Lloyd Cole Vinyl Records
Through both his lauded work fronting the Commotions and his more eclectic solo efforts, Lloyd Cole established himself as one of the most articulate and acute songwriters of the post-punk era. As a songwriter, Cole's literate and quite British lyrical style is wed to a melodic sensibility that's graceful even when he's at his most physical. Musically, Cole's sound has steadily evolved since he made his debut with his group the Commotions on 1984's Rattlesnakes. From the refined jangle pop of that album, Cole moved into a tougher and more direct approach on his self-titled solo debut in 1990, which he balanced against lushly orchestrated pop on 1991's Don't Get Weird on Me Babe. After trying on a harder, more rock-oriented approach on 1993's Bad Vibes, he settled into a lighter yet more contemplative attack on 1995's Love Story that would dominate most of his work in the 2000s and 2010s.