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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It's good to see that the other reviews give this album 5 stars. If you know this album and you can appreciate talent then you will know that anything less would be absurd. Some of the comments of the other reviews worry me a little though. For example, comments such as "This is an album that probably is Lloyd's definitive piece" and "Certainly ranks...alongside Cole's first solo album..." Surprised to say the least. I like Lloyd Cole's work and I wouldn't want to hurt his feelings but without doubt this was his definitive moment. THIS IS IT. As happens when we fall in love with an album by an artist we always hope for more. So we buy the next release the day it comes out. We get it home, put it on and despite temporarily denying it to ourselves we soon realise that it's not quite what we had hoped for. But no matter, maybe the next one. So we buy that one, and the next and so on until we can finally admit to ourselves that 'Revolver' isn't coming. Apart from the odd miracle workers who follow an upward path (Beatles, Radiohead, others) we never quite get what we're looking for. And that's how the artist must feel too. Because they all realise how transient artistic genius is. It's all to do with space and time and your place in it. And true works of art come from the mix like Frankenteins, uncontrolled and daunting. That's why so many bands who hit the heights at the first attempt get stifled by their own creation and fade with the genius in them (take the Roses, Embrace, Suede, etc). You may argue that other bands work up to their best. I would say there is still only one peak in every mountain range.
So back to Rattlesnakes. The record on which Lloyd Cole's genius shone brightest. I can't express how much I like this album lyrically. All I can say is the the songs make you say "I wish I could write like that" in the same way that Dylan does. The subject matter is mostly from the viewpoint of someone innocent and trying to deal with all of the stuff you're not prepared for when you first leave home. For example, the opening lines to the album "I choose my friends only far too well/I'm up on the pavement and they're all down in the sell with they're govenment grants/And my IQ they brought me down to size...Academical blues" tell of someone having difficulty with the fact he's not the only bright kid in town. There's some irony in that notion becuase listening to this album can often make you feel the same way. Many other lines like "Oh must you tell me all your secrets when it's hard enough to love you knowing nothing" capture the essence of feelings that we mortals struggle to express but are sure to have been shared by most reading this. And Cole still finds room for plenty of cynicism too in lines such as "I belive in love/I'll belive in anything/If it's gonna get me what I want" if that's what you like.
Musically, this album is beautifully arranged and has a low-key production that gives a slight 60s hint and a lot of honesty. The melodies are fantastic and have excelled in that illusive trick of augmenting the emotions of the lyrics. When lyrics and melody combine like this you get 'Blood on the Tracks'.
I highly recommend, in fact I emplore you to buy this album if you don't already own it. It's stood the test of time with me (16 yrs). Some of my other favourite albums are Abbey Road (Beatles), What's Going On (Marvin Gaye), The Stone Roses (The Stone Roses), The Good Will Out (Embrace), OX4 The best of... (Ride) to give you an indication of my tastes in case that gives you more of an idea on whether or not to take my advice.
I hope I haven't offended anyone with my original observations. I understand that everyone's perspective is different. Lastly, I would like to say well done to Lloyd Cole and his Commotions for giving us this masterpiece.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio Cassette
'Rattlesnakes' is the kind of album which can restore one's faith in the potential of pop music generally, especially when considering the musical climate at the time of the album's release in 1984. It was refreshing to actually hear songs that were not bombarded with overproduction where they could breathe allowing their true potential to shine through. With 'Rattlesnakes' Lloyd Cole and his Commotions actually managed to record an album that's almost as perfect as they're ever likely to come. There's a wealth of influences to be found within these songs, namely Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and a sixties styled jangly guitar sound which isn't too far removed from the Commotions contempories The Smiths at times. Lloyd never tried to come across as attempting to make a profound statement, as many of his influences tend to do - he preferred a much lighter touch - a hint of pop mixed with a little folk alongside his literary style of writing. This made for a most agreeable sound. 'Perfect Skin' is perhaps the best known song as it was a successful single yet for me if one song does shine just that little bit brighter it's 'Forest Fire'.
'Rattlesnakes' is a remarkably poised and focused piece of work which is incredibly consistent from start to finish without any obvious weak moments.
Lloyd and his Commotions would find it incredibly hard to release an album ever to match these set of songs.
'Rattlesnakes' is well worth purchasing.
'Rattlesnakes' is a remarkably poised and focused piece of work which is incredibly consistent from start to finish without any obvious weak moments.
Lloyd and his Commotions would find it incredibly hard to release an album ever to match these set of songs.
'Rattlesnakes' is well worth purchasing.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Lloyd Cole - a true genius hit the pinnacle of his career in the mid 1980s with this masterpiece of modern music. I cannot find a fault with this album, each song beautifully written and performed, the lyrics brimming with intellectualisms you will rarely find, and the whole package still shining all these years later. I don't want to say anything bad about this album and to be honest I don't think you will either. From the opening track through to the end this is simply awesome. My favourite track has to be Forest Fire - the guitar solo still makes the hairs on my neck stand out 20 odd yeras after first hearing it. If you have never listened to Lloyd Cole then buy this album - I promise you will not be disappointed Buy It!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Are you ready to be...heartbroken?
Absolute music, fantastic album. Best of Lloyd Cole.
Buy it without exitation... I don' t remember how it
sounds, I think good anyway. Read more
Buy it without exitation... I don' t remember how it
sounds, I think good anyway. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Lucazest
The 80s weren't ALL about The Smiths you know.....
How many times do we hear that the 80s were a wasteland of decent music - with the exception of The Smiths?? Well this album from 1985 proves all the critics wrong. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Nick
All you need
To be brutally honest, this is a sublime album, but all you will ever need by Mr Cole. Don't bother with any greatest hits collection: just buy this.
Published 15 months ago by Mr. D. M. Ellingworth
astonishing
I listened to this for the first time in ages and cannot believe how good it is. This is one of those rare albums that can be listened to from start to finish and doesn't lag or... Read more
Published 16 months ago by H. Martin
swotty students and self-conscious intellectuals.
Arguably one of the finest British pop albums of the '80s, 1984's RATTLESNAKES is the brilliant debut of one of the finest singer-songwriters of the decade. Read more
Published 22 months ago by P. Frizelle
Great album
I love this album, and listen to it at least once a week. I love the title track, Perfect Skin and Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken? Read more
Published on 31 Oct 2009 by A. Baker
another classic 80's album
Rattlesnakes was one of my best vinyl purchases of the 1980's, so it was only natural that i would purchase the album on cd. Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2009 by S. Suligowski
Perfect
Hearing 'Perfect Skin' for the first time when it was released as a single was one of those 'wow' moments for me. Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2007 by D. J. H. Thorn
Listened to the press, wasnt disappointed
I only got this because it had been 'on the list' of ones to keep an eye out for, and managed to get a copy for £3 in a charity shop - and what a bargain. Read more
Published on 21 Oct 2006 by Stockton
she's got cheekbones like geometry and eyes like sin...
'I might come to a conclusion other than that which is absolutely necessary...'
It is hard to believe that this classic debut album was originally released over 20 years... Read more
It is hard to believe that this classic debut album was originally released over 20 years... Read more
Published on 2 Jun 2005 by BD
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