Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Cole, Blair Cowan, Lawrence Donegan, Neil Clark and Stephen Irvine - were formed in Glasgow in 1982, where Buxton-born singer-songwriter Cole was studying Philosophy and English at the University of Glasgow. Their sound swam against the tide of shiny '80s synthesisers, offering intense, melodic, guitar-based pop, topped with droll words packed with literary references. Given just how loved debut album 'Rattlesnakes' was, it would have been hard for whatever followed to be received as warmly - yet 'Easy Pieces' made a good first of it. It was to sell twice as many copies in its first two weeks as 'Rattlesnakes' had to date, giving the group a Top 5 chart placing on its release in November 1985. Recorded with '80s super-producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, its first two singles, the brooding, gospel influenced 'Brand New Friend' and the forever-jaunty 'Lost Weekend' reached the UK Top 20.
Track Listing:
1. Rich - Lloyd Cole and The Commotions
2. Why I Love Country Music - Lloyd Cole and The Commotions
3. Pretty Gone - Lloyd Cole and The Commotions
4. Grace - Lloyd Cole and The Commotions
5. Cut Me Down - Lloyd Cole and The Commotions
6. Brand New Friend - Lloyd Cole and The Commotions
7. Lost Weekend - Lloyd Cole and The Commotions
8. James - Lloyd Cole and The Commotions
9. Minor Character - Lloyd Cole and The Commotions
10. Perfect Blue - Lloyd Cole and The Commotions
Year of Production: 1985