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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZCOLE, Lloyd(b 31 Jan. '61, Glasgow) Singer, songwriter, guitarist. Formed the Commotions '82, with infl. deep in '60s: Bob Dylan, Marc Bolan, Velvet Underground. First single 'Perfect Skin' top 30 UK hit; other enigmatic singles charted: 'Forest Fire' and title track of LP Rattlesnakes, all '84. LP incl. characteristic songs 'Four Flights Up', breathless 'Down On Mission Street', the band's sound reminiscent of '60s West Coast swirling guitars, organ, with obtuse, sometimes pretentious lyrics: 'She looks like Eva Marie Saint in On The Waterfront/She reads Simone de Beauvoir ...' from 'Rattlesnakes'. The brooding six-footer with matinee-idol looks, vocal urgency and infectious tunes wins fans; played USA dates '84 to some interest. Easy Pieces '85 justified fans, incl. hit singles 'Lost Weekend', 'Brand New Friend', imaginative 'Why I Love Country Music'. Mainstream '87 was followed by Lloyd Cole '90 without the Commotions, displaying three decades of American guitar styles from '50s riffing to '80s new country; then Don't Get Weird On Me, Babe '91, Bad Vibes '93, all on Polydor labels in UK, EMI's Capitol in USA; Love Story '95 was on Rykodisc USA. |