artist appears to be unstoppable. Call it sour grapes. Call it critical backlash. One thing’s for sure, Bad Vibes did not deserve the slagging it got from the press. Loaded with irony, cynicism, bitterness and sarcasm it may be — devoid of poppy hooks and clever lyrics it most definitely is not. In fact, despite its mean moodiness, I’d say it’s probably his hardest solo album to single out just one song for the HMSOD spotlight. Whereas Lloyd Cole is the sound of Lloyd getting his feet wet for the first time without The Commotions, and Don’t Get Weird on Me Babe is a two-sided experiment comprised of his trademark literate, jangly guitar pop and dramatic orchestrations, Bad Vibes is a full-on pop masterpiece that features him in his best Lou Reed/Leonard Cohen/Bob Dylan/Marc Bolan-meet-the-Beatles mode.
The band line-up is slightly different this time around so the sound is a little more elctronica-tinged psychedelia than NYC rock n’ roll. Lloyd and producer Adam Peters play most of the instruments themselves. In addition, Robert Quine is replaced on guitar by ex-Siouxsie and the Banshees guitarist John Carruthers, and ex-Commotions guitarist Neil Clark returns. Fred Maher is back again on drums, but with help from ex-Lounge Lizards and Feelies drummer Anton Fier. Matthew Sweet plays bass this one last time for Lloyd before leaving to pursue his own burgeoning career based on the success of Girlfriend (1991) and 100% Fun (1995).
Although Bad Vibes only yielded two singles that barely cracked the British top 100 charts, the album itself made it to #38. Morning is Broken (#83) was one of the singles, the other is today’s Happy Medium Song of the Day: So You’d Like to Save the World (#72). Sarcasm infused pop at its best. (Please use the comments box to share your thoughts.)
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