LLOYD COLE'S musical career spans more than 30 years and across that time he has delivered musically sharp and melodic indie-pop with lyrics brimming with wit and intelligence. He is also an artist who enjoys touring and tonight he is in Galway to play the Róisín Dubh at 9pm. In advance of the show, we present five of Cole's best songs, from across his career.
'Brand New Friend'
Any survey of Cole's music has to start with this song. Although Lloyd and the Commotions had released three singles in 1984, this was the breakthrough coming the following year. And what an opening line: “Walking in the pouring rain/walking with Jesus and James/James in a turtleneck...”
'Lost Weekend'
It may only have reached No 17 in the British charts in 1985, but this witty, self-deprecating slice of 80s Indie has since become a deserved classic and Cole's signature song.
'(Are You ) Ready To Be Heartbroken?'
Camera Obscura fans will know 'Lloyd I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken'. This is the song Traceyanne Cambpell and friends were responding to. This 2010 acoustic performance was recorded in Stockholm.
'She's A Girl And I'm A Man'
Cole split The Commotions in 1990 and this early solo number gained a lot of attention at the time. It's worth a revisit (captured here on French TV. Dig the pre-Revolution wigs on some of the guests! )
'Period Piece'
Cole's most recent album, Standards, was released in 2013. “I am conscious of having been maybe overly concerned with being dignified in my old age," he said at the time of the album's release. "I just thought to myself, 'What would happen if I just kind of let loose and not worry about whether it is appropriate to be making this music or not? And just basically follow my guts?” he said at the time of it's release. The result was one of his most critically acclaimed works. Here's one of it's tracks (video directed by Kim Frank ):
Tickets for Lloyd Cole at the Róisín Dubh are available at www.roisindubh.net, the Ticket Desk at OMG Zhivago, Shop Street, and The Róisín Dubh.